Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BEIRUT1230
2009-11-17 15:38:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:
LEBANESE RESPONSE ON COUNTRY-SPECIFIC HUMAN RIGHTS
how-toVZCZCXYZ0002 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHLB #1230 3211538 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 171538Z NOV 09 FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6051 INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 4228
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 001230
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2019
TAGS: PHUM PREL UNGA LE
SUBJECT: LEBANESE RESPONSE ON COUNTRY-SPECIFIC HUMAN RIGHTS
RESOLUTIONS
REF: A. STATE 116270
B. STATE 109397
C. STATE 108921
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Thomas F. Daughton for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 001230
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2019
TAGS: PHUM PREL UNGA LE
SUBJECT: LEBANESE RESPONSE ON COUNTRY-SPECIFIC HUMAN RIGHTS
RESOLUTIONS
REF: A. STATE 116270
B. STATE 109397
C. STATE 108921
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Thomas F. Daughton for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Charge delivered points in reftels to presidential
diplomatic advisor Naji Abi Assi on November 16, asking for
Lebanese support in opposing the no-action motion on Iran.
Abi Assi indicated that he would bring the U.S. demarche to
the attention of Lebanese Permrep Nawaf Salam, but implied
that it would be difficult for Lebanon to accommodate the
U.S. request. As for the specific suggestion that Lebanon
absent itself from the Iran resolution vote, he noted that
the permrep's unplanned absence from Iranian President
Ahmadinejad's recent UNGA speech caused a local media furor.
2. (C) Charge delivered the same demarche to MFA Director
General (DepSec equivalent) William Habib on November 17.
Habib indicated that he understood the U.S. request, but he
believed it unlikely that Lebanon's new foreign minister,
still in caretaker status, would change Lebanon's position
regarding the Iran resolution so early in his term. (Note:
The new FM, Ali al-Shami, is a Shia from a party in
parliamentary opposition with Hizballah. End note.)
Although Habib said the MFA would "consider seriously" our
request, he assessed that it was "not the right moment for
even a very small change" on Iran.
DAUGHTON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2019
TAGS: PHUM PREL UNGA LE
SUBJECT: LEBANESE RESPONSE ON COUNTRY-SPECIFIC HUMAN RIGHTS
RESOLUTIONS
REF: A. STATE 116270
B. STATE 109397
C. STATE 108921
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Thomas F. Daughton for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Charge delivered points in reftels to presidential
diplomatic advisor Naji Abi Assi on November 16, asking for
Lebanese support in opposing the no-action motion on Iran.
Abi Assi indicated that he would bring the U.S. demarche to
the attention of Lebanese Permrep Nawaf Salam, but implied
that it would be difficult for Lebanon to accommodate the
U.S. request. As for the specific suggestion that Lebanon
absent itself from the Iran resolution vote, he noted that
the permrep's unplanned absence from Iranian President
Ahmadinejad's recent UNGA speech caused a local media furor.
2. (C) Charge delivered the same demarche to MFA Director
General (DepSec equivalent) William Habib on November 17.
Habib indicated that he understood the U.S. request, but he
believed it unlikely that Lebanon's new foreign minister,
still in caretaker status, would change Lebanon's position
regarding the Iran resolution so early in his term. (Note:
The new FM, Ali al-Shami, is a Shia from a party in
parliamentary opposition with Hizballah. End note.)
Although Habib said the MFA would "consider seriously" our
request, he assessed that it was "not the right moment for
even a very small change" on Iran.
DAUGHTON