LEBANON: CODEL PELOSI MEETS WITH PM SINIORA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 BEIRUT 000483

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SIPDIS

NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/MARCHESE/HARDING

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2017
TAGS: IS LE PGOV PREL PTER SY
SUBJECT: LEBANON: CODEL PELOSI MEETS WITH PM SINIORA


Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Christopher W. Murray. Reason: Secti
on 1.4 (b).


1. (U) April 2, 2007 meeting in Beirut between CODEL Pelosi
and Prime Minister Siniora.

Lebanese Attendees:
Prime Minister Fouad Siniora
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Elias Murr
Ambassador Mohamed Chatah, Senior Advisor to the Prime
Minister
Ambassador Antoine Chedid, Lebanon's Ambassador Designate to
the U.S.
Roula Nouraddine, Advisor to the Prime Minister (Notetaker)

U.S. Attendees:
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi
Representative Tom Lantos (D-CA)
Representative Henry Waxman (D-CA)
Representative Nick Rahall (D-WV)
Representative David Hobson (R-OH)
Representative Louise Slaughter (D-NY)
Representative Keith Ellison (D-MN)
Charge d'Affaires Christopher W. Murray, U.S. Embassy Beirut
Edward Messmer, U.S. Embassy Beirut (Notetaker)

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


2. (C) PM Siniora told CODEL Pelosi that Lebanon and the
region were at a critical crossroads where the continued
support of the U.S. and the international community were
necessary to introduce democracy and freedom. He warned the
Speaker that Syrian President Bashar al-Asad would use her
visit to Damascus to create the illusion that the
international community is once more accepting Syria.
Siniora urged the Speaker to be clear in her discussions with
Asad that the only way to return to the community of nations
was to accept the Special Tribunal and acknowledge the
sovereignty of Lebanon. Concerning UNSCR 1701, PM Siniora
admitted that the Lebanese-Syrian border was a serious
problem and had produced a Lebanon that was "awash" in
weapons. He also maintained,however, that due to his
reinforcement of the border with an additional 8,600 LAF
troops and unspecified assistance from the German government,
the frontier was steadily becoming more secure. Siniora
asked the U.S. to pursue a comprehensive regional peace
agreement, not only to assure peace for both Israel and the
Arab states, but also to strengthen moderate Islam at the
expense of extremists who were causing so much of the
violence in the region. End summary.


3. (C) Prime Minister Siniora and his advisors received
Speaker Pelosi and her colleagues in an April 2 meeting at
the PM's offices in the Grand Serail in Beirut. Siniora had
meetings with German Chancellor Angela Merkel both before and
after his meeting with Speaker Pelosi. The Prime Minister,
the Speaker, and the Chancellor had a brief private
discussion as the delegations crossed paths in Siniora's
offices. Speaker Pelosi and Chancellor Merkel agreed to urge
all Western legislative bodies to put pressure on Speaker
Nabih Berri to allow Lebanon's parliament to convene.

MUTUAL INTERESTS
--------------


4. (C) PM Siniora said he hoped that the CODEL's visit
would give them a strong understanding of the forces that
were at work in Lebanon and the region. Siniora stated that
he wanted to explain his strategy in dealing with Hizballah
and its political overlords, Syria and Iran. The Prime
Minister argued that the survival of a free and independent
Lebanon, with its tradition of tolerance and diversity, was
critical for the region, and he conveyed his sincere hope
that already generous U.S. support would continue until
Lebanon was able to stand on its own.


5. (C) Speaker Pelosi expressed her appreciation for the
opportunity to see first-hand the developments that began
with the Cedar Revolution in spring 2005. The Speaker
assured the Prime Minister that U.S. support for a democratic
Lebanon was firm and enjoyed bi-partisan support in Congress.
Speaker Pelosi briefly reviewed the considerable
contributions made to AMERICA by Lebanese immigrants and said
that this heritage forged close bonds between the U.S. and
Lebanon. She also commended the Prime Minister for his
stalwart and courageous leadership of Lebanon's pro-reform

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forces and said he had many admirers in the U.S. and the
international community.

CRITICAL JUNCTURE
--------------


6. (C) PM Siniora reported that Lebanon and the region as a
whole were passing through the most important period in the
last fifty years. The powerful forces of Islamic extremists,
encouraged by the selfish ambitions of Iran and Iraq, were
close to overturning the entire region. If successful,their
efforts would result in catastrophic sectarian conflict. The
political and religious moderates of the region were under
severe pressure. Without international assistance and real
movement in the key issue of Arab-Israeli relations, the
moderates could fail, at considerable cost to regional and
global stability.


7. (C) Siniora explained that the 29-year reign of Syrian
control over Lebanon had produced a severely weakened state,
a nearly bankrupt treasury, and most seriously, had deeply
corroded Lebanon's tradition of sectarian peace and
tolerance. Add to this difficult legacy the consequences of
civil conflict and military actions by external forces and
the result was a vulnerable nation buffeted by forces it
could not face alone. However, due to the strength of the
Lebanese people, as demonstrated by the events of spring
2005, and the critical support of the international
community, Lebanon has began to emerge from its troubled past.


8. (C) Unfortunately, Siniora explained, Lebanon now has to
face the combined interference of both Syria and Iran,
exercised through its proxy Hizballah. The reasons were
relatively simple: Syria desired to regain control over its
former ward, and Iran wanted to extend its reach to the
Mediterranean -- and the borders of Israel. Lebanon was
paying a price for its geography. It has to find a way to
neutralize the external forces bent on destroying it as a
sovereign state.

SPECIAL TRIBUNAL AND SOVEREIGNTY
--------------


9. (C) Siniora strongly urged the Speaker and the U.S. to
support rapid establishment of the Special Tribunal. Not
only would an empowered tribunal prosecute those responsible
for the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri,
but it would also serve as a bulwark of Lebanon's
independence. The tribunal, protected by the international
community, would be curtail Syria's ambitions toward its
weaker neighbor. Only with the shield provided by the court
and its sponsorship by the UN Security Council could Lebanon
obtain the political space needed to reach full sovereignty
and democracy.


10. (C) The Prime Minister stressed that the most dangerous
problem facing Lebanon was the external threat imposed by
Syria and Iran. Syria, principally through Hizballah but
also by using other pro-Syrian proxies, has destabilized
Lebanon through political violence that threatens its
still-fragile democracy. Siniora said Syria has been behind
more than 30 assassination attempts against pro-reform forces
over the past three years, and has cared little about
international opinion. He maintained that Syria's plan was
blunt and focused: destabilize Lebanon through political
violence, and prevent its government from functioning.
Speaker Pelosi affirmed her resolve to confront aggressively
Syrian officials with their record of support for terrorism.

A SHACKLED PARLIAMENT
--------------


11. (C) PM Siniora urged the Speaker to put pressure on her
Lebanese counterpart, pro-Syrian Speaker of Parliament Nabih
Berri, to re-convene the Parliament. The Parliament must
act, in order for the country's democratic majority to move
the country forward in reconstruction and reform. Siniora
said it was ironic that Berri has tried to use the argument
that the Siniora government is "illegitimate" when in fact,
it was Berri who was blatantly violating Lebanon's
constitution by single-handedly preventing its legislature to
function.


12. (C) Siniora argued that Speaker Berri's obstructionism
and Hizballah's intimidating presence in the streets of
Beirut were all part and parcel of a Syrian plan to
destabilize, destroy, and finally, re-exert control over

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Lebanon. Siniora implied that Berri could be influenced by
fellow legislators to do the right thing. But even if that
were not possible, at least he would be embarrassed by his
illegal denial of Parliament's right to meet. Speaker Pelosi
assured the Prime Minister that both she and Representative
Slaughter (whose experience on the U.S. House Rules Committee
would be used to explain the democratic legislative process)
would weigh in on the matter when they met with Berri later
in the day.

UNSCR 1701 AND BORDER SECURITY
--------------


13. (C) When asked directly about Lebanon's incomplete
compliance with the provisions of UNSCR 1701, PM Siniora
admitted that securing his country's 470-kilometer border,
particularly along the Syrian frontier, was beyond the
current capability of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF). He
did, however, argue that the LAF, with support from a greatly
strengthened UNIFIL force, was presently patrolling the
country's southern border with Israel. And along the
northern border, the LAF and Lebanon's Internal Security
Forces were about to implement an integrated border security
project, with assistance from Germany's Federal Border Police.


14. (C) But as for securing the remainder of Lebanon's
porous frontier, Siniora acknowledged that this was still a
work in progress. Without going into deployment details or
overall effectiveness, he did state that he has ordered an
additional 8,600 LAF troops to the border region to tighten
control and demonstrate that his government was taking the
problem seriously. Similarly, he argued for sustained
international security assistance, in addition to that which
has already been delivered. Siniora insisted that if he
could transform the LAF into a highly capable force, two
important objectives could be achieved. First, in accordance
with 1701, he could assure the Security Council that Lebanon
was meeting its border obligations. But more importantly,
his government could confidently assert to Hizballah that the
protection of the "resistance" was no longer required or
desired.


15. (C) It was clear that Siniora felt that strengthened
border controls were of critical importance, because, in his
view, not only would it lead to a peaceful disarming of the
terrorist organization, but at the same time, it would
deprive Syria and Iran of a key lever of control inside his
country. Speaker Pelosi conveyed support to the Prime
Minster in this effort and said that Congress would view such
assistance requests with the utmost seriousness.


ADVICE FOR SPEAKING WITH AL-ASAD
--------------


16. (C) Addressing the delegation's visit to Syria, PM
Siniora urged the Speaker to exercise extreme caution in
dealing with Syrian President Bashar al-Asad. "It is not for
nothing that they are known as the best merchants in the
bazaar," remarked Siniora. He warned the Speaker that Asad
could be expected to use her visit to create dissension in
the international community and paint the Speaker's visit as
part of Syria's "accepted return" to the community of
nations. Siniora said talks with the Syrian President were
possible, but one had to make "absolutely clear" the
international demand that Syria cease its destructive
interference in neighboring countries, and in Lebanon's case,
accept the Special Tribunal.


17. (C) Siniora's senior advisor, Ambassador Chatah,
interjected that although the Syrian regime was primarily
interested in its own survival, it also placed great
importance on the recovery of the long-lost Golan Heights.
At present, Chatah said, Syria believes it enhances its
chances to recover the Golan by "bullying" Lebanon. Chatah
suggested that the Speaker make clear to Asad that Syria's
violent interference in Lebanon in fact has the opposite
effect: it makes Syrian recovery of the Golan ever more
distant.


18. (C) Siniora cautioned against making any statements to
the Syrian regime that could be even remotely interpreted as
acquiescence to irresponsible Syrian behavior. The Prime
Minister warned that any talk about a "deal" that would give
Syria even a trace of control in Lebanon would in effect lead
inexorably to reassertion of complete Syrian control.
Siniora concluded that Syria simply does not understand

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mutual respect for other nations, unless this principle is
laid out in the starkest terms and with serious consequences
for unacceptable behavior.


19. (C) In closing, PM Siniora declared that his government
and its pro-reform allies are trying to undo years of
political oppression and conflict and create a nation that
embraces all segments of Lebanese society. He stated that
Lebanon wants to establish "good relations" with Syria, and
following a successful regional peace plan, relations with
Israel. But at this critical phase, he urged the U.S. to
support Lebanon's fragile democracy with all its power and
influence. Not only would a successful outcome create a
stable, democratic, and prosperous Lebanon, but Siniora
assured his guests that the region and the U.S. would also
accrue substantial and long-lasting benefits.


20. (C) Members of the CODEL raised with Siniora their
concern aboutthe fate of the two Israeli soldiers kidnapped
by Hizballah on July 12 of 2006. Siniora acknowledged the
validity of their interest, and regretted that he knew
nothing whatsoever of the soldiers' status.


21. (U) CODEL Pelosi departed post before clearing this
message.
MURRAY