Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BEIRUT230
2009-02-26 15:07:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:
LEBANON: SLEIMAN PLEASED ABOUT CT COOPERATION,
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000230
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DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA
ALSO FOR IO/PDAS WARLICK
P FOR DRUSSELL AND RRANGASWAMY
USUN FOR WOLFF/GERMAIN/SCHEDLBAUER
NSC FOR SHAPIRO, MCDERMOTT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS LE SY
SUBJECT: LEBANON: SLEIMAN PLEASED ABOUT CT COOPERATION,
RAVEN UAVS
BEIRUT 00000230 001.4 OF 002
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PLS ZFR ABOVE BEIRUT 230 IMI PLEASE ZFR ABOVE
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SORRY FOR INCONVENIENCE
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BEIRUT 00000230 002.2 OF 002
commented. Sleiman also mentioned he will make a 24-hour
trip to Oman on February 28. (Note: Oman has pledged $4-5
million for Nahr al Barid Palestinian refugee camp
reconstruction. End note.)
¶7. (C) Referring to the GOL statements denouncing the latest
incident of Ketyousha rockets being launched from southern
Lebanon into ISRAEL on February 21, Ambassador noted that
Sleiman's statement and those of PM Siniora and Speaker of
the Parliament Nabih Berri had all underscored Lebanese
support for UNSCR 1701. Speaking of Berri, Ambassador
informed Sleiman that there was no truth to recent reports in
some press outlets that the USG was working to keep Berri
from being named Speaker again after the next parliamentary
election or that the U.S. was behind Berri's bitter conflict
with Siniora over the 2009 budget. She also noted that an
article in the previous day's Al-Akhbar newspaper supposedly
quoting former Assistant for National Security Affairs to
former VP Cheney John Hannah was completely false. Sleiman
commiserated, commenting on the poor quality of certain
newspapers and media outlets.
COMMENT
--------------
¶8. (C) We would like to renew our request that we invite
Sleiman to visit Washington in 2009, ideally before the
Lebanese elections on June 7. Such a visit would underscore
that USG support for Lebanon, and for the Lebanese presidency
as a symbol of the institutions of state control, remains
strong. A visit to the White House will also highlight that
Lebanese moderates have a strong ally in the United States
(and are well-placed to defend Lebanese Christian interests).
End Comment.
SISON