VZCZCXRO1289
RR RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHKUK RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHLB #0436 1060925
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 160925Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4682
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC

UNCLAS BEIRUT 000436 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR NEA/RA, EUR/SCE 
ALSO FOR EEB/IFD/OMA, EEB/IFD/ODF 
TREASURY FOR DANIEL SCHMERIN 
NSC FOR SHAPIRO/MCDERMOTT 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON EFIN PREL LE KV
SUBJECT: LEBANON WILL FOLLOW ARAB LEAGUE LEAD ON KOSOVO MEMBERSHIP 
IN IMF AND WORLD BANK 
 
REF: STATE 33629 
 
¶1. (SBU) The Ambassador delivered reftel demarche to Finance 
Minister Mohammad Chatah (Lebanon's World Bank Governor) and Central 
Bank Governor Riad Salameh (Lebanon's IMF Governor) during separate 
meetings April 8. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Chatah expressed enthusiasm for Kosovo's membership, but 
cautioned that he would have to check with the Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs, Prime Minister, and possibly the full cabinet before 
committing Lebanon's vote, given that his country had not yet 
recognized Kosovo's independence.  He assured the Ambassador that, 
under any circumstance, he would cast his vote in order to ensure a 
quorum. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Salameh told the Ambassador he would gladly vote for 
Kosovo's membership in the IMF, but in a follow-up conversation with 
Econ Staff, he said he was working with the Prime Minister to 
determine the government's position on the issue, and would respond 
to the Embassy with further information. 
 
¶4. (U) Post will pass any further information on the GOL position to 
Washington contacts mentioned in reftel.  Post POC is EconOff Amy 
Tachco. 
 
SISON