LEBANON: PRESIDENT SLEIMAN ACCEPTS INVITATION TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 001068 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA ALSO FOR IO A/S SILVERBERG AND PDAS WARLICK USUN FOR KHALILZAD/WOLFF/KUMAR/PHEE P FOR HERORO MUSTAFA NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/YERGER/GAVITO E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/21/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS SY LE SUBJECT: LEBANON: PRESIDENT SLEIMAN ACCEPTS INVITATION TO SYRIA Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. William Grant for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (U) On July 21 Lebanese President Sleiman accepted an invitation from Syrian FM Moallem on behalf of President Bashar Asad to visit Damascus. Moallem traveled to Beirut to deliver the invitation, and later made a press statement reiterating Syria's support for establishing diplomatic relations with its neighbor. He did not discount the possibility of negotiating tough issues such as border demarcation and, regarding Lebanese detainees in Syria, said that "Those who have waited more than 30 years... can wait a few more weeks." Demonstrators representing families of those detained protested Moallem's visit near Baabda Palace. ¶2. (U) Lebanese officials and the media widely praised the visit, although some March 14 leaders remain skeptical of Syria's commitment. Moallem's visit is the first step towards more normalized state-to-state relations between Lebanon and Syria but significant, substantive issues remain. End Summary. SLEIMAN RECEIVES SYRIAN ENVOY WHILE PROTESTERS WAIT -------------- ¶3. (U) Lebanese President Michael Sleiman received Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem at Baabda Palace on July 21. The Syrian FM arrived in Beirut via Beirut International Airport (rather than by land border between the two countries) and was met by Lebanese Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh. Moallem presented an invitation from Syrian President Bashar Asad to Sleiman to visit Damascus. ¶4. (U) According to press reports, this is the first Syrian visit to Beirut in years that is directly related to the Syria-Lebanon bilateral relationship. The news of the invitation from Asad had been rumored since Sleiman's election May 25. Lebanese press sources have indicated that Sleiman could make the trip to Syria as soon as July 26, although Sleiman may wait until after the cabinet has approved the ministerial statement, which it is currently negotiating. ¶5. (U) While relations were thawing inside Baabda, outside of the presidential palace, families of Lebanese detainees in Syria protested during Moallem's visit. Press reports note that Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) were "rough" with the demonstrators, some of whom suffered minor injuries. As a concession to these families, Sleiman has decided to receive a delegation that represents the relatives of the prisoners before his visit to Damascus. Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun called for the cabinet to assign a minister to take up this issue. MOALLEM SAYS SYRIA ANXIOUS FOR SLEIMAN TO VISIT -------------- ¶6. (U) Following his meeting with Sleiman, Moallem met with reporters. In his remarks, Moallem raised the issue of Lebanese citizens missing or detained in Syria and hinted that the matter could be settled within weeks. Moallem suggested the possibility of negotiations for an official border demarcation between Lebanon and Syria as long as the needs of residents in the border villages were taken into consideration. He reiterated Syria's view that Sheba'a Farms are Lebanese territory, but said the problem on this issue lies with Israel. Moallem supported the establishment of diplomatic ties between Syria and Lebanon, but asserted that Syria was not interested in any prejudicial agreements, but rather sought to achieve the interests of both peoples. VISIT GARNERS PRAISE, SKEPTICISM -------------- ¶7. (U) Media statements and press reports indicate many BEIRUT 00001068 002 OF 002 parliamentary members, political leaders, and the moderate newspapers, such as An-Nahar and As-Safir, praised Moallem's visit. March 14 leaders specifically pointed to the attention to protocol and the recognition of Lebanon as a state. Others, among them Druze leader Walid Jumblatt and former President Gemayel, called the Syrian FM's visit a positive sign, but remained skeptical and were concerned that the political relationship between Lebanon and Syria be limited to just the two states. ¶8. (C) In a July 22 meeting with Charge, Jumblatt further warned that March 14 should stand by Sleiman in order to strengthen the president's position vis-a-vis Syria and Lebanese pro-Syrians. In Jumblatt's words, March 14 should prevent Sleiman being "charmed" by Asad during his visit to Damascus. Jumblatt also expressed his belief that Syria will delay establishing diplomatic relations and progress on Sheba'a Farms until after the 2009 parliamentary elections. Jumblatt has called for the disbanding of the Higher Syrian-Lebanese Council, as well as the treaties that were signed by the Council, particularly concerning security and foreign relations. The Council is the entity that nominally handles state-to-state relations between the two countries in the absence of diplomatic recognition. COMMENT -------------- ¶9. (C) Syrian FM Moallem's visit was, generally, well received by the Lebanese. Because it is widely believed that Moallem's visit to Beirut and Sleiman's planned trip to Damascus represent a positive first step to a new phase in the Lebanese-Syrian relationship, we believe the apparent rapprochement will continue. However, we are still waiting to see tangible evidence of Syria's new-found goodwill toward Lebanon. End Comment. GRANT