LEBANON WILL FOLLOW ARAB LEAGUE LEAD ON KOSOVO MEMBERSHIP

UNCLAS BEIRUT 000436 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR NEA/RA, EUR/SCE ALSO FOR EEB/IFD/OMA, EEB/IFD/ODF TREASURY FOR DANIEL SCHMERIN NSC FOR SHAPIRO/MCDERMOTT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON EFIN PREL LE KV SUBJECT: LEBANON WILL FOLLOW ARAB LEAGUE LEAD ON KOSOVO MEMBERSHIP IN IMF AND WORLD BANK REF: STATE 33629 ¶1. (SBU) The Ambassador delivered reftel demarche to Finance Minister Mohammad Chatah (Lebanon's World Bank Governor) and Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh (Lebanon's IMF Governor) during separate meetings April 8. ¶2. (SBU) Chatah expressed enthusiasm for Kosovo's membership, but cautioned that he would have to check with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Prime Minister, and possibly the full cabinet before committing Lebanon's vote, given that his country had not yet recognized Kosovo's independence. He assured the Ambassador that, under any circumstance, he would cast his vote in order to ensure a quorum. ¶3. (SBU) Salameh told the Ambassador he would gladly vote for Kosovo's membership in the IMF, but in a follow-up conversation with Econ Staff, he said he was working with the Prime Minister to determine the government's position on the issue, and would respond to the Embassy with further information. ¶4. (U) Post will pass any further information on the GOL position to Washington contacts mentioned in reftel. Post POC is EconOff Amy Tachco. SISON