AMBASSADOR WOLFF'S NOVEMBER 10 MEETING WITH UN

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 001026

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/12/2019
TAGS: PREL PTER KPKO UNSC IS LE SY
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR WOLFF'S NOVEMBER 10 MEETING WITH UN
SPECIAL COORDINATOR FOR LEBANON MICHAEL WILLIAMS

Classified By: Ambassador Alex D. Wolff for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams
told Ambassador Wolff on November 10 that he favorably views
the January 2010 transition in UNIFIL Force Commanders.
Williams said he thought Spain would do a good job and its
holding of the EU Presidency from January to June 2010 could
prove helpful leverage for UNSCOL. He said that General
Graziano has been on the job for three years which is a long
time given the environment. Williams said that the LAF has
developed certain routines in the south which have frustrated
Graziano and a new Force Commander would help shake things
up. He specifically noted increased tensions between UNIFIL
and the LAF, particularly in terms of getting access to the
sites of the major incidents during the last quarter. At the
Tayr Falsay site, he noted, there was no forensic evidence
remaining when UNIFIL was eventually able to access it.
Williams pressed for the USG, as the major supporter of the
LAF, to help UNIFIL vis a vis the LAF.


2. (C) Williams also commented that a major hindrance is the
lack of any extension of GOL authority in the south, aside
from the LAF. He noted that Defense Minister Murr has never
been to the south, and that Interior Minister Baroud visited
for the first time only two weeks ago. Ambassador Wolff
pressed Williams to articulate this lack of specific
governmental authority in the south in the next UNSCR 1701
report. Williams agreed with Ambassador Wolff's suggestion
that there should be a very senior GOL presence, either the
President or Prime Minister, at the UNIFIL change of command
ceremony at Naquora. Ambassador Wolff stressed to Williams
that in the period ahead with a new government and a new
UNIFIL force commander, we need to keep reminding all of what
they need to do or it will not get done, leaving Hizballah
feeling emboldened. Williams responded that Hizballah
already feels emboldened and does not admit that they
committed "flagrant violations" of 1701 during the last
quarter.


3. (C) Ambassador Wolff asked if Williams meets with the
Syrians regularly to which Williams replied that he only has
a regular discussion with the Perm Rep in New York. Williams
noted that the Syrian Perm Rep continues to argue that Syria
has no role to play in the implementation of 1701, but he
continues to ask to see Williams. He admitted that he has
not yet met with the Syrian Ambassador in Beirut whom he
characterized as a commuter from Damascus and is rarely seen
in Beirut.


4. (C) Williams said he was skeptical of DPKO's review of
UNIFIL because they are looking at it through a very narrow
definition. Ambassador Wolff asked Williams to think about
the UNIFIL mandate and how it could be strengthened so that
UNIFIL can be more assertive and robust. Williams said he is
planning to go to Madrid to brief the next Force Commander
before his arrival in Lebanon.
Rice