LEBANON: PARLIAMENTARIANS STRESS COOPERATION, AID

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000756 SIPDIS SIPDIS NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/MARCHESE/HARDING E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/29/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM EAID LE SUBJECT: LEBANON: PARLIAMENTARIANS STRESS COOPERATION, AID Classified By: Ambassador Jeffrey D. Feltman. Reason: Sections 1.4 (b ) and (d). SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (U) On May 28, the House Democracy Assistance Commission (HDAC) Legislative Strengthening Program brought together members of the U.S. House of Representativs and leading members of the Lebanese Parliament. The U.S. delegation held three sessions with the following groups of Lebanese MPs: Members of the Foreign Affairs Committee: Abed al-Latif Zein (Shia, allied with Amal) Abdallah Hanna (Greek Orthodox, Future Movement) Walid Khoury (Maronite, allied with Michel Aoun) Yassin Jaber (Shia, allied with Amal) Members of the Budget and Finance, and Justice and Administration Committees: Samir Azar (Maronite, allied with Amal) Ghassan Moukheyber (Greek Orthodox, allied with Aoun) Anwar al-Khalil (Druze, allied with Amal) Yassin Jaber Robert Ghanem (Maronite, 14 March Coalition) Jawad Boulous (Maronite, 14 March Coalition) Select Committee Chairmen: Robert Ghanem Mohammad Qabbani (Sunni, Future Movement) Michel Moussa (Greek Catholic, allied with Amal) U.S. Attendees, present at all sessions: HDAC Chairman Representative David Price (D-NC) Representative Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) Representative Nick Rahall (D-WV) Representative Gwendolynne Moore (D-WI) Edward Messmer, U.S. Embassy Beirut Visiting HDAC representatives on May 28 met with select Lebanese parliamentarians to demonstrate U.S. support to Lebanese constitutional institutions and discuss potential future aid to parliamentary committees. HDAC's session with members of the Lebanese Foreign Affairs Committee focused on ways in which the U.S. can embolden UNIFIL troops in the south and pave the way for an eventual internal Lebanese discussion on the status of Hizballah's arms. Sessions with Budget and Finance and Justice and Administration Committees and select committee chairs highlighted potential bilateral cooperation and proposed aid. Select committee chairs also discussed the potential impact on the Lebanese parliament of UNSC action on the Hariri tribunal. End Summary. ADVICE FOR STRENGTHENING LEBANON -------------- ¶2. (C) Visiting representatives of the House Democracy Assistance Commission (HDAC) Legislative Strengthening Program on May 28 met with select Lebanese parliamentarians to demonstrate continuing U.S. support to Lebanese constitutional institutions. Members of the Lebanese Foreign Affairs Committee highlighted the cessation of Israeli overflights of southern Lebanon and the establishment of a formal ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon as the most important ways to strengthen Lebanese democracy and sovereignty. Yassin Jaber argued that Israeli overflights undermine UNIFIL's authority and cause Lebanese citizens to live in constant fear of an Israeli invasion. He suggested that turning Sheba'a Farms over to the UN and halting overflights would open the door for a Lebanese discussion of the status of Hizballah's arms. Walid Khoury proposed that the establishment of a new election law -- one that would be seen as more representative of public opinion -- would have prevented the political problems Lebanon faces today. Abed al-Latif Zein emphasized the importance of the U.S. in the Middle East and urged the U.S. to deal equally with all parties in working towards a broader peace agreement in the region. REQUESTING TECHNICAL AND LEGAL AID -------------- ¶3. (C) Lebanese Budget and Finance Committee attendees passed HDAC members a concept paper describing the establishment of a "Scrutiny Unit" and proposing elements that would most benefit from U.S. financial and technical assistance. The Unit aims to ensure greater parliamentary scrutiny of BEIRUT 00000756 002 OF 002 government spending and improve financial accountability. Lebanese parliamentarians described the proposed project as a step toward an independent auditing commission; they believe that there is political will among all sides -- including Speaker of Parliament Berri and "even Hizballah" -- in favor of such a project. They envision the unit to include specialists in law and technical issues,who would assist parliamentarians from all committees with budgetary questions. HDAC Chairman Price offered U.S. cooperation and suggested establishing a consolidated proposal as the next step. ¶4. (C) Lebanese committee chairmen, in a separate meeting, also emphasized the need for U.S. legal and technical expertise. Mohammad Qabbani proposed a permanent legal assistant to advise all parliamentary committees on legal matters. Michel Moussa suggested U.S. aid to Lebanese parliamentary committees as a way to assist all political factions, since members of both the majority and opposition camps compose the committees. Qabbani emphasized that U.S. assistance should be constant and continuous, not delivered in a one-time deal. POST-TRIBUNAL PLANNING -------------- ¶5. (C) Concerning the Hariri tribunal, Qabbani opined that the seemingly imminent establishment of the court by the UNSC would provide stability for Lebanon. He said it did not mean, however, that the parliament would finally convene. Qabbani thought that the parliament would meet once an agreement has been reached on the mechanisms to elect a new president. He elaborated that a candidate need not be named, but questions regarding the necessary quorum to elect a president need to be resolved before Parliament Speaker Berri will call the parliament into session. According to Robert Ghanem, Lebanon is "in trouble" until the tribunal is implemented, and then "things will go smoothly." ¶6. (U) Codel Price (aka HDAC delegation) did not have an opportunity to clear this cable. FELTMAN