LEBANON: WITH NEA DAS HALE, FM SALLOUKH SAYS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000518

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA
ALSO FOR IO A/S BRIMMER
P FOR DRUSSELL, RRANGASWAMY
USUN FOR WOLFF/GERMAIN/SCHEDLBAUER
NSC FOR SHAPIRO, MCDERMOTT
DOD/OSD FOR FLOURNOY/KAHL/DALTON
DRL/NESA FOR WHITMAN, BARGHOUT
OVP FOR HMUSTAFA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINR PREF UNSC MARR MOPS IS
SY, LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: WITH NEA DAS HALE, FM SALLOUKH SAYS
PALESTINIAN PEACE CRITICAL

Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) In a May 9 meeting, Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh
and visiting NEA DAS David Hale discussed Middle East peace
and the Administration's commitment to working toward
comprehensive peace with a sense of urgency. Salloukh
dismissed Israeli comments about the need for "economic
peace" before pursuing broader peace negotiations in a
political context. Salloukh asserted that through the Arab
Peace Initiative, Israel was offered a plan for peace on a
"diamond tray," and opined that the U.S. should at least
acknowledge Hamas as a "power" in its efforts to negotiate
peace in the region.


2. (C) Salloukh acknowledged the recent opening of the Syrian
Embassy in Beirut as a good sign of normal relations between
the countries. He remarked that the "new chapter" in
relations with Syria must be exploited for improving trade
and securing Lebanese borders. He asked that the United
States continue supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF)
and mentioned he was pleased with the support of the
international community in providing observers for the June 7
parliamentary elections. End summary.

MITCHELL: EVIDENCE
OF U.S. CONCERN
--------------


3. (C) In a May 9 meeting, NEA DAS David Hale, accompanied by
the Ambassador and Poloff, met FM Fawzi Salloukh at his MFA
office. Salloukh said he hoped for a visit to Lebanon by
Special Envoy Senator George Mitchell, and praised Mitchell's
recent work on Israeli-Palestinian peace as evidence of
President Obama's focus on the region. Salloukh emphasized
that the regional problems of militias, terrorism, and
economic depravity evolved from not having resolved
Israeli-Palestinian peace issues.


4. (C) Salloukh emphasized the depravation and security risks
in Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon. Salloukh reaffirmed
that for 400,000 Palestinian refugees living in Lebanon,
their "right of return" must never be forgotten. He
complained about Israeli occupation of northern Ghajar,
saying Israel should have withdrawn upon the signing of UNSCR
1701, and added that cluster munitions strike data was never
provided by the Israelis. Salloukh asked the U.S. to
continue U.S. support for the LAF. He insisted a strong LAF
was needed to defend Lebanon, and would never be used to
attack another country.

ISRAEL: NO ENCOURAGING SIGNS
--------------


5. (C) Salloukh surmised that the new Israeli government
offered "no encouraging signs" for finding peace in the
region. He downplayed Israeli statements about developing
"economic peace" as a precursor to Palestinian peace
negotiations in a political context. He said the Israelis,
by not accepting the Arab Peace Initiative (API),had missed
the "dream" of seeing its flag fly in 57 countries. "Why not
respond?" he questioned. They were offered a peace plan on a
"diamond tray," he concluded. Hale outlined public details
of our strategy to advance peace, including through
integration of API into our efforts.

ACKNOWLEDGE HAMAS
--------------


6. (C) Salloukh believed the U.S. should have been more open
to Hamas when it took power in Gaza. He assessed that Hamas
was a power that the U.S. should have acknowledged, although
the U.S. approach to dealing with it "is a different matter,"

BEIRUT 00000518 002 OF 002


he concluded. However, Salloukh commented, all sides must
cooperate in order to stop the killing.

RELATIONS WITH SYRIA "NORMAL"
--------------


7. (C) Salloukh acknowledged the recent opening of the Syrian
Embassy in Beirut as a good sign of normal relations between
the two countries. Noting the long history of family ties
between Lebanese and Syrians, he remarked that the "new
chapter" in relations with Syria must be exploited for
improving trade and securing Lebanese borders. Salloukh
recounted that the Lebanese Embassy in Damascus was already
very busy assisting citizens.

ELECTIONS: OBSERVERS WELCOMED
--------------


8. (C) On elections, Salloukh recounted Lebanon's 60 year
history of conducting elections, some more "questionable"
than others, he mused, but Lebanon is glad to have the
international observers, he declared.


9. (U) NEA DAS Hale has cleared this cable.
SISON