LEBANON: NEA DAS HALE TO JUMBLATT: NO CHANGE IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIRUT 001456

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA, PM/FO
ALSO FOR IO ACTING A/S HOOK, WARLICK
P FOR DRUSSELL, RRANGASWAMY
USUN FOR KHALILZAD/WOLFF/SCHEDLBAUER
NSC FOR ABRAMS/YERGER/MCDERMOTT/RAMCHAND

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/07/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS SY LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: NEA DAS HALE TO JUMBLATT: NO CHANGE IN
U.S. POLICY TOWARD SYRIA, LEBANON

Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

SUMMARY AND COMMENT
--------------


1. (C) NEA Deputy Assistant Secretary David Hale reassured
Druze leader Walid Jumblatt that, despite recent meetings
between Secretary Rice and Assistant Secretary David Welch
with Syrian Foreign Minister Moallem, there was no change in
U.S. policy towards either Syria or Lebanon. DAS Hale also
reaffirmed continuing U.S. support for the Lebanese Armed
Forces. Jumblatt expressed concerns about continuing
Sunni-Shia violence in northern Lebanon, claiming that
Lebanese intelligence services were involved in some of the
attacks. Reconciliation efforts between the Druze and Shia
were continuing, but were aimed at preventing conflict and
not an eventual political alliance, he said. Jumblatt also
expressed frustration with March 14 Christian leaders, who
continued to fight amongst themselves and push their own
candidates at the expense of coalition unity. Jumblatt plans
to visit the U.S. in mid-November. End summary.


2. (C) Druze and Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) leader
Walid Jumblatt hosted a lunch October 5 at his home in
Mukhtara for visiting NEA Deputy Assistant Secretary David
Hale. The Ambassador, DCM, Pol/Econ Chief and Senior LES
Political Advisor also attended.

HALE REASSURES JUMBLATT: NO CHANGE IN
U.S. POLICY TOWARDS LEBANON OR SYRIAN
--------------


3. (C) DAS Hale described President Sleiman's September 25
meeting with President Bush as successful, reestablishing
normal relations between the two presidents after years of
Syrian interference in Lebanon. He said the meeting between
Secretary Rice and Syrian Foreign Minister Mouallem took
place at the request of the Syrians, and that the Secretary
used the meeting to convey the message directly that U.S.
policy towards Lebanon remains unchanged. "In our private
conversations with Syrian officials, the U.S. reiterated its
support for Lebanon's true sovereignty and independence," DAS
Hale told Jumblatt, adding that the Syrians must take clear
steps, including implementation of UNSCR 1701, an end to arms
smuggling to Hizballah and to the facilitation of freedom
fighters to Iraq, and the closing of the headquarters of
Palestinian terrorist groups inside Syria.


4. (C) Jumblatt commented that the Syrians' goal is to engage
the new U.S. administration. The Syrians were nervous about
the Special Tribunal, he said, adding, "They are eager to
know the outcome of the current investigation." DAS Hale
agreed that the Tribunal was strong leverage against Syria.

...AND CONTINUING SUPPORT FOR ARMY
--------------


5. (C) DAS Hale, noting that his visit was in part to
participate in the first ever Joint Military Commission
between Lebanon and the U.S., reaffirmed continuing U.S.
commitment to assist the Lebanese Armed Forces. Stressing
that this was a long-term process, he said that at the end of
the program the U.S. would have completed training all of the
LAF special forces and diminished the impact of years of
Syrian influence from the LAF.

JUMBLATT CONCERNED ABOUT SUNNI-
SHIA VIOLENCE IN THE NORTH...
--------------


6. (C) Jumblatt reported that tensions between the Sunnis and
the Shia were still high as a result of the May clashes. He
praised Sunni leader Saad Hariri's efforts to calm things
down, noting that Hariri was paying compensation to families
of victims who suffered from the ecent round of violence in
Tripoli, as well as t those affected by the tragedies of the
mid-eightes in northern Lebanon. DAS Hale also acknowledged
Hariri's efforts, commenting that "Hariri took some serious
steps in that regard."

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7. (C) Jumblatt hinted that intelligence services were
involved in carrying out the recent attacks in Tripoli. "I
hope these intelligence services become wiser," he said,
warning that Syria would use the attacks to justify a
comeback to Lebanon. Jumblatt was critical of Wissam Hassan,
head of the Internal Security Forces intelligence unit,
saying, "Wissam is bypassing his immediate commander, General
Ashraf Rifi, as well as Minister of Interior Ziad Baroud."
Jumblatt also criticized the long-term detainment of some
Sunni activists from the north, which was providing the
Salafist movement with excuses to stage demonstrations and
protests in the country. "Let them be sent to court and
whoever is innocent should be released," he said.


8. (C) Jumblatt stressed the need for sustainable economic
development in north Lebanon, suggesting five projects the
GOL should focus on to promote employment: The Tripoli
commercial exhibition center, the port, Kleyate/Rene Mouawad
Airport, the oil refinery, and the railway, of which the last
three are non-operational. Currently, he said, many people
from the north rely on either the LAF or charity from Tripoli
political leaders such as Hariri, Mohammad Safadi, and former
PM Najib Mikati. "This is not enough," Jumblatt said;
"sustainable development programs should be implemented."

...WHILE RECONCILING DRUZE
AND SHIA IN THE MOUNTAINS
--------------


9. (C) Jumblatt, who met with rival Druze leader and Minister
of Youth and Sports Talal Arslan on October 4, said the
purpose of the meeting was to follow up on reconciliation
efforts between the Druze and Shia in the Chouf and Aley
mountain areas. The situation was more complicated in the
predominantly Druze coastal city of Choueifat, he noted,
which witnessed a "bloodshed" during the May events, making
reconciliation more difficult. Jumblatt said he was
stressing to his supporters that reconciliation is a much
better and safer approach than confrontation. However, he
added, reconciliation did not mean there would be a political
alliance with March 8 during the 2009 parliamentary
elections.

...AND EXASPERATED WITH CHRISTIANS
--------------


10. (C) Jumblatt confirmed that March 14 leaders already are
consulting to come up with unified lists of candidates to run
in the 2009 elections, adding that each party would have to
make sacrifices to ensure a March 14 victory. In particular,
Lebanese Forces (LF) leader Samir Geagea should avoid naming
his own candidates in districts where LF is unpopular,
because that would drive Christian voters to the lists backed
by Michel Aoun. Jumblatt stressed the need for March 14
instead to encourage independent Christian figures such as
former MP Salah Honein and Edmond Gharios (son-in-law of
Michel Murr). In addition, the "animosity" between March 14
allies Amine Gemayel and Samir Geagea needed to be resolved,
as well as the bad relations between MPs Samir Franjieh and
Nayla Mouawad.


11. (C) Jumblatt deplored the nomination of Nadim Gemayel
(twenty-something son of late President Bachir Gemayel) for
the Maronite seat of Beirut, advocating instead former
Justice Minister Charles Rizk, who had done a lot for March
14 through his support for the Special Tribunal. Jumblatt
also criticized Geagea's efforts to reelect LF MP Georges
Adwan in the Chouf. "Geagea should support the candidacy of
Dory Chamoun in the Chouf as compensation for the
assassination of Dory's brother, Dany, and his family," he
said, hinting at Geagea's role in the assassination.

JUMBLATT PLANNING TO VISIT THE U.S.
--------------


12. (C) Jumblatt said he plans to travel to the U.S. for a
November 15 meeting with members of the Druze community in
Los Angeles. (Note: In a separate meeting with Pol/Econ

BEIRUT 00001456 003 OF 003


Chief on October 2, Druze MP Wael Abu Four said March 14 was
considering sending a delegation of March 14 leaders to
Washington. End note.)


13. (U) DAS Hale has cleared this cable.
SISON