LEBANON: MARCH 14 GAINING MOMEMTUM

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIRUT 000190 SIPDIS SIPDIS NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/YERGER E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/07/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PARM PINR SY IS LE SUBJECT: LEBANON: MARCH 14 GAINING MOMEMTUM REF: BEIRUT 167 BEIRUT 00000190 001.2 OF 003 Classified By: Ambassador Michele Sison for Reasons: Section 1.4 (b) an d (d). SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) Key March 14 players told the Ambassador March 14 would insist on presidential elections first in talks with visiting Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa (whose departure has now been postponed until February 9). They remained confident in the support of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and in the LAF's ability to maintain order during the February 14 rally commemorating the third anniversary of the assassination of former PM Rafiq Hariri, although they did expect some security incidents in the days before the rally. As part of March 14's continuing international diplomacy, PM Siniora plans to visit European and Arab capitals soon. Telecom Minister Marwan Hamadeh said the PM and cabinet had been informed that day the Saudi, Kuwaiti, and UAE contributions to the Special Tribunal ($21 million combined) have been completed. End summary. End summary. ¶2. (C) The Ambassador, accompanied by DCM, Pol/Econ Chief, and Senior LES Political Advisor, attended a dinner hosted by Telecom Minister Marwan Hamadeh on February 7. Mohamad Chatah and Ghattas Khoury, advisors to PM Siniora and majority leader Saad Hariri respectively, and Nassib Lahoud, March 14 Christian leader and the bloc's TOP choice for president, also attended. ARAB LEAGUE INITIATIVE: MARCH 14 INSISTS ON PRESIDENT FIRST -------------- ¶3. (C) The members of this March 14 "brain trust" were very pleased with the statement made earlier in the day by parliamentary majority leader and March 14 stalwart Saad Hariri in which he strongly criticized Syria and Iran. On Amr Moussa's current visit to Lebanon, Hamadeh said March 14 would insist on electing the president first. It will then be the president's job to hold discussions among the various factions to decide on cabinet formation and program, and the new electoral law. Hamadeh applauded majority leader Saad Hariri's strong statement the night before, in which Hariri accused the opposition of catering to Syrian and Iranian interests and said March 14 was ready for confrontation if that was what the opposition wanted. (Note: The Ambassador 
was scheduled to meet with Moussa after he finished his round of discussions on February 8. His departure has now been postponed until February 9, to allow time for more talks, and we expect the Ambassador will meet him before his departure. End note.) ¶4. (C) Hamadeh believes the Syrians will deliver an invitation for Lebanon via Nasri Khoury, the Secretary of the Higher Syrian-Lebanese Council, to Foreign Minister Salloukh, to the March Arab League summit in Damascus, but he doubted PM Siniora would attend. Chatah, arriving late to the dinner after coming from PM Siniora's meeting with Moussa, said Siniora should not attend. Both agreed with the Ambassador that Arab states should be encouraged to abstain as well, and not even send low level delegations to the summit. ¶5. (C) On Syrian politics, Hamadeh suggested that Refaat al-Asad (uncle of Syrian President Asad) who is currently living in Spain, could be used as a tool to confront Bashar Asad inside Syria. He again mentioned that Asad's sister Bushra, wife of General Assef Shawkat, Chief of Syrian Military Intelligence, intended to seek permanent residence in the UAE, adding that she was not getting along with her brother. OPPOSITION PLANS ATTACKS ON SLEIMAN -------------- ¶6. (C) Khoury expressed confidence that the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) remained behind March 14, adding that LAF morale, and that of LAF Commander General Michel Sleiman, are BEIRUT 00000190 002.2 OF 003 high. He further disclosed that Sleiman blames Michel Aoun for obstructing his election as president. Hamadeh said "his spies" in the Talal Arsalan (another Druse leader) camp said the opposition will begin a harsh personal attack on Michel Sleiman to eliminate him from the presidential race. Lahoud and Khoury echoed his view, predicting that the March 8 opposition will return to the candidacy of Michel Aoun. ¶7. (C) Hamadeh also said he is discussing with the other forces of March 14 the possibility of asking deputy speaker Farid Makkari (close to Hariri) to hold a session for the parliament bureau in order to stir up Speaker Berri. Hamadeh said March 14 should begin making decisions in parliamentary committees, while Lahoud added that the government avoid making unpopular decisions like raising taxes. INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMACY -------------- ¶8. (C) Hamadeh said PM Siniora would embark on a tour to Europe (including London and Berlin),as well as to some Gulf states (including Qatar, Bahrain, and the UAE) to bolster international support for the GOL. Siniora might also visit Paris to sign a pending agreement of 375 million Euros that were pledged at the Paris III conference, he said. Unfortunately, Chatah said, the international and Arab community tend to view the current political impasse as a purely Lebanese conflict and not a problem instigated by Syria and Iran. SECURITY CONCERNS FOR WEEK AHEAD -------------- ¶9. (C) Hamadeh expressed concerns the week ahead could witness some sporadic clashes between the Sunni and the Shia. However, he was pleased about the deployment of several LAF units in Beirut in preparation for the February 14 rally to commemorate the third anniversary of former PM Rafiq Hariri's assassination, adding that March 14 had started its mobilization campaign. Hamadeh disclosed that three brigades were brought to Beirut to confront any eventual disturbances in the streets and noted the positioning of 250 tanks around Beirut. General Ghassan Abu Shaqra had been appointed as commander of the Fifth Brigade and other regiments deployed in Beirut are commanded by pro-March 14 officers, he said. Hamadeh further opined that if March 8 creates problems, the LAF will act immediately and use it as an excuse to remove the March 8 tents from downtown Beirut. Hamadeh stressed the LAF is not, however, planning on such a scenario. (Comment: Embassy DATT believes it is highly unlikely the LAF would take action on the tents. End comment.) ¶10. (C) March 14, however, is not worried about a repetition of the February 13, 2006, Ain Alaq bombing to two buses bringing people to last year's rally. Khoury said things are different now, since the pro-Syrian forces that planned and executed the Ain Alaq bombing were neutralized after the Nahr al-Barid fighting. Khoury also stressed the LAF is now more in control of the situation. SPECIAL TRIBUNAL CHECKS IN THE MAIL -------------- ¶11. (C) Hamadeh said it had been reported at the cabinet meeting that he attended just before the dinner that the Saudis would contribute $11 million for the Special Tribunal, while the UAE and Kuwait each would contribute $5 million. Khoury said the Saudis decision to contribute now was evidence they were fed up with Syrian interference in Lebanon. UNIIIC, he claimed had shipped two containers of documents pertaining to the investigation of Hariri assassination outside Lebanon, and it was now important to move the Lebanese judges selected for the Tribunal as soon as possible to ensure their security. Hamadeh added that the Saudis also planned to contribute $200 million to close the issue of Christians displaced during the civil war. Closing this issue would likely strip Michel Aoun of one of the arguments he has been using to attack the Siniora government. COMMENT -------------- ¶12. (C) The March 14 "brain trust" seemed optimistic that the BEIRUT 00000190 003.2 OF 003 upcoming rally, the imminent announcement on the Special Tribunal, and March 14's renewed efforts to organize itself and engage in international diplomacy were creating a positive momentum for the majority. While they doubted Moussa's visit would lead to any breakthroughs, all agreed that any failure should be clearly pinned on the opposition. As Hariri's statement exemplifies, March 14 (finally!) is keenly aware of the need to control the public relations battle in the long fight toward the 2009 legislative elections. The question now is can they do it. End comment. SISON