LEBANON: GHAJAR: UNIFIL COMMANDER GRAZIANO ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000512 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA ALSO FOR IO/ A A/S WARLICK P FOR DRUSSELL AND RRANGASWAMY USUN FOR WOLFF/GERMAIN/SCHEDLBAUER DOD/OSD FOR FLOURNOY, KAHL, AND DALTON NSC FOR SHAPIRO, MCDERMOTT E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/07/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS SY LE SUBJECT: LEBANON: GHAJAR: UNIFIL COMMANDER GRAZIANO ON GHAJAR PROPOSAL Classified By: Classified by Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1. 4 (b) and (d) SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) In a May 6 meeting at UNIFIL HQ, General Claudio Graziano, Force Commander for UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL),emphasized that the current UNIFIL proposal for Israeli withdrawal from northern Ghajar is "unchangeable," in his view. He noted that the June 7 parliamentary elections will be a crucial moment. Graziano cautioned if the current proposal is not approved quickly, the next Lebanese government could reject it. Graziano assessed the Israelis are committed to the proposal for withdrawal, and noted that Israeli Ambassador David Walzer, the focal point in the Israeli MFA for civilian issues related to the withdrawal proposal, told him some new ideas might "surprise" UNIFIL. ¶2. (C) USG for UN Peacekeeping Operations Alain Le Roy, who co-chaired the meeting, said he wanted to maintain UNIFIL troop levels in Lebanon, despite the increasing demand for peacekeeping forces worldwide. On Ghajar, he noted Israel needed to send a "clear signal" so the process can move forward. End Summary. UNIFIL PROPOSAL UNCHANGEABLE -------------- ¶3. (C) In a May 5 UNIFIL operational update, co-chaired by USG for UN Peacekeeping Operations Alain Le Roy and attended by the Ambassador and Poloff, along with Ambassadors from troop contributing countries and members of the Security Council, Force Commander General Claudio Graziano confidently professed there would be no alterations to UNIFIL's proposal for Israeli withdrawal from northern Ghajar, despite Israeli attempts to attach conditions to the plan. He said "no other concessions" would be offered by the Lebanese government. Graziano emphasized the Israelis must take the proposal "as is," and if they did not accept it before the June 7 parliamentary elections in Lebanon, there might not be another opportunity. DETAILS CAN BE WORKED OUT -------------- ¶4. (C) Graziano mentioned that despite PM Siniora's May 4 statement to the press, there was no change in the GOL's position on UNIFIL's proposal. (Note: Siniora said Israeli announcements that the withdrawal plans were a sign of support for the Siniora government were "a ploy to create discord among the Lebanese. End note). Graziano opined that while Israel is "committed" to the proposal, moving forward quickly was not a number one priority in the new Israeli government. While some implementation problems remain to be resolved, Graziano insisted moving forward is key to counter any donor country perceptions that the UNIFIL mission is a waste of money. ¶5. (C) Graziano recounted comments from his most recent meeting in Israeli, saying that Israeli Minister of Defense Ehud Barack and the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) support the proposal, and the Israeli Foreign Ministry is working on the technical issues. Graziano explained that these ministers and IDF officials will meet again May 7 in Jerusalem and afterwards will call Graziano to give a readout on the Ghajar discussions. He reiterated comments he received from Israeli Ambassador David Walzer, the focal point in the Israeli MFA for civilian issues related to UNIFIL's proposal, that ideas will come from the Israeli side during the May 7 meeting that will "surprise you." LE ROY: UNIFIL IS ESSENTIAL -------------- ¶6. (C) Le Roy noted the relative stability and peace in Lebanon since the 2006 war and how UNIFIL was winning BEIRUT 00000512 002 OF 002 Lebanese "hearts and minds." He noted his desire to keep UNIFIL manpower at current levels or more despite the recent notification by the Polish government that it would withdrawal its forces from UNIFIL in 2009 due to budgetary constraints. Le Roy praised UNIFIL's efforts on the Ghajar issue and said a "clear signal" from the Israelis is important, but he did not expect anything substantial to appear until some time closer to Israeli PM Netanyahu's May 17 meeting with President Obama. WHAT A NEW GOVERNMENT MIGHT BRING -------------- ¶7. (C) Le Roy spoke of his earlier meeting with Speaker Berri. He recounted that Berri believed the majority would change to March 8, but by only a few members. Le Roy noted that Berri insisted with a March 8 majority, there would be more support and cooperation for implementing UNSCR 1701. UNIFIL TRAINING LAF IN CIVIL AFFAIRS -------------- ¶8. (SBU) UNIFIL Poloff John Malloy gave a short briefing on UNIFIL efforts to train Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) personnel in civil affairs by means of a "train the trainer" program. The program will involve in-house training in conflict mediation and community outreach, with the goal of developing enough capacity that the LAF can eventually develop its own doctrine for civil-military affairs in the various confessional communities. The program will begin at the end of May at UNIFIL HQs in Naqoura with a select group of LAF officers. ¶9. (SBU) Malloy also noted the initial construction phase of a Blue Line road that will run mostly parallel to the current Blue Line demarcations. The purpose of the road is to ease access to the border area and zones between the technical fences. UNIFIL hopes to complete the first phase involving linking it to the first of 11 current Blue Line crossing junctions by the end of the summer. COMMENT -------------- ¶10. (C) UNIFIL Political Advisor Milos Strugar informed Ambassador May 8 that Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister and Israeli Director General MFA had told General Graziano and U/S Le Roy the day before that there were indeed "new ideas" and that "in general," UNIFIL and the GOI "see eye-to-eye." The devil is always in the details," commented Strugar. The UNIFIL assessment is that the GOI Cabinet will review the Ghajar withdrawal issues at today's cabinet meeting (May 8) in anticipation of the Israeli PM's upcoming trip to Washington. UNSCOL Michael Williams departs for Israel May 10 to meet MFA officials, focusing on UNSCR 1701 issues as well as Ghajar. End comment. SISON