2009 INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM REPORT

UNCLAS BEIRUT 001199 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PGOV OPRC KIRF KPAO LE SUBJECT: 2009 INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM REPORT DELIVERED REF: STATE 108536 ¶1. (SBU) Poloff delivered reftel demarche and report to MFA Americas Desk Officer Reina Charbel on October 26. Charbel advised that the report would be shared with relevant GOL offices and said that the GOL remains committed to the principles of religious freedom and tolerance. ¶2. (SBU) Reaction in Lebanon to the International Religious Freedom Report was mild, with limited media coverage. The most comprehensive review was by news portal NowLebanon, which provided excerpts from the report in an eight-paragraph article on October 27 without offering editorial commentary. We have received no negative reaction from either official or private interlocutors. SISON