MGLE01: SPEAKER BERRI MEETS WITH CODEL DREIER;

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 002236

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/WERNER/SINGH

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/03/2016
TAGS: IS KDEM LE OVIP PGOV PREL PTER
SUBJECT: MGLE01: SPEAKER BERRI MEETS WITH CODEL DREIER;
AGREES TO PARLIAMENTARY EXCHANGE

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

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


1. (C/NF) In a July 3 meeting with Codel Dreier and the
Ambassador, Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri welcomed the
delegation and agreed enthusiastically to future
parliamentary exchanges. Regarding the national dialogue,
Berri said that it was Lebanon's only chance to avoid
confessional strife, and especially Sunni-Shia conflict. He
said that July 25 will be the last session at which the
dialogue will address Hizballah's arms. After July 25,
future meetings will focus on implementing the decisions
already reached at the national dialogue. End summary.

BERRI ENTHUSIASTIC
ABOUT FUTURE EXCHANGES
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2. (C/NF) On July 3, Codel Dreier, the Ambassador, and
econoff met with Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri in Ayn
el-Tinneh. Berri warmly greeted the delegation and welcomed
the Codel's offer of parliamentary exchanges. He said that
he had similar agreements with legislatures in France and
other European countries, so it was time for one with the
U.S. Congress, considering that some of its members are of
Lebanese descent and that there are over one million
Lebanese-Americans. Chairman Dreier, on behalf of the House
Democracy Assistance Commission that he leads, said that the
Commission sought to strengthen democracies like that of
Lebanon. Dreier invited a Lebanese parliamentary delegation
to visit Arkansas for a week as a guest of Codel member
Representative Boozman, to be followed by a week in
Washington. Berri immediately accepted on behalf of his
colleagues in Parliament. Berri also welcomed Chairman
Dreier's offer of books for the Lebanese parliamentary
library.

FROM NATIONAL DIALOGUE
TO IMPLEMENTATION
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3. (C/NF) The delegation asked Berri about his views of the
national dialogue set to resume on July 25. Berri replied
that the dialogue is Lebanon's only chance for stability. He
described the current situation as dangerous, "like before
1982." His top priority was avoiding a Sunni-Shia conflict.
Berri considered the national dialogue a success on two
counts: for getting enemies like Michel Aoun and Walid
Jumblatt to sit together at a round table, for achieving
results. Berri claimed the dialogue was a success on 10 of
the 12 subjects it took up. The one failure was the dialogue
participants' inability to agree on replacing President Emile
Lahoud. The other issue, Hizballah's arms, was still
outstanding, pending the July 25 session. Berri expects to
discuss the "resistance strategy" at the July 25 session.


4. (C/NF) Berri said any dialogue session after July 25
will focus on implementing the decisions already made. He
explained that change in Lebanon will take time. The
Lebanese have to "go back to school" to learn the basics of
peaceful coexistence. (Note: Prior to Berri's meeting with
the Codel, his foreign affairs adviser Ali Hamdan told
econoff that July 25 will not be the last session of the
national dialogue. Rather, it will be the last to discuss
the issues on the table, including Hizballah's arms. There
may well be more sessions with new issues. End note.)

COMMENT
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5. (C/NF) Berri was cordial and in good humor. He only
mentioned Israel and the plight of the Palestinians once
before returning to the pzrliamentary exchange subjects at
hand. End comment.


6. (U) Codel Dreier did not have the opportunity to clear
this cable.
FELTMAN