LEBANON: SINIORA TELLS GENERAL PETRAEUS HE WILL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIRUT 001166

NOFORN
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA, PM/FO
ALSO FOR IO ACTING A/S HOOK AND PDAS WARLICK
USUN FOR KHALILZAD/WOLFF/SCHEDLBAUER
NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/YERGER/MCDERMOTT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINR OVIP PETRAEUS DAVID MARR
UNSC, MOPS, IZ, IR, SY, LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: SINIORA TELLS GENERAL PETRAEUS HE WILL
VISIT IRAQ

REF: A. BEIRUT 1112

B. BAGHDAD 2298

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. William Grant for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).

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


1. (C) Prime Minister Fouad Siniora announced to General
David Petraeus, during the latter's August 6 visit to
Lebanon, his plans to go to Iraq once parliament has passed
the vote of confidence, expected to occur o/a August 12.
Siniora said he intended to demonstrate to the Arab world his
support for Iraq, and agreed with Petraeus on the need to
bring Iraq back into the Arab fold. In the two and a half
hour meeting, most of which was on Iraq, Siniora demonstrated
an avid interest in the situation on the ground and
Petraeus, prepared briefing materials, asking many
questions.


2. (C) Siniora raised his usual concerns -- a resolution of
the Palestinian-Israeli issue, liberation of Sheba'a Farms,
and implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 --
and expressed his hopes for mutually beneficial relations
with Syria. He concluded that Iranian influence has gained
in strength in Syria, to which Petraeus responded that Syria
also needed to reunite with the Arab world. End summary.


3. (C) In an August 6 visit to Beirut, General David
Petraeus, Commanding General of the Multi-National Forces in
Iraq, met for over two hours with Prime Minister Fouad
Siniora and his advisors Major General Eid and Rola
Nourredine at the Grand Serail. Colonel Mike Bell,
Director-Commander's Initiatives Group, Lieutenant Colonel
Everett Spain, Aide-de-Camp, Sadi Othman, Cultural Advisor
and Translator, and Major Joel Rayburn, Commander's Staff,
accompanied by CDA, A/DCM, Defense Attache, Office of Defense
Cooperation Chief, and PolOff also attended the meeting.

WILL GO TO IRAQ AFTER
PARLIAMENTARY VOTE
--------------


4. (C) Prime Minister Siniora announced his plans to go to
Iraq and Egypt following parliament's vote of confidence on
the cabinet statement, expected o/a August 12. Noting that
he had been planning to go to Iraq for some time, Siniora
stressed the important regional role Iraq historically has
played in the Arab world and highlighted its potential as a
trading partner for Lebanon.


5. (C) Petraeus voiced his support for such a visit, saying
that while the situation has improved vastly, Iraq needed the
Arab world to welcome it. He noted that Iraq faced problems
similar to Lebanon, explaining that having a parliamentary
majority is not enough, but that the Iraqi government needed
the support of major political elements to govern
effectively.


6. (C) Affirming that he understood the situation has
improved through his conversations with Prime Minister
Maliki, Siniora said he intended to visit Iraq in order to
make a show of embracing its regional neighbor. He lamented
how the Iranians have "hijacked" Arab causes and touted them
as pan-regional problems as a way of legitimizing Iran's
influence in the region. Iran has a strong foothold in Iraq,
Siniora continued, and to break this connection, the Arab
world must unite behind Iraq. "Arab states made a big
mistake in forsaking Iraq," he declared.


7. (C) Agreeing, Petraeus said this is why majority leader
Saad Hariri's July 17 trip (Refs A, B) to Iraq was very
important. Iraq needs to be reminded of its Arab identity,
Petraeus added, relaying that he has been meeting with Arab
leaders to garner their support for Iraq. He noted that some

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of these leaders held a negative impression of Iraq's
progress because they received faulty information from
extremists or members of the opposition who do not want to
give credit to Maliki. Petraeus provided Siniora with an
extensive briefing on the progress to date in Iraq, to which
Siniora demonstrated an avid interest, asking many questions.


8. (C) Petraeus suggested Siniora could help the Arab
countries "rediscover and embrace Iraq." Noting that the UAE
has started this process, Petraeus said Siniora's planned
visit would encourage other Arab states. Increasingly
enthused, Siniora said this was precisely his goal, and he
would "preach" about the visit afterwards. He further
proposed cooperative initiatives between the Lebanese and
Iraqi finance and education ministries.


9. (C) Inquiring whether Iran will cooperate with the P5 1 on
its nuclear program, Siniora said that while the region
cannot afford nuclear proliferation, he does not oppose a
state's right to a peaceful nuclear power program. Petraus
congratulated Siniora on the completion of the ministerial
statement. Siniora explained how he fought for a nuanced
ministerial statement implying that Hizballah's right as a
resistance movement falls under the state's authority.

PALESTINIAN PROBLEM
REMAINS AT THE CENTER
--------------


10. (C) Describing how the Palestinian problem "runs deep in
the consciousness of all Arabs," Siniora said that as long as
the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is unresolved, extremism
will continue to flourish. He added that Israeli occupation
of Sheba'a Farms provides Hizballah with a raison d'etre, and
perpetuates radicalism elsewhere in Lebanon. He called for
full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701,
noting that Israel continues to conduct overflights of
Lebanese territory. Petraeus reminded Siniora of Secretary
Rice's remarks on resolving Sheba'a, adding that he hoped
President Sleiman's impending trip to Damascus would be a
positive step.

RELATIONS WITH SYRIA AND IRANIAN INFLUENCE
--------------


11. (C) Commenting on how much the two states have in common
and how they would benefit greatly from economic cooperation,
Siniora stressed that Lebanon wants the "best of relations"
with Syria and will never be "against" its neighbor, but at
the same time, he continued, "Lebanon is wholeheartedly an
Arab country, and an independent country." Siniora
complained about Syrian influence in the Palestinian camps in
Lebanon and the issue of Lebanese detainees in Syria, both of
which will be addressed during Sleiman's visit to Damascus.
Siniora added that there are plenty of ways Lebanon and Syria
can act for their mutual benefit.


12. (C) Remarking that he opposes the use of fleets
(referring to the presence of U.S. ships off the coast of
Lebanon in February),he said the U.S. can help with
"understanding and support that restrain Syrian aggressions
and stop Israeli invasions." Siniora, however, also noted
that although the Israelis had been planning to invade
Lebanon, Iran, in one way or another, had created the 2006
war in Lebanon. After commenting on Imad Mugniyeh's and
Mohammed Suleiman's mysterious assassinations in Syria this
year, Siniora indicated that it was being said that Iranian
influence in Syria has increased. Petraeus responded that
Syrian President Bashar Asad, like Iraq, needs to rediscover
his Arab roots, and Lebanon can play a pivotal role in
opening its arms to replace what Iran has been doing in
Syria.


13. (C) General Petraeus has cleared this message.



BEIRUT 00001166 003 OF 003


GRANT