Cablegate: Mgle01: Former President Elias Hrawi Passes Away

VZCZCXRO2082
OO RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHKUK RUEHLZ
DE RUEHLB #2290 1881359
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 071359Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4495
INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY

UNCLAS BEIRUT 002290

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/WERNER/SINGH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV LE
SUBJECT: MGLE01: FORMER PRESIDENT ELIAS HRAWI PASSES AWAY
ON JULY 7

REF: BEIRUT 2174

1. At about 3:00 PM local on July 7, former Lebanese
President Elias Hrawi passed away from cancer. Reftel
describes in detail the record and legacy of President Hrawi,
who served in office from 1989 to 1998.

2. With Hrawi's death occurring only a few hours ago,
funeral arrangements are still being worked out by the Hrawi
family. The funeral will most likely take place on Sunday,
July 9. While there will be a series of condolence events,
we do not expect the government to close for a day of
mourning.

3. Embassy recommends the prompt issuance of condolence
messages along the lines suggested paras 17-18, reftel. The
Ambassador spoke with Hrawi's widow, Mona, on the afternoon
of July 7 to convey sympathies.
FELTMAN

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