MGLE01: NATIONAL DIALOGUE POSTPONED UNTIL AFTER

UNCLAS BEIRUT 000700

SIPDIS

NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/WERNER/SINGH
PARIS FOR ZEYA
LONDON FOR TSOU

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KISL PHUM KDEM LE PTER
SUBJECT: MGLE01: NATIONAL DIALOGUE POSTPONED UNTIL AFTER
THE RETURN OF DRUZE LEADER JUMBLATT



1. (SBU) The national dialogue came to a temporary halt on
March 7 following a dispute between Hizballah SYG Nasrallah
and Speaker Nabih Berri on the one hand and Minister of
Information Ghazi Aridi, representing Druze leader Walid
Jumblatt, on the other. The disagreement arose over a
statement made by Druze leader Walid Jumblatt in Washington
in which Jumblatt labeled Hizballah as a militia and refuted
Lebanese claims to Sheba'a farms. Speaking to the
participants in the session, Nasrallah said "I cannot
continue the dialogue in the absence of Jumblatt," while
Berri decided to postpone the dialogue until after the
return of Jumblatt, despite strong opposition from Aridi.
At last word, the dialogue will resume on March 13,
following what Speaker Berri described as an opportunity for
the dialogue participants to consult with their
constituencies.


2. (SBU) It appears that Hassan Nasrallah used statements
made by Jumblatt in Washington as a pretext to halt the
current national dialogue. Minister of Industry Pierre
Gemayel, who is participating in the dialogue, told us March
7 that at the initial session of that day's dialogue
meeting, Nasrallah said that Hizballah couldn't continue the
dialogue in the absence of Walid Jumblatt. Gemayel told us
Nasrallah argued that, "it does not make sense for us to
continue the dialogue as long as Jumblatt is making his
remarks outside the country." Nasrallah added, "we came to
the table with an open mind and we are aware that in the end
we will have to give concessions, but entering in a dialogue
does not mean that others should impose on us what they
think is right." Gemayel said that with that statement,
Nasrallah walked out of the room.


3. (SBU) Gemayel blamed Jumblatt for stirring up problems
with Hizballah and noted that participants had been able to
convince Nasrallah to agree to disarm Hizballah provided
that Lebanon has a strong army that could defend the
country. Gemayel feared that friction with Jumblatt might
bring Nasrallah to take a harder line with the other
dialogue participants. Other participants also echoed
similar position and blamed Jumblatt for the deadlock. MP
Boutros Harb said, "Jumblatt's comments were unproductive,"
while MP Elie Skaff described them as "unhelpful and
distractive."


4. (SBU) Minister of Information Ghazi Aridi told us March
7 that Hizballah used Jumblatt's comments, which he said
were not new, as a pretext to foil the national dialogue.
Aridi indicated that he rejected attempts to blame Jumblatt
for the cessation of the talks and said that he rejected
Speaker Berri's decision to adjourn the session until the
return of Jumblatt. Aridi said that Berri agreed to a
conciliatory gesture toward Jumblatt and issued a press
statement indicating that talks were postponed because there
was a disagreement over the issue of Sheba' and not over
Jumblatt's remarks.
FELTMAN