Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BEIRUT1760
2008-12-16 11:34:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:  

LEBANON: MARCH 14 OFFICIALS TELL CODEL ACKERMAN

Tags:  PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC IS LE SY 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO7365
PP RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHLB #1760/01 3511134
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 161134Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3791
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 3271
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 3481
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 001760 

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC IS LE SY
SUBJECT: LEBANON: MARCH 14 OFFICIALS TELL CODEL ACKERMAN
THEY MUST WIN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

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

SUMMARY
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 001760

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC IS LE SY
SUBJECT: LEBANON: MARCH 14 OFFICIALS TELL CODEL ACKERMAN
THEY MUST WIN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

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

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


1. (C) In a December 13 meeting, March 14 members expressed
to Codel Ackerman their determination to win the spring 2009
parliamentary elections, and said the U.S. should support
Lebanon rather than any single party. Rather than electoral
politics, however, the bulk of the meeting was taken up with
a discussion of approaches to disarming Hizballah, through
solving Sheba'a Farms, strengthening the Lebanese Armed
Forces, and securing Lebanon's borders with Israel and Syria.
The codel also underscored continuing U.S. commitment to the
Special Tribunal. End summary.


2. (C) Codel Ackerman, accompanied by Ambassador and EmbOffs,
met with March 14 members at the March 14 coalition's
secretariat headquarters on December 13. March 14 members
present were head of National Liberal Party Dory Chamoun, MP
Samir Franjieh, Kataeb member Michel Meccattaf, Lebanese
Forces member Eddy Abillama, Future Movement member Amar
Khoury, and Democratic Renewal Movement member Tony Haddad.
Codel members were Representative Gary Ackerman, D-NY,
chairman of the subcommittee on the Middle East and South
Asia of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and subcommittee
members Representative Jeff Flake, R-AZ; Representative Joe
Wilson, R-SC; Representative Brian Higgins, D-NY; and
Representative Ron Klein, D-FL; as well as subcommittee
staffers David Adams, Greg McCarthy, and Howard Diamond.

MUST WIN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS
--------------


3. (C) Noting that March 14 is a movement founded on shared
principles of democracy and multi-confessionalism, Tony
Haddad underlined that if the alliance is unsuccessful in the
2009 election, it will mean a setback for all of Lebanon, not
only March 14. Amar Khoury added that he hopes the U.S. will
continue to support democracy and the Lebanese government,
instead of a specific party. Ackerman responded that he
understood their message, saying, "We support March 14, and
peace on March 15, and March 16, and so forth."

"NO SINGLE SOLUTION TO
DISARMING HIZBALLAH"
--------------


4. (C) Dory Chamoun stressed his belief that that Israeli
withdrawal from Sheba'a Farms would eliminate Hizballah's
justification for possessing arms. Haddad emphasized that
Hizballah hides behind Sheba'a, which is why it is
symbolically important to resolve. Michel Meccattaf added
that strengthening the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and
securing all of Lebanon's borders were important components
to disarming Hizballah.

SPLITTING SYRIA FROM IRAN
--------------


5. (C) Meccattaf also expressed concern that France was
warming up to Syria and inquired about the U.S. position on
Syria. Ackerman responded that the U.S. would like to see
more of a "positive, rather than dominating" role played by
Syria in its relations with Lebanon. Representative Klein
added that the U.S. hopes Syria will move away from Iran, but
that Syria's willingness to do that is unknown. Haddad added
that it was equally important to split Hizballah from Iran,
"by facts, not just words."

SPECIAL TRIBUNAL, REGIONAL
PEACE REMAIN TOP PRIORITIES
--------------


6. (C) "Punishment for political crimes is absolutely
necessary," Haddad stated, expressing his hope for progress
on the Special Tribunal. Affirming that justice must be
realized, Ackerman underscored that the Special Tribunal will

BEIRUT 00001760 002 OF 002


remain important to the next U.S. administration, and that
nothing would be done at the expense of the Tribunal.


7. (C) For his part, Franjieh was adamant that the peace
process must be broader than an Israeli-Palestinian track,
and should include the full implementation of UN Security
Council Resolution 1701.

SISON