UNSC: UNSCR 1701 QUARTERLY CONSULTATIONS AFTER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 USUN NEW YORK 000248 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2019 TAGS: PREL PTER UNSC KPAL KPKO IS LE SY SUBJECT: UNSC: UNSCR 1701 QUARTERLY CONSULTATIONS AFTER MOST SERIOUS PERIOD OF VIOLATIONS REF: STATE 21922 Classified By: Ambassador Alex D. Wolff for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) Summary: On March 10, UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams and DPKO Director for Asia and the Middle East Division Wolfgang Weisbrod-Weber briefed the Security Council in consultations on the Secretary-General's UNSCR 1701 quarterly report. Both emphasized that the most serious violations since the adoption of UNSCR 1701 had taken place during the last few months, given the rocket attacks from southern Lebanon and the responding Israeli artillery fire, but the cessation of hostilities continues to hold. Williams noted the lack of progress on disarming militias and enforcing the arms embargo. He specifically noted that Syria has not yet named an Ambassador to Lebanon nor its members to the joint border committee, though Lebanon has completed both steps. He also called for Syria to assist Lebanon in dismantling Palestinian militia bases in Lebanon, given its influence over those groups. Williams and Weisbrod-Weber stressed the continuing Israeli air violations and called for them to end, with Williams calling them a "continuous provocation." Both Williams and Weisbrod-Weber noted the continuing discussions with Israel on a withdrawal from northern Ghajar and hoped a new Israeli government would quickly make the political decision to withdraw. Weisbrod-Weber said such a decision would signal that diplomatic solutions can be found under UN auspices. Williams noted the lack of progress on Sheb'a due to Israeli and Syrian intransigence. ¶2. (SBU) Summary cont'd: Council members voiced appreciation for UNIFIL and Lebanese Armed Forces' (LAF) actions during the recent period to maintain the cessation of hostilities. A number of states called for enforcement of the arms embargo and disarmament of Lebanese and Palestinian militias to which Williams added his concerns about the large number of weapons in Palestinian camps and allegations that Hizballah may posses an anti-aircraft missile defense system. Several members voiced concern with continued Israeli overflights and called for their cessation. Members also spoke on the need for progress on northern Ghajar and the Sheb'a Farms. End summary. UNSCOL Briefing -------------- ¶3. (SBU) UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL) Michael Williams briefed the Security Council in consultations on March 10 that the most serious violations since the adoption of UNSCR 1701 had taken place during the last few months. Nevertheless, he said, the cessation of hostilities continues to hold, though there has been little progress by the parties towards greater implementation of UNSCR 1701. He noted in particular the lack of progress by Lebanon on the disarmament of armed groups, though he said that the National Dialogue had its fifth session on March 2 and another will be held April 28. He underlined that control of Lebanon's borders to ensure implementation of the arms embargo remains problematic, though the GOL has begun a process. He noted the establishment of diplomatic relations between Lebanon and Israel which is crucial to achieving the necessary cooperation for a number of 1701 issues but said that Syria has not yet appointed an Ambassador to Lebanon and bilateral processes and arrangements on the joint border need to be enhanced. He specifically noted the lack of progress on delineating the border, though Lebanon has appointed its members to the joint committee. He also underlined the lack of cooperation on the issue of dismantling the Palestinian militia bases in Lebanon controlled by Palestinian groups over which Syria has definite influence. (Comment: This was the most frank Williams has been, both in the Secretary-General's report and during consultations, on Syria's shortcomings with regard to its UNSCR 1701 and 1680 commitments. End comment.) ¶4. (C) Williams stressed that Israeli air violations continue unabated and that these violations are "unacceptable and constitute a continuous provocation which...could potentially re-ignite a conflict." (Comment: Privately, Williams commented that Israeli jets had flown over central Beirut last week and he wondered how much was actual intelligence gathering as compared to regular, routine patrols which technically should not be taking place. He said that he does worry that an Israeli plane will be shot down by Hizballah who will claim it as self-defense. End comment.) Williams said he was encouraged by Israel's decision to hold technical talks on the UNIFIL proposal on northern Ghajar and called for an "actual withdrawal as soon as technically possible" after the formation of a new Israeli government. Turning to the Sheb'a Farms, Williams said that USUN NEW Y 00000248 002 OF 004 the Israeli government has indicated its unwillingness to engage in any substantive discussion on the matter and the Syrian government, while confirming Lebanese sovereignty over the area, is not willing to discuss the matter within the framework of UNSCR 1701. Williams said that "absent a process and political willingness in Israel and Syria, it is difficult to see how progress can be realized." He also called on the Israeli government to share with the UN the cluster munitions strike data that "has now apparently been collated." DPKO Briefing -------------- ¶5. (SBU) UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) Director for Asia and the Middle East Division Wolfgang Weisbrod-Weber briefed the Council on the UNIFIL-related aspects of the implementation of UNSCR 1701. He underscored that there are weapons and hostile elements in the area of operations given that, since December, on three occasions, rockets were fired and the IDF responded with artillery fire and UNIFIL and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) discovered 50 additional rockets, 11 of which had timers and were ready to be fired. He said that, in response, the GOL had temporarily deployed three specialized companies and then permanently deployed a fourth brigade. He noted UNIFIL's 400 daily patrols in the area of operations, in addition to counter-rocket launching operations. He said that the LAF had increased its presence in the coastal area, given that two of the three rocket firings were in this zone. He credited the parties and the tripartite mechanism for the non-escalation of tensions. He did reference the March 3 small arms fire that the IDF acknowledged as an "accidental discharge" of a soldier's weapon. Like Williams, Weisbrod-Weber called for a cessation of Israeli overflights, the sharing of cluster munitions strike data, and swift progress on marking the Blue Line. He said an Israeli decision to withdraw from northern Ghajar would signal that diplomatic solutions can be found under UN auspices. He called for the international community to play a greater role in strengthening the LAF's capacity and for additional infantry troops to augment UNIFIL's capacity to meet its 15,000 troop ceiling. Council members appreciate UNIFIL and LAF efforts -------------- ¶6. (SBU) All Council members voiced appreciation for UNIFIL and the LAF's actions during the recent period to maintain the cessation of hostilities between the parties. (Note: Ambassador Rice spoke and drew from reftel. End note.) Almost all member states, aside from Libya, shared the Secretary-General's concern about the rocket attacks from southern Lebanon. The Mexican Perm Rep called for the LAF and UNIFIL to bring to justice those responsible for launching the rockets. The Libyan Acting Perm Rep used his remarks to focus on the report's references to Israel, arguing that tension in UNIFIL's area of operations should have been described as related to the "aggressive military operations launched against Gaza" and not simply the "Gaza crisis." (Note: He also took issue with the report's reference, in paragraph 26, to Israeli government assertions that Hizballah is rebuilding its capacity. He said that inclusions of such "misguided information detracts from the credibility of the report." End note.) Many Council members highlighted the need to ensure calm during the June 7 Parliamentary elections to allow for free and fair elections. Calls for enforcement of the arms embargo and disarmament of militias -------------- ¶7. (SBU) The Japanese Perm Rep specifically called for enforcement of the arms embargo and disarmament of all armed groups, especially those in Palestinian camps. The Mexican Perm Rep called efforts to date on the arms embargo a "failure." The Burkinabe Perm Rep cited the link between armed groups and violations of the arms embargo and called for steps to strengthen the arms embargo and noted that border delineation would help significantly with border control. The UK Deputy Perm Rep called for Lebanon and Syria to make progress dismantling Palestinian militia bases. The Russian Deputy Perm Rep supported disarmament of Palestinian and Lebanese militia and greater enforcement of the arms embargo. The Costa Rican Political Coordinator called for the disarmament of Lebanese militia and for the improvement of living conditions in the Palestinian camps. The Croatian Perm Rep called for Lebanon and Syria to share the responsibility for managing both sides of the border. The USUN NEW Y 00000248 003 OF 004 Austrian Perm Rep called for both states to delineate their borders. The UK Deputy Perm Rep asked what the UN and international community could do to assist Syria in delineating its border with Lebanon. ¶8. (C) In response to Council members' comments and questions on this issue, Williams expressed serious concern with the large number of weapons, especially in Palestinian camps. He concluded that the situation, post-Gaza crisis, is more volatile, not less so, in the camps. He said there are some indications that Hamas is on the ascendancy over Fatah in the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon. (Comment: In a bilateral meeting with Ambassador Wolff after consultations, Williams commented further on arms in the Palestinian camps. He said that one of the reasons for the slowness of the reconstruction of Palestinian refugee camp Nahr el-Bard is because of the "huge amount of explosives" being found in every home. He said he believes the arms are being smuggled from Syria through Palestinian camps on the border and not via Hizballah. End comment.) Williams also referred to Hizballah leader Nasrallah's February 16 speech in which he mentioned acquisition of an anti-aircraft missile defense system but did not confirm or deny that Hizballah actually has such a system. Williams commented that if Hizballah does possess such a system, it could portend a major escalation. Weisbrod-Weber noted at the end of the session, in response to Council member questions, that UNIFIL continues to have no evidence of arms smuggling into the south and cannot say whether the arms it found in the area of operations were there for a long time or were recently smuggled in. Calls for end to Israeli overflights -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Many members, including France, China, Vietnam, Austria, Russia, and Uganda voiced concern with continued Israeli overflights and called for their cessation. The UK Deputy Perm Rep noted that overflights do undermine confidence in the GOL but asked how else can Israel guarantee its security. The Russian Deputy Perm Rep said that regular overflights of Lebanon by Israel "must be terminated" and that he is aware of the Israeli arguments in favor of the overflights but they are not convincing. Need progress on northern Ghajar, Sheb'a, strike data -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Most members called for progress on northern Ghajar. After Council members' statements, Williams commented that he was pleased with recent technical discussions with the GOI on the UNIFIL proposal for northern Ghajar and noted that the focus was on a mechanism for the provision of Israeli services to northern Ghajar residents post-withdrawal. The Russian Deputy Perm Rep voiced support for the Secretary-General to continue his efforts on the Sheb'a Farms. The Mexican Perm Rep expressed regret at the lack of progress on the Sheb'a Farms. The UK Deputy Perm Rep said that it is not sufficient for Syria to say the issue should be addressed within the context of its Golan Heights negotiations with Israel. France, Mexico, Austria, and Uganda called for Israel to share with the UN the cluster munitions strike data now that it has been collated. Turkish contributions to UNIFIL; UK wants review of Maritime TF -------------- ¶11. (SBU) The Turkish Perm Rep welcomed the U.S. "engagement policy" and the visit by two officials to Damascus. He noted that Turkey has deployed an engineering company to UNIFIL, as well as a frigate to the UNIFIL Maritime Task Force. He said that Turkey will maintain the presence of the frigate or two patrol boats or two corvettes at all times. The UK Perm Rep asked DPKO for a review of the Maritime Task Force's concept of operations, given the shortage of peacekeeping resources. Weisbrod-Weber later responded that DPKO would be conducting an assessment of the Maritime Task Force before UNIFIL's renewal in August. Russia: Need comprehensive ME peace -------------- ¶12. (SBU) The Russian Deputy Perm Rep said that it would be hard to solve Lebanon's problems without a comprehensive Middle East peace. Never losing an opportunity to mention the Moscow conference, he said Russia was waiting for a new Israeli government to be formed before announcing the modalities for the conference. USUN NEW Y 00000248 004 OF 004 Wolff