LEBANON CRISIS: REQUEST FOR HIGH-LEVEL CALL TO HOLY SEE

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/6/2016
TAGS: PREL LE VT
SUBJECT: LEBANON CRISIS: REQUEST FOR HIGH-LEVEL CALL TO HOLY SEE

REF: (A) STATE 193090 (B) Larrea-Sandrolini emails (C) VATICAN 239 (D) VATICAN

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CLASSIFIED BY: Christopher Sandrolini, Charge d'Affaires, EXEC,
State.
REASON: 1.4 (d)
SEE ACTION REQUEST IN PARA 9.




1. (S) Summary. The Holy See is struggling to determine the
best course of action in Lebanon, and we may be able to tip the
balance if we act promptly. Deputy FM-equivalent Parolin and
the papal nuncio in Washington seem ready to raise the level of
the Vatican's role in bringing the Lebanese Christian community
together, thus helping to preserve both the community and the
state itself. Parolin believes the US should engage Syria as a
sine qua non for a settlement in Lebanon, and also thinks the
Siniora government and its international supporters erred
tactically in pressing too hard on the Hariri investigation.
Embassy recommends a prompt high-level call from Department to
FM Mamberti. End summary.




2. (S) Charge d'Affaires and poloff delivered Lebanon points
(refs a and b) on December 6 to Monsignor Pietro Parolin, the
Holy See's Under Secretary for Relations with States (equivalent
to deputy foreign minister) and pressed for ideas on how to
address the growing crisis in Lebanon. Charge particularly
stressed the urgency of the situation; the need to bolster the
Siniora government and oppose Syrian machinations; Aoun's
cynical maneuvers; Lahoud's overdue departure; the danger to the
Christian population in Lebanon; and the roles of the Holy See,
Patriarch Sfeir, and the USG.



LEBANON AT CRITICAL POINT

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3. (S) Parolin readily agreed that Lebanon was at a "critical
point", going as far as to say that its very existence was at
stake. He agreed that the divisions in the Christian community
were troubling and damaging to the community's own interests.
"[The lay Christian leaders] are looking out for their personal
interests and not those of the community," he said, "but in fact
are hurting everyone." Parolin conceded that the Patriarch's
advanced years may have rendered him unable to take the strong
role needed to rally Christian leaders to productive positions.




4. (S) Charge urged that the Holy See and the papal nuncio in
Beirut (Archbishop Luigi Gatti) play a more visible role in
supporting Siniora and encouraging Lahoud's departure. Parolin
let the reference to Gatti pass, but clearly understood that
more leadership was needed. (Note: Parolin was aware of last
week's meeting between Ambassador Rooney and Washington nuncio
Sambi -- ref b -- but apparently has not yet received a readout.
Sambi told us he would press Rome on Gatti, who has been
ineffective despite having more than two decades of experience
with Lebanon. End note.)



WHAT NEXT?

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5. (S) According to Parolin, the Holy See understands that
something needs to be done with Christian leaders (including
Aoun, who it sees as manipulated by Hizballah),and the Vatican
is perhaps the only entity in a position to do it. At our
prompting, Parolin said the Vatican is considering a number of
options -- such as sending a papal envoy sent to meet with the
patriarch, nuncio and lay Christian leaders -- but nothing has
been decided. He added that he could not say more at this time,
adding that it would be important to see the results of the
December 6 meeting of Maronite bishops before acting further.




6. (S) Parolin observed that the Holy See is hesitant to get too
involved in Lebanon, conscious of the tendency of Christians
there to look for outside intervention to resolve their
differences, instead of organizing themselves. In this case,
however, the situation was too grave to stand by and do nothing.
The first step would likely be an appeal from the pope -
something he would commonly weave into his weekly address
Wednesday or Sunday. The pope dedicated his December 6 address
to Turkey, but included a coda about Lebanon: "in the face of

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the dark forces that are trying to destroy the country, I call
on all Lebanese not to allow themselves to be conquered by
hatred, but to reinforce national unity, justice, and
reconciliation, and to work together to build a future of peace.
I call on the leaders of countries who have at heart the
destiny of that region to contribute to a global and negotiated
solution of the various situations of injustice that have marked
it for too many years."



HOLY SEE RECOMMENDATIONS

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7. (S) Parolin raised two points of difference with our approach
in Lebanon. Acknowledging USG suspicions of Syrian behavior, he
nevertheless urged that the USG talk to Damascus and find a way
to engage the Syrians in any negotiation on Lebanon. "If you
don't involve them, they are going to be a continuing problem
there," he insisted. Parolin agreed completely that the
Tribunal must move forward on investigating the Hariri murder,
but cautioned that it be done more prudently. He felt that the
Siniora government -- and its international supporters -- had
erred in pushing too hard too soon, thus provoking Hizballah and
weakening the government. With regard to the extent of U.S.
contacts with lay Christian leaders in Lebanon, Parolin
encouraged the USG to push them to abandon their
self-destructive behavior.



COMMENT

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8. (S) The normally reticent Holy See is struggling to determine
the best course of action in Lebanon. Parolin is passionate
about the country, and we judge that both he and Archbishop
Sambi (in Washington) are pressing for a strong stand but face
internal opposition. (For example, Parolin's views appear
startlingly different from those of his deputy for Lebanon; we
will report further on this). The Holy See doesn't lack for
skeptics concerning the USG's recent history in the region --
above all in Iraq, but also in moving too slowly to seek a
ceasefire in Lebanon this summer. Nevertheless, our contacts
also understand that both we and they have a critical role
there. A focus on giving priority to the interests of Lebanon
-- and its multi-faith democracy -- could persuade the Holy See
to act more boldly to bring errant Christian leaders together
and speed the departure of Lahoud.




9. (S) ACTION REQUEST. We may be able to tip the balance. We
recommend a prompt call from Washington at the highest level
possible to Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, the Holy See's new
Secretary for Relations with States (i.e. foreign minister),to

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urge decisive action by the Holy See and its representatives in
Lebanon.
SANDROLINI