Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
85BEIRUT1668
1985-03-17 10:48:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:  

SYRIAN EXERTS PRESSURE ON LEBANESE

Tags:  PGOV PREL LE 
pdf how-to read a cable
O 171048Z MAR 85
FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2237
INFO AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV PRIORITY
AMCONSUL JERUSALEM PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 01668 

E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PGOV PREL LE
SUBJECT: SYRIAN EXERTS PRESSURE ON LEBANESE
FORCE DISSIDENTS

REFS: (A) DAMASCUS 1787, (B) BEIRUT 1653, (C) BEIRUT 164

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 01668

E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PGOV PREL LE
SUBJECT: SYRIAN EXERTS PRESSURE ON LEBANESE
FORCE DISSIDENTS

REFS: (A) DAMASCUS 1787, (B) BEIRUT 1653, (C) BEIRUT 164


1. CONFIDENTIAL ENTIRE TEXT.


2. SYRIA CONTINUES TO EXERT POLITICAL AND MILITARY
PRESSURE AGAINST DISSIDENT ELEMENTS OF THE
LEBANESE FORCES. STATEMENTS FROM DAMASCUS BY
SYRIAN AND LEBANESE LEADERS HINT AT RETALIATION
IF THE REVOLT CONTINUES. AFTER MEETING WITH
PRESIDENT ASSAD, FORMER PRESIDENT SULEIMAN
FRANJIEH MET ON MARCH 16 WITH MINISTERS BARRI
AND JUMBLATT IN DAMASCUS. AFTERWARD, THEY
ISSUED A STATEMENT INCLUDING A VEILED THREAT:
"THE ACTION UNDERTAKEN IN CERTAIN REGIONS OF
LEBANON BY A GROUP WITH SUSPECTED TIES TO
ISRAEL AND SUPPORTED BY THE UNITED STATES
THREATENS THE UNITY, PEACE, AND EXISTENCE OF LEBANON
AND COULD LEAD TO RENEWED CIVIL WAR." THIS IS
ONLY THE LATEST IN A SERIES OF MENACING STATEMENTS
ISSUING FROM THE SYRIAN CAPITAL.


3. ON THE MILITARY FRONT, THE SITUATION DE-
SCRIBED IN REFTEL B CONTINUES. THERE ARE
NO INDICATIONS OF ANY INTENTION TO ENGAGE
LF UNITS AT MADFOUN. TO THE CONTRARY, L'ORIENT-
LE JOUR REPORTS PM KARAMI SAYING PRIVATELY THAT
SYRIAN FORCES WOULD NOT INTERVENE WITHOUT AN
OFFICIAL GOL REQUEST.


4. JA' JA' AND HIS DISSIDENTS ARE RESPONDING TO
THIS SYRIAN INTIMIDATION. THEY SHOW GREAT
CONCERN AT SYRIAN TROOP MOVEMENTS (SEPTEL). IN
ADDITION, THE CHRISTIAN DECISION MOVEMENT (CDM)
EMERGENCY COUNCIL STATED ON MARCH 16, FOR THE
THIRD CONSECUTIVE DAY, ITS AVERSION TO THE USE
OF FORCE AND ITS PREFERENCE FOR A POLITICAL
ROLE. IT ALSO DECLARED ITS WILLINGNESS TO OPEN
CONTACTS WITH THE SYRIANS AND ALL OTHER CONCERNED
PARTIES. COMMAND COUNCIL MEMBER KARIM PAKRADOUNI
HAS NOW HAD TWO CONVERSATIONS WITH SYRIAN FIRST
VP KHADDAM IN WHICH HE DENIED ANY CDM TIES TO
ISRAEL. THE MOVEMENT SEEMS TO BE MAKING THE
MAXIMUM EFFORT TO ALLEVIATE SYRIAN CONCERNS.


5. IN RESPONSE TO PM KARAMI'S MARCH 15 BLAST AT
THE DISSIDENTS (SEPTEL),THE JA'JA' FORCES
HAVE PROPOSED THE FORMATION OF A CHRISTIAN NATIONAL
COUNCIL TO SERVE AS A FORUM FOR UNIQUELY CHRISTIAN
VOICES. THIS IS AN IDEA WHICH HAS BEEN DUSTED
OFF AT INTERVALS SINCE 1981. ONLY TIME WILL
TELL IF IT IS ONCE AGAIN A NON-STARTER.


6. THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND REMAINS TENSE BUT
QUIET. TRAFFIC CONTINUES UNIMPEDED ALONG THE
COASTAL HIGHWAY FROM BEIRUT AS FAR NORTH AS
MADFOUN. AT MADFOUN, HOWEVER, WHILE NORTH-
BOUND TRAFFIC IS PERMITTED THROUGH, TRAFFIC
FROM TRIPOLI SOUTH TOWARD BEIRUT IS HALTED AND
TURNED BACK.


BARTHOLOMEW