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