VZCZCXRO2031
OO RUEHROV RUEHTRO
DE RUCNDT #0750 2180234
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 060234Z AUG 09 ZDK
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7038
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000750 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/05/2019 
TAGS: PREL PTER KPKO KBIO UNSC IS LE
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RICE'S AUGUST 5 MEETING WITH UNIFIL 
FORCE COMMANDER 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Susan E. Rice for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1.  (C) SUMMARY: Ambassador Rice met with UNIFIL Force 
Commander General Graziano on August 5 to discuss UNIFIL's 
needs, its mandate renewal before the Security Council, and 
the July 14-18 incidents in Khirbat Silim.  General Graziano 
underscored that the real problem facing UNIFIL is the lack 
of progress on political issues and the risk that an incident 
will lead to a broader conflict.  He asked that the Council, 
when undertaking UNIFIL's mandate renewal, stress to the 
parties the need for their full cooperation with UNIFIL.  He 
said that the Khirbat Silim incident will allow UNIFIL to 
press the LAF to work even more with it in southern Lebanon. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  (C) Ambassador Rice met on August 5 with UNIFIL Force 
Commander Major General Claudio Graziano who was in New York 
for a DPKO Head of Mission/Force Commanders conference. 
Ambassador Rice pressed General Graziano to articulate any 
needs that UNIFIL may have so that it can more robustly carry 
out its mandate.  General Graziano demurred on citing any 
specific equipment or manpower needs.  He said that UNIFIL's 
troop strength at 12,000-12,500 is appropriate, given the 
significant number of European battalions in UNIFIL who are 
more mechanized and, therefore, more powerful.  If there were 
fewer European battalions in UNIFIL, then a higher manpower 
level, closer to the authorized 15,000 troop ceiling would be 
needed, he said. 
 
¶3.  (C) General Graziano stressed that the real problem 
facing UNIFIL is the lack of progress on political issues and 
the risk that an incident will lead to a broader conflict. 
He said that a few of the troop contributing countries may 
come to the conclusion that progress toward a political 
solution is not possible and will decide to withdraw their 
participation from UNIFIL.  He also cited the difficulties 
facing the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) given the lack of 
Lebanese political leadership during the government formation 
process.  In terms of assistance specifically from the 
Security Council during the mandate renewal process, he asked 
that the Council stress to the parties the need for their 
full cooperation with UNIFIL. 
 
¶4.  (C) Ambassador Rice referred to her testimony before the 
House Foreign Affairs Committee on July 29 when she received 
a number of questions about whether UNIFIL was acting 
robustly enough and whether it was sympathetic to Hizballah. 
Graziano said that he had read her testimony and that 
UNIFIL's mandate, while not the best one, was the best 
possible one at the time.  He said that a different mandate 
would not be possible today in Lebanon because it would make 
an enemy of Hizballah and Hizballah, to the people of 
southern Lebanon, is not just a militia but also a political 
party and a symbol of resistance to Israel.  When questioned 
about LAF-Hizballah cooperation, Graziano replied that he 
does not think there is actual military cooperation between 
the two but they do speak a lot, particularly given that 
Hizballah is part of the government. 
 
¶5.  (C) General Graziano noted that UNIFIL will be able to 
use the Khirbat Silim incident on July 14 to press the LAF to 
work even more with UNIFIL.  In terms of the impediments to 
UNIFIL's freedom of movement surrounding the Khirbat Silim 
event, Graziano said that the key is to work even harder to 
explain UNIFIL's mandate to the local population.  He said 
that generally the population likes UNIFIL but Hizballah does 
exercise a lot of influence.  He noted that there is a 
difference between a crowd of stone-throwing women and 
children and one of armed militia members. 
 
¶6.  (C) Bio Note: Major General Graziano told Ambassador Rice 
that he expects to be promoted on January 1, so he has no 
plans to stay on with UNIFIL past the expiration of his term 
as UNIFIL Force Commander in February 2010.  He said that he 
does not yet know what his onward assignment will be with the 
Italian military.  (Comment: We understand from Italian 
military sources at the UN, Graziano may be in line to 
eventually assume the Italian Joint Chiefs of Staff 
position-equivalent.  End comment.) 
RICE