Lebanon:Wikileaks: Feltman Complains about “KSA Not Supporti...

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Wikileaks: Feltman Complains about “KSA Not Supporting March 14”

Local Editor

Wikileaks revealed a new batch of cables on new events related to Lebanon. According to the published cables is one issued by the US Embassy in Abu Dhabi, UAE, in which Secretary Acting Assistant Secretary Jeffrey Feltman discussed "a pattern of Saudi behavior of withholding financial assistance - not supporting March 14 in Lebanon, not sending funds to the PA". The meeting, in addition to Feltman, included US Secretary Hillary Clinton and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed on the 7th of April 2009.

According to the cable, Secretary Clinton noted "the need to support Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) in the run up to the elections with concrete displays of support." Feltman added that "the UAE had been particularly helpful already by funding the delivery of the first ten refurbished tanks for the LAF."

On his part, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed noted that "he would meet with visiting Lebanese Minister of Defense Murr later on April 7, adding that "the UAE will purchase additional munitions for LAF helicopters, donated by the UAE to LAF last year, but is waiting for France to provide a price estimate."

In another cable issued in May 2008, US Ambassador Craig R. Stapleton to France at the time, told US President in preparation for the French President's visit to the US that "The French refuse to "take sides" in a way that would put pressure on Hizbullah despite their firm view that March 8 and the Syrians are responsible for Lebanon's political stalemate." He added "We, the French largely share the same view that it is vital that the UN investigation into the many political assassinations in Lebanon lead as rapidly as possible to indictments and prosecution."

Stapleton also said that "The French Presidency learned its lesson from its failed attempt to work with Syria late last year to secure election of a new president in Lebanon. France has resisted repeated Syrian appeals to resume that effort or start a new one. However, they are out of ideas as far as how best to move things forward and have adopted the public line that the only diplomatic initiative in play is the one the Arab League."

He asserted "The current crisis (in Lebanon) has underscored a key divergence in the French approach from ours, i.e., the degree to which it supports the majority March 14 movement as well as the Lebanese government. Repeatedly, the French have asserted that they support the government led by PM Siniora but do not accept that the movement behind him, which they see as one unstable faction among many, deserves the same full support."