UNCLAS BEIRUT 000665

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR
EEB/ESC FOR DANIELLE MONOSSON
OES/EGC FOR GRIFF THOMPSON
IO/EDA REBECCA WEBBER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG KGHG SENV
SUBJECT: LEBANON: IRENA DEMARCHE RESPONSE

REF: A. STATE 61286

B. STATE 59969

SUMMARY
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1. (SBU) Post delivered reftel demarches June 12 to Ministry
of Foreign Affairs Directorate of International Organizations
Walid Haidar. Haidar noted that Lebanon will attend the
International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) preparatory
meeting June 28-30 in Egypt. Lebanese representatives have
not been selected, but Haidar expected a ministerial-level
delegation. He said ratification of Lebanon's IRENA
membership required parliamentary approval; since the
parliament is in a transitional stage following June 7
elections, Haidar assessed ratification would be postponed
until the new parliament becomes operational, sometime after
June 21.


2. (SBU) Lebanon supports the UAE as a headquarters for IRENA
and has no position so far on the body's Director General,
Haidar told us. On the mission, focus, and purpose of IRENA,
he said Lebanon considers IRENA's mission "comprehensive" and
will support the organization's stated mission, including
capacity building and technical assistance.
SISON