LEBANON: CODEL ACKERMAN GIVES HARIRI STRONG

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 001761

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA
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E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV MASS MCAP LE SY IR
SUBJECT: LEBANON: CODEL ACKERMAN GIVES HARIRI STRONG
MESSAGE OF SUPPORT TO HARIRI

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

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


1. (C) Codel Ackerman delivered a strong message of U.S.
bipartisan support for Lebanon during its meeting with
majority leader Saad Hariri. Rep. Ackerman said that with
the administration change in Washington, there would be no
change in U.S. support for Lebanon. In particular, the USG
will continue to support the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and
work to enhance the capabilities of the Lebanese Armed Forces
(LAF). Hariri welcomed the Codel's statements and
recommended the incoming administration consult with Arab
allies before starting any possible engagement with Syria or
Iran. After the meeting, Rep. Ackerman made a statement to
the press that emphasized U.S. support for the Tribunal and
that U.S. relationship with Lebanon would not be an
"appendage" to a relationship with any other country. End
Summary.


2. (C) Codel Ackerman, accompanied by Ambassador and
emboffs, met with majority leader Saad Hariri and his
advisors December 13 in Beirut. Codel members were Rep. Gary
Ackerman, D-NY, chairman of the subcommittee on the Middle
East and South Asia of the HFAC, and subcommittee members
Rep. Jeff Flake, R-AZ; Joe Wilson, R-SC; Rep. Brian Higgins,
D-NY; and Rep. Joe Klein, D-FL; as well as subcommittee
staffers David Adams, Greg McCarthy, and Howard Diamond.


"SYRIA AND IRAN WANT NOT PEACE, BUT PIECES"
--------------


3. (C) Rep. Ackerman opened the meeting by delivering a
strong message of support for Lebanon. He said it was key
during this time of transition in the U.S. to reassure allies
in Lebanon of continued bipartisan U.S. support. He affirmed
that Lebanon was of "critical importance" to the United
States and would not be treated as an "appendage" to a
relationship with any other country. "Any relationship the
United States hopes to expand with any other country in the
region will not be at the expense of Lebanese blood,"
Ackerman said. Rep. Ackerman also stressed that Washington
would not "desert" the Special Tribunal for Lebanon which is
intended to hold accountable those responsible for the
assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and
related crimes.


4. (C) Hariri broached the topic of a possible U.S. dialogue
with Syria and Iran. Hariri stressed that while nobody was
against dialogue, it should begin with allies before foes.
He suggested the new administration consult with moderate
Arab regimes to understand their concerns and objectives
before rushing into any engagement with Syria or Iran. He
warned that engagement for the sake of engagement would be
dangerous for the region. Hariri noted that the current U.S.
administration had a dialogue with Syria for its first five
years in office, until the assassination of his father, Rafik
Hariri, and that this history had demonstrated that dialogue
does not change Syria's behavior. "Syria and Iran do not
want peace, they want pieces (of other countries, like
Lebanon)," he said. Hariri welcomed Rep. Ackerman's
steadfast support for the Special Tribunal. The blood of his
father could "not be bargained away."

ISRAEL/PALESTINE AND LEBANESE ARMED FORCES
--------------


5. (C) Hariri raised the Israeli-Palestinian peace process
and urged the new administration to bring about a solution as
a means of creating regional stability. Rep. Ackerman
emphasized that the USG is a strong friend of Israel. He said
he supported a two-state solution, and that if Israel is to
survive as a democracy, it would have to do so in a peaceful
region. Ackerman added that one way to help maintain peace
in the region would be to build up and enhance the
capabilities of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF),which

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deserve the support of the international community. He said
he was impressed with LAF Commander General Kahwagi, whom he
met earlier in the day, and with the LAF's performance
against Fatah-al-Islam militants in the Nahr Al-Barid
Palestinian refugee camp in 2007.


6. (C) Hariri said he appreciated any support to enhance the
capabilities of the LAF and commented that a strong military
was important to the security of Lebanon. He said Lebanon's
army was strong and dedicated, but very ill-equipped. He
noted that the LAF had fought admirably in Nahr Al-Barid, but
suffered a high casualty rate as it battled the heavily-armed
militants.

2009 ELECTIONS
--------------


8. (C) When asked by Rep. Ackerman whether March 14 would
win the 2009 parliamentary elections, Hariri answered that it
would be "easy" as long as the coalition parties work
together. If the political parties that form the March 14
coalition fight each other for parliamentary seats instead of
fighting the opposition, March 14 will face trouble, he
assessed. Hariri added that his Future Movement currently
held 37 seats in parliament, but that he would be willing to
give up some of those seats if it would help March 14 overall.

SISON