MGLE01: SPEAKER BERRI GIVES PREVIEW OF NATIONAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 001276

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/WERNER/SINGH

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2016
TAGS: IR IS LE PARM PGOV PREL PTER
SUBJECT: MGLE01: SPEAKER BERRI GIVES PREVIEW OF NATIONAL
DIALOGUE; DEFENDS IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM

Classified By: Ambassador Jeffrey D. Feltman. Reason: Section 1.4 (d).

SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) In an April 25 meeting with the Ambassador and
econoff, Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri said that Foreign
Minister Fawzi Salloukh was happy with Prime Minister
Siniora's visit to Washington last week. When the Ambassador
asked why Salloukh maintained an unpleasant expression the
whole trip, Berri said that he was upset about an unrelated
ministry issue. Turning to the national dialogue scheduled
to resume April 28, Berri did not expect any progress on the
presidency. He said he intended to cut off the discussion
after an hour if no consensus is reached and declare the
topic closed. Then the dialogue would move on to Hizballah's
arms, a topic which Berri said was easier because it had
"many exits." Berri said he would be open to future national
dialogue sessions as needed, but not to discuss economic
reform. He claimed he would back whomever the Patriarch
selected for the presidency. Regarding his recent trip to
Iran, Berri described Iranian President Ahmadinajad as
impressive and willing to engage in a dialogue with the USG.
Berri defended his public statements in favor in Iran's
nuclear program, using Israel's purported nuclear arsenal as
a justification. In his discussions with Ahmadinajad, Berri
got the impression that Iran does not care if its nuclear
program leads to international isolation. End summary.

SALLOUKH HAPPY WITH
WASHINGTON VISIT?
--------------


2. (C) On April 25, the Ambassador and econoff met with
Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri. The Ambassador began by
briefing Berri on Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's visit to
Washington last week. Berri said he had received a briefing
from Foreign Minister (and Amal-Hizballah ally) Fawzi
Salloukh. Salloukh told Berri that the visit was good, the
Americans were very nice, and the welcome was generous. The
Ambassador agreed that Siniora's visit was very successful,
but expressed surprise at Salloukh's positive report on the
trip given that Salloukh wore a sour face for virtually the
whole trip. Berri explained that Salloukh was indeed
satisfied with the visit. According to Berri, Salloukh was
upset about an unrelated issue. Siniora and President Emile
Lahoud could not agree on new ambassadors, so now Lebanon was
left without ambassadors to some of its most important posts,
including Washington, New York (United Nations),London, and
Tokyo. (Comment: Technically, of course, Lebanon has an
ambassador in Washington -- a discredited, odious one who was
ordered out of town temporarily before Siniora's arrival,
lest his unwelcome presence mar the PM's visit. And Jihad
Mortada isn't scheduled to leave London until the summer.
But we didn't dispute Berri's basic point that ambassadorial
assignments need to be made. End comment.)

LOW EXPECTATIONS FOR
NATIONAL DIALOGUE
--------------


3. (C) Turning to the national dialogue set to resume on
April 28 under Berri's sponsorship, Berri said he did not
expect progress on the presidency. "I am afraid of April 28,
I don't know how we will deal with it." Berri explained that
he understood MP Michel Aoun would not budge on his demand
for the presidency while March 14 would never accept Aoun.
Berri claimed he would allow the discussion on the presidency
to last one hour, and then announce that if the participants
cannot come to an agreement, then the discussion is closed.
Berri will then push the dialogue into the next topic:
Hizballah's arms. The Ambassador asked why Berri considered
the issue of Hizballah's arms to be an easier issue than the
presidency. Berri replied that there were "many exits" on
the arms issue.


4. (C) Berri did not expect the dialogue session to
continue into the weekend. He said that he would be open to
future sessions as needed, but not to discuss economic
reforms. That is what parliament is for, Berri explained.
The Ambassador inquired why Berri had chosen a Friday night
for the upcoming national dialogue session. This would shut
down the upscale "Solidere" area and cost restaurants, shops,
and cafes on their busiest night. Berri chortled: "This is
just one night. They are always complaining. Everyone in
Lebanon wants something for nothing."


BEIRUT 00001276 002 OF 002



5. (C) Going in greater detail on the presidency issue,
Berri claimed he had been approached by both Aoun and MP Saad
Hariri. Aoun asked Berri if he could confirm rumors that
social butterfly Michel Edde was a serious contender for the
presidency. Berri, with a tinkle in his eye, said he told
Aoun the rumors were true, and that he supported Edde for
president because then there would be stability for 12 years.
Berri, delivering the punchline to a probably unamused Aoun,
clarified that it would take the verbose Edde six years to
finish making his inaugural speech and six years for everyone
else to respond. Berri claimed that Hariri had mentioned to
him only one name: former MP Nassib Lahoud. Berri told
Hariri that if he asked President Lahoud to step down in
favor of Nassib, "he would kill me." Berri said his reply to
Hariri was to come back with several names so Berri could
have input, too. Berri insisted that it was he, not the
March 14 backers, who was keeping Boutros Harb's candidacy
alive. In any event, Berri said he backed whomever Maronite
Patriarch Sfeir selected. The Ambassador pointed out that
Sfeir is characteristically opaque and might not ever make a
selection. Berri replied, without humility, that the
Maronites must be like the Shia when they unanimously backed
Berri for Speaker in 2005.

VISIT TO IRAN
--------------


6. (C) Berri, saying that he, too, had been traveling in
mid-April, gave a read-out of his recent trip to Iran.
Following a conference of Muslim parliaments in Istanbul,
Berri traveled to Tehran for a conference on Palestine and
Jerusalem. He noted that gas in Turkey cost USD 45 per 20
liters and only USD 1.50 per 20 liters in Iran. The
conference was attended by Iranian President Ahmadinajad, the
Ayatollah Khamanei, PFLP-GC leader Ahmad Jibril, and PIJ and
Hamas officials. Berri talked with officials of the
Palestinian militant groups telling them they must stay
united or they will lose everything to Israel. Berri
intimated to the Ambassador that although he favored Fatah,
he believed that Fatah and Hamas must work together.


7. (C) Berri's statements about Iran's nuclear program
during his trip made headlines in Lebanon. Berri did not
back away from his comments. He claimed he was opposed to
nuclear weapons as long as the Middle East was a nuclear
weapon-free zone. However, as long as Israel possesses
nuclear weapons (some 200-300 warheads in Berri's
estimation),then every Muslim country has the right to
develop nuclear weapons.


8. (C) Berri said he was very impressed with Ahmadinajad.
He is very interested in dialogue with the USG on Iraq, Berri
said, disputing the Ambassador's point that recent news
reports suggest otherwise. Berri expressed hope that the USG
and Iran will also discuss Lebanon and solve its problems.
Berri said he had asked Ahmadinajad whether he would be
willing to engage the USG on Lebanon, and he did not reply
positively or negatively. The Ambassador asked whether Berri
observed any concern in Iran about the prospect of
international isolation over its nuclear program. Berri
flatly replied: "They don't care. Iranians say the U.S. is
always against Muslims."

BUSY MONTH AHEAD
--------------


9. (C) Berri said parliament had a very busy schedule for
its next session May 3-31. Some 44 "programs" (presumably
draft laws) were scheduled for debate. He said the cellular
question may come up. The Hariri family is opposed to any
reform. Minister of Telecommunications Marwan Hamadeh is a
ready ally to block cellular phone reform, according to
Berri, because he is close to Naseq Hariri. The Ambassador
asked Berri if he anticipated any labor unrest in response to
economic reforms. Berri replied that it a episode like the
labor riots in France is possible. The labor unions will not
accept being required to work more hours, he said.
FELTMAN