LEBANON: HUSSEINI CALLS FOR NEW ELECTORAL LAW,

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 001802

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: 12/24/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: HUSSEINI CALLS FOR NEW ELECTORAL LAW,
STRONG INSTITUTIONS

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

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


1. (C) Former Speaker of Parliament and resigned Shi'a
parliamentarian Hussein Husseini met visiting NEA Deputy
Assistant Secretary David Hale, DCM, and visiting NEA Lebanon
Desk Officer Matthew Irwin on December 18, saying that
without a fair electoral law, strong judiciary and
parliament, and state-led development in southern Lebanon,
Lebanese sovereignty and security would remain at risk.

A STRONG STATE NEEDS STRONG INSTITUTIONS
--------------


2. (C) Husseini expressed his gratitude for U.S. support for
freedom and democracy in Lebanon, noting that the country's
constitutionally mandated confessional power-sharing
arrangement was not a problem, but that a weak legal
framework and judiciary had allowed the gutting of national
institutions like the parliament and security forces. He
outlined a three-part strategy for strengthening the Lebanese
state. First, Lebanon needed a proper electoral law. "Doha
canceled the state. The new law does not comport with the
Taif Accord or international standards." Second, Lebanon
needed an independent and credible judiciary with the power
to interpret the constitution. Third, Lebanon needed a
comprehensive, state-centric development plan. "Without
this, various parties will continue to prevent the emergence
of Lebanese state and Lebanese national identity."


3. (C) Calling him the "father of Taif" and noting that his
protest resignation from parliament had been admirable, Hale
assured Husseini that the United States was committed to
strengthening Lebanon's institutions and that after a
benighted period of continued Syrian occupation post-Taif,
the international community had a second chance to preserve a
sovereign and independent Lebanon. Hale agreed that the
electoral law agreed upon at Doha left much to be desired,
but said it was likely too late to make significant changes.
"Onthe contrary," Husseini replied, "in 2005 we had anew
law two months before the elections. There's plenty of time.
It's not too late to adopt the law recommended by the
Boutros Commission." (Note: The Boutros Commission of
political officials and legal experts was commissioned in
2005 to draft a fair and modern Lebanese electoral law. The
resulting "Boutros law" recommended a mixed system of
proportional and winner-take-all voting, but was cast aside
at Doha in favor of a modified version of the 1960 electoral
law, to the dismay of many electoral reformers and
independent politicians.) Hale encouraged Husseini to work
within the constraints of the new electoral law, which had
been accepted by President Sleiman, Prime Minister Siniora,
and Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri.

DE-FANGING HIZBALLAH
--------------


4. (C) Husseini urged the incoming U.S. Administration to
focus on resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as the
key to unlocking Middle East peace. "The Palestinians have
not been able to establish a resistance, but Hizballah is
trying to apply the model to the Palestinian territories,"
said Husseini, advocating that a return to the 1949
Israel-Lebanon General Armistice Agreement as a means to
undercut Hizballah's militancy. "The national defense
strategy should be a political defense strategy. We should
not let Hizballah define the means and ends of resistance.
These are decisions for the government. But without a
legitimate electoral law, strong parliament and judiciary,
and development in the south, this is unachievable."


5. (U) This message has been cleared by DAS Hale.

SISON