Cablegate: Libya's Views On Arab League Ministerial Meeting On Gaza

VZCZCXRO7161
OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHTRO #0988 3651536
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 301536Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4277
INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0156
RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI 4800

UNCLAS TRIPOLI 000988

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/IPA (KNOPF)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPAL KWBG MOPS PHUM UN IS LY
SUBJECT: LIBYA'S VIEWS ON ARAB LEAGUE MINISTERIAL MEETING ON GAZA
SITUATION

REF: A) STATE 134964, B) TRIPOLI 984

1. (SBU) A/DCM conveyed reftel points to MFA Americas Desk
Director Ahmed Aoun on December 30. Aoun took our points on
board, but stressed that while HAMAS' decision to break the
ceasefire had precipitated Israel's military strikes in Gaza,
the decision to execute rocket attacks had come against the
backdrop of the ongoing "siege" of Gaza. Any durable cease-fire
would therefore need to include the immediate lifting of
Israel's blockade against Gaza to facilitate humanitarian
assistance. In both the AL Ministerial and discussions at the
UN, Libya intended to continue calling for a course of action
consisting of: 1) an immediate end to HAMAS' rocket attacks; 2)
an immediate cessation of Israeli military operations in and
around Gaza, and: 3) an immedate lifting of the blockade against
Gaza to permit the in-flow of humanitarian assistance. Aoun
expected that a call for lifting the blockade of Gaza would be a
component of any statement issued in conjunction with the AL
Ministerial, and was careful to note that Libya had and would
argued for balanced statements at the AL Ministerial. He had no
information on who from the GOL would represent Libya at the
Ministerial meeting. He reiterated points reported ref B,
saying Libya and Arab League states with whom the GOL has
consulted continue to believe that the correct address for
action is the UNSC, and that the appropriate mechanism for UN
intervention is a UNSCR.

CRETZ

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