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