LEBANON: GEMAYEL, WITH DAS HALE, STRESSES ECONOMIC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 001480 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: GEMAYEL, WITH DAS HALE, STRESSES ECONOMIC ISSUES IN ELECTIONS Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Former President and Kataeb party leader Amine Gemayel described his efforts to solidify his Kataeb party base, coordinate with other March 14 coalition members, and develop an election strategy in a meeting with visiting NEA DAS Hale and the Ambassador. Gemayel cited social and economic issues as key in the upcoming parliamentary elections. He expressed concerns about Syrian involvement in Lebanese politics and pushed for an increased demonstration of U.S. support for Lebanon. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) Arriving at Kataeb party headquarters on October 6 for a meeting with former President and Kataeb leader Amine Gemayel, visiting NEA Deputy Assistant Secretary David Hale and Ambassador spoke briefly at the weekly party leadership meeting, which was just concluding. DAS Hale delivered a strong message of support for Lebanon. The U.S. sees Lebanon as a success story that is moving in a positive direction since the withdrawal of Syrian troops in 2005. The U.S. government, with strong bipartisan support, is invested in seeing Lebanon's continued progress. Ambassador commented particularly on the "democracy in action" evident in the Kataeb leadership, as the room included a diverse crowd of young political activists, including several women. SOLIDIFYING BASE AHEAD OF ELECTIONS -------------- ¶3. (C) Moving into a private meeting with Hale and Ambassador, Gemayel said he was energized to pull the Kataeb party into shape and never missed one of the leadership meetings; he described solidifying the party base as his current top priority. His other priorities are coordinating with other March 14 Coalition members and developing a strategy to confront the opposition in the upcoming parliamentary elections. He underscored the need forcoordination among March 14 members and the importnce of each group putting national issues over partisan concerns. Gemayel emphasized, however, that these goals were still a work in progress. Gemayel said that it is too early for March 14 to design a strategy or to form electoral lists, but he thinks the March 14 coalition now needs to develop a system to evaluate districts and potential support. SWING DISTRICTS AND SOCIAL ISSUES WILL BE KEY... -------------- --- ¶4. (C) Gemayel emphasized the importance of the Christian areas in the upcoming elections, mentioning in particular Jbeil and Ksrouan as key Christian swing districts. He also noted that businessman Ne,mad Frem would be a key Christian player in the elections. Responding to a question from DAS Hale about the agreement reached on October 3 among Christian leaders to reduce tensions within the sect, Gemayel likened the various reconciliation attempts at play to a ceasefire, not true reconciliation. He said that instead of focusing on sectarian political agreements, ordinary Lebanese are talking about social needs, such as the cost of fuel and heating and school expenses. He expects social and economic issues will be the most important in the upcoming elections and argued that the Lebanese need more than military aid. ...MILITARY AID NOT ENOUGH -------------- ¶5. (C) Gemayel was critical of the Joint Military Commission (JMC) that met in Beirut on October 6. He argued that the Lebanese Armed Forces, (LAF) inability to enter all parts of the country, such as Hizballah-dominated territory and Palestinian camps, made it a weak force. He termed Hizballah as "immune to national sentiment." SLEIMAN,S VISIT TO U.S. NOT SEEN AS SUCCESS -------------- ¶6. (C) On Lebanese President Sleiman,s visit to the United States, Gemayel said that, while it was nice for DAS Hale to describe the trip as a success, Gemayel had a different impression. He said that Lebanon had been "absent" and stressed the need to demonstrate that the government of Lebanon exists. Gemayel supports indirect discussions BEIRUT 00001480 002 OF 002 between Lebanon and Israel, elaborating that while Lebanon does not need a full peace treaty with Israel, progress on returning Shebaa Farms to Lebanon would bolster the government. Hale replied that the U.S. would also like to see positive action on the issue. Gemayel noted that he planned to travel to New York soon to present his views (he had planned a visit during the UNGA but later cancelled). CONCERNED ABOUT SYRIA -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Gemayel asked DAS Hale if the US public statements opposing Syrian interference in Lebanon had intimidated Syrian President Bashar al-Asad, as no Syrian military intervention in Lebanon had yet occurred. He then noted that it was ominous to see various Lebanese leaders, including former Prime Minister Karami, Foreign Minister Salloukh, former Minister and head of Marada Party Franjieh, Minister of Youth and Sports Arslan, and MP Marwan Fares, traveling to Damascus. DAS Hale emphasized continued U.S. concerns regarding Syria, stressing that U.S. policy toward Syria and its objectionable behavior had not changed. He cited several outstanding issues, such as foreign fighter flows through Syria, interference in Lebanon, arms smuggling to Hizballah, support for Hamas, and the human rights situation in the country, that still need to be resolved. Recent terror attacks in Tripoli must not be used as a pretext for Syrian interference in Lebanese affairs, Hale underscored. SISON