MGLE01--AMBASSADOR'S FIRST MEETING WITH FOREIGN

S E C R E T BEIRUT 002425


NSC FOR ABRAMS/DANIN/POUNDS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2015
TAGS: LE PGOV PREL PTER SY
SUBJECT: MGLE01--AMBASSADOR'S FIRST MEETING WITH FOREIGN
MINISTER-DESIGNATE FAWZI SALLOUKH

Classified By: Jeffrey Feltman, Ambassador. Reason: Sections 1.4 (b)
and (d)


1. (C) Summary: In his first meeting with the Ambassador,
Fawzi Salloukh on 7/25 highlighted his long friendship with
the United States, promised an open dialogue between the two
countries, and tried to put a good face on future
Lebanon-Syrian relations. Salloukh, a Shia from southern
Lebanon, described foreign fighters in Iraq as "terrorists"
who had to be stopped. But he dodged taking a government
position on UNSCR 1559 before the ministerial declaration of
policy is published as early as July 26. He accepted, in
principle, the Secretary's recent invitation (offered in the
course of the Secretary's press conference in Beirut on 7/22)
to visit the United States. End summary.


2. (C) Fawzi Salloukh, the newly designated Minster for
Foreign Affairs, received the Ambassador and Pol Chief
cordially on 7/25 on their first official call. The
Secretary's visit to Beirut dominated the first part of the
conversation with the Ambassador. While hinting that such
visits should properly be coordinated through the MFA,
Salloukh noted that he was pleased with the Secretary's trip
and flattered by her invitation to visit the United States.
Although the Minister-designate was unsure when he might
travel to the U.S., he said that the UNGA might be a good
opportunity to take up the invitation of the Secretary. He
said that the Secretary's messages to Lebanon were clear and
well understood, including on the need for Lebanon to accept
its international obligations (e.g., UNSCR 1559). He looked
forward to close cooperation with the USG and with the
Embassy. Describing himself as "a conservative diplomat,"
Salloukh acknowledged that secrecy, and departures from
traditional procedures, were necessary at times. The
Secretary's visit to Lebanon was such an occasion. He
reassured the Ambassador, however, that he was discreet and
that matters discussed with the Ministry would not find their
way into the press.


3. (C) Turning to the present border troubles with Syria,
the Foreign Minister-designate tried to sound hopeful. "We
will attack our Syrian neighbors with love," he said. Prime
Minister-designate Fouad Siniora had already agreed to take
up the border closings with the Syrian government as soon as
the government received its vote of confidence this week.
Salloukh added that, as a farmer from the south of Lebanon,
he was suffering from the loss of trade that has hit many
Lebanese business people. He has a personal interest in
solving the crisis with Syria. But Salloukh stopped short of
requesting international assistance in the border issue. He
said Lebanon would be grateful if its friends allowed the
Lebanese to define their relations with Syria. He said he
would work with love and respect to win over the Syrians.
When the Ambassador pointed out that Syria had never
reciprocated Lebanon's kindly affections, the
Minister-designate asked that the new government be given a
chance to redefine its relationship with Syria before the
international community passes judgment.


4. (C) Salloukh said he thought the recently-named
government would receive a vote of confidence from the
Parliament in the coming week. In the meantime, the
designated ministers had been meeting over the weekend to
come up with a policy statement and a list of priorities for
the new government. Salloukh was adamant that he could not
discuss the statement in detail, but he said the government
would seek a program of social, political, and administrative
reforms to address Lebanon's pressing needs. Salloukh said
the document should be ready after a final ministerial
meeting on the evening of July 25. Addressing UNSCR 1559,
the Foreign Minister-designate said the most important
portions of the resolution were fulfilled. What remained was
an internal issue to be solved by the Lebanese in a Lebanese
fashion. At the same time, Lebanon was mindful of its
international obligations.


5. (C) The Ambassador outlined the activities of the 6/13
core group meeting in Paris and potential follow-on support.
Explaining that the Paris meeting would be followed up by a
Beirut meeting of the core group, the Ambassador stressed
that the core group would only proceed with assistance plans
for Lebanon in partnership with the GOL and in accordance
with GOL priorities. The Minister-designate said that his
government was grateful for the work done in Paris and looked
forward to participating in a Beirut meeting in the future.
Lebanon, Salloukh said, has many needs. The debt burden
which weighs on the Lebanese economy precludes the GOL taking
action on many of these needs. He said Lebanon would not be
confronting donors with a "shopping list" of development
needs, but is willing to participate in a real dialogue with
partners for the good of the Lebanese people.


6. (S) The Ambassador used the occasion to present to the
Minister-designate reftel (b) demarche concerning UNSCR 1546
and the infiltration of foreign fighters into Iraq. The
Minister-designate became solemn and noted sadly the innocent
lives lost in Iraq as a result of these "terrorists." He
acknowledged that Lebanese are among the foreign fighters.
He said that his government believes that this infiltration
must be stopped. Salloukh accepted the demarche and promised
to study it carefully. He added that he hoped that the
multi-national force in Iraq would soon be able to finish its
work and leave the country. The Minister-designate said he
knew that the USG was paying a high price for its involvement
in Iraq and did not relish the thought of staying any longer
than necessary.


7. (C) Comment: Foreign Minister-designate Salloukh's use
of the word "terrorist" to describe foreign fighters in Iraq
is a welcome first among Lebanese officials. As a Shia
intellectual, he might feel more sharply than other Lebanese
about the suffering of Shia civilians at the hands of
terrorists in Iraq. Salloukh was one of the Shia Ministers
selected by the Amal/Hizballah political alliance in
assembling the new Cabinet. In his first meeting with the
Ambassador, the Minister-designate showed off a picture of
himself with retired Ambassador Thomas Pickering, and
repeatedly recalled his friendly relations with American
diplomats over his years of diplomatic service that stretched
from his first posting in Liberia in the erly 1960's to his
Ambassadorship in Brussels in the mid-1990s. The meeting was
pleasant enough, with Salloukh careful not to contradict
Lebanon's obligations under UNSCR 1559. The meeting was also
largely rhetoric-free, with Salloukh not bothering with his
predecessor's frequent references to the suffering of the
Palestinians. Yet Salloukh did not show any sparks of
creativity, initiative, or charisma. What the MFA really
needs is an engaging character who can break its "branch
office" relationship with the Syrian MFA. We should not
expect much from a Salloukh-led MFA. End comment.


FELTMAN