CODEL KERRY VISIT TO LEBANON: KEY MESSAGES

UNCLAS BEIRUT 000178 SENSITIVE SIPDIS AMMAN FOR DEBORAH WINTERS: PLEASE PASS TO CODEL KERRY CAIRO FOR ROBERT GREENAN: PLEASE PASS TO CODEL KERRY DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA P FOR DRUSSELL AND RRANGASWAMY USUN FOR WOLFF/GERMAIN/SCHEDLBAUER NSC FOR SHAPIRO/MCDERMOTT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC LE SY SUBJECT: CODEL KERRY VISIT TO LEBANON: KEY MESSAGES ¶1. (SBU) Senator Kerry, welcome to Lebanon. Your visit provides an excellent opportunity to reinforce our message of strong, continued bipartisan U.S. support for a sovereign Lebanon. You are the first Senator to visit since President Obama took office and your visit comes a few days after the February 14 fourth anniversary of the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri. Your visit will provide a strong message of U.S. support for the moderate voices of the Cedar Revolution that continue to seek justice, democracy, and accountability in Lebanon. ¶2. (SBU) During your meetings with senior officials and comments to the media, we suggest you convey the following messages: -- The U.S. is committed to a sovereign, independent and democratic Lebanon. -- We want to see the legitimate institutions of the state strengthened for the benefit of all Lebanese, including the judiciary and the Armed Forces. -- The elections in June are vital for Lebanon's future. They must be carried out in a way that is transparent, fair and peaceful. We will support Lebanese authorities' efforts to ensure that. -- The U.S. is fully committed to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. We are confident that the Tribunal will bring to justice those responsible for planning and carrying out the assassination of former Prime Minister Hariri and so many others. The U.S. has contributed $14 million toward the cost of the Tribunal and recently pledged an additional $6 million for the second year of its operations, pending Congressional approval. -- We continue our support for the full implementation of Security Council Resolutions 1559 and 1701. Those resolutions call for important steps such as the delineation of Lebanon's borders and bringing all arms and militias under the control of the state. -- The U.S. fully supports the voices of peace and moderation in Lebanon, and want the Lebanese people to know that we continue to support their efforts at national reconciliation. SISON