LEBANON: MINISTER LAHOUD SAYS SLEIMAN'S SAUDI TRIP

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIRUT 001478 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA ALSO FOR IO ACTING A/S HOOK, PDAS WARLICK P FOR DRUSSELL AND RRANGASWAMY USUN FOR KHALILZAD/WOLFF/SCHEDLBAUER NSC FOR ABRAMS/RAMCHAND/YERGER/MCDERMOTT E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/12/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC LE MARR MOPS SY SUBJECT: LEBANON: MINISTER LAHOUD SAYS SLEIMAN'S SAUDI TRIP POSITIVE REF: BEIRUT 01468 Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) Minister of State Nassib Lahoud on October 15 told the Ambassador that he hopes the U.S. strong support of Lebanon's sovereignty continues after the U.S. presidential elections. Lahoud accompanied President Sleiman on his October 12 and 13 visit to Saudi Arabia. He said Saudi King Abdullah reiterated Saudi support for all sects in Lebanon and emphasized Saudi insistence of a "non-interference" policy in Lebanon. Lahoud also mentioned Sleiman's extensive upcoming travel, including trips to Canada, Rome, Egypt, Iran, and potentially New York. According to Lahoud, Sleiman would probably be open to meeting with members of the U.S. transition team while he is in New York November 12-13. Lastly, Lahoud mentioned Sleiman's intention to move the November 5 National Dialogue discussion forward in a substantive direction. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) The Ambassador and econoff met Minister of State Nassib Lahoud at his home on October 15, the day before he travels with President Sleiman to Canada for the annual Francophonie Summit. PRESERVE "LEBANON POLICY" -------------- ¶3. (C) Responding to a question from the Ambassador about priorities for the U.S. transition team, Lahoud stressed that the U.S. should maintain Lebanon as an individual policy target. He urged that Lebanon not be discussed in venues at which Lebanon itself was not represented. Lahoud specifically mentioned potential relations between the U.S. and Syria, saying that most Lebanese would accept a U.S.-Syrian political relationship as long as Lebanon is not used as a bargaining chip by either side. He also said Lebanese issues should not be part of any direct or indirect discussions between Israel and Syria. Lahoud told the Ambassador that Lebanon's strong relationship with the U.S. is very important and expressed appreciation that the U.S. treats Lebanon as a sovereign nation. He hopes the U.S. military assistance program will continue in the next administration. FIRM SAUDI SUPPORT FOR LEBANON... -------------- ¶4. (C) Lahoud, who has extensive business dealings in Saudi Arabia, accompanied President Sleiman on his October 12-13 trip to Riyadh. Lahoud said that Saudi King Abdullah told Sleiman he has been delivering a strong message to the Kingdom's allies to "keep your hands off Lebanon." King Abdullah said he tells other nations that he wants nothing from them except to have a positive relationship with Lebanon. Lahoud linked these statements to a possible Saudi-Syrian rapprochement, saying that Syrian guarantees to not interfere in Lebanon would be necessary for any improvement in its ties with the Kingdom. Regarding possible rapprochement between Syria and Saudi Arabia, Sleiman subtly offered assistance if both sides wished. According to Lahoud, King Abdullah listened to Sleiman's offer but did not accept or decline. King Abdullah also emphasized his balanced support of all Lebanese sects and mentioned his ties to the Sunni, Shia, Christian, and Armenian communities in Lebanon. He said that all Lebanese, regardless of their sect, are treated the same in Saudi Arabia. Lahoud told the Ambassador he realized during the visit that Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Khoja has the full ear and confidence of King Abdullah; Lahoud said that was a "big plus" for Lebanon. ...AND EXPRESSIONS OF GRATITUDE FOR THE KINGDOM -------------- -- ¶5. (C) For his part, Sleiman stressed Lebanon's strong and historic relationship with the Kingdom and offered his thanks for all that Saudi Arabia had done since the Saudi-sponsored BEIRUT 00001478 002 OF 003 Taif Accords in 1989 ended the Lebanese civil war. He mentioned reconstruction assistance following the 2006 war between Hizballah and Israel, the $1 billion deposit in Lebanon's Central Bank in 2006, and the recent $44 million for Lebanese schools. Additionally, Sleiman told King Abdullah that he will continue to stress that whoever criticizes Saudi Arabia is moving away from Arabism. Lahoud said Sleiman's pledge to speak out against criticism of the Kingdom in Lebanon was well-received by the Saudi princes who were stunned by the defamatory statements about Saudi Arabia and King Abdullah by some in the opposition in Lebanon. Lahoud called Christian opposition leader Michel Aoun's decision to travel to Iran at the same time as Sleiman's trip to Saudi Arabia and his criticisms of the Kingdom "irresponsible, vicious, and cynical." ¶6. (C) According to Lahoud, Sleiman used his first visit to Saudi Arabia to build rapport with King Abdullah and to establish the basis of a strategic relationship. Sleiman mentioned two topics for potential funding from the Kingdom in front of the delegation: maintenance on Lebanon's power station or rehabilitation of the refinery in northern Lebanon. Sleiman was pleased to announce the arrest of members of a terrorist cell, accused of carrying out the recent attacks targeting the Lebanese Army in Tripoli, during his visit. ¶7. (C) On the makeup of the Lebanese delegation, Lahoud said Defense Minister Elias Murr was originally supposed to participate but had declined, although Lahoud was not sure why. Deputy Prime Minister Abu Jamra of Michel Aoun's FPM party attended in his place and, according to Lahoud, King Abdullah was displeased with the substitution. Sleiman organized the biggest Lebanese delegation yet for one of his foreign trips and selected its members to show his broad support within Lebanon. However, Abu Jamra introduced himself as "the representative of the opposition in the government" when he was introduced to King Abdullah. ¶8. (C) Describing atmospherics of the meeting, Lahoud said Sleiman was treated with the utmost respect throughout the visit. He received full honors when King Abdullah met the delegation at the airport and had a private meeting with the king the first evening. The Lebanese delegation also met with representative of the Lebanese community in Saudi Arabia during the visit. (Later, Saad Hariri told the Ambassador that the King awarded an important decoration and had an extended one-on-one with Sleiman.) PACKED PRESIDENTIAL TRAVEL -------------- ¶9. (C) Lahoud described Sleiman's extensive upcoming travel for the Ambassador. First, Lahoud will accompany President Sleiman to Quebec October 16 for the Francophonie Summit; Sleiman will also attend an event with the Lebanese-Canadian community in Montreal during the trip. Sleiman will travel on October 30 to Rome and the Vatican to meet with Pope Benedict XVI. According to Lahoud, Sleiman also intends to return to New York on November 12 and 13 to attend a dialogue on religions that is part of an initiative by Saudi King Abdullah (NFI). Lahoud mentioned the idea of Sleiman's meeting officials from the new U.S. administration while he is in New York. (Note: We will follow up with Sleiman's advisors to learn more about these reported New York Times plans.) According to Lahoud, Sleiman will visit Egypt within the month and Iran by he end of the year. Lahoud thought Sleiman's trp to Iran would be his last trip of the year. ¶10. (C) Additionally, Lahoud said he is trying to convince Sleiman to accept an invitation from Prime Minister Erdogan to visit Turkey. Lahoud had heard that the Turks are preparing to announce an ambitious security conference that would include Iran and Israel. Lahoud had expected the announcement at the UN General Assembly meetings in New York in late September. He is encouraging Sleiman to interact early on with the Turks, who seem eager to play a role in the region. Lahoud said Sleiman is more confident since his last trip to the U.S. for the UN General Assembly meetings and is more willing to "venture into unknown grounds" in selecting BEIRUT 00001478 003 OF 003 future meetings. POSITIVE ON LEBANON-SYRIA TIES ¶11. (C) Lahoud said he agreed with Prime Minister Siniora's views regarding the establishment of diplomatic ties between Lebanon and Syria. He called it a first step toward correcting the relationship between the countries; Syria and Lebanon have no "existential conflict," he said, but there are issues to be resolved. Lahoud hopes a competent, "run of the mill," career diplomat is assigned as Lebanon's ambassador in Damascus. Regarding his relationship with Siniora, Lahoud said the two have a good rapport and Lahoud can speak freely and discuss issues with the Prime Minister. MOVING TOWARD SUBSTANTIVE DIALOGUE ¶12. (C) Lahoud mentioned that Sleiman is seriously preparing for the next National Dialogue session that will be held on November 5. He hopes to move past formalities in the meeting and intends to discuss substance. Lahoud said he hopes Sleiman will move discussions in the cabinet in a substantive direction for those cabinet meetings he chairs. Lahoud discussed efforts being made to improve development in Lebanon, including the Prime Minister's plan to develop regional economic projects in Lebanon, saying these would show the population solid markers of government progress. SISON