LEBANON: AOUN INSISTS ON BLOCKING THIRD, ELECTORAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000266 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/YERGER TREASURY FOR U/S SLEVEY, DAS DGLAZER DEPT FOR NEA/ELA, PRM/FO WITTEN DEPT PASS TO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/17/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PARM PREF KPAL PINR SY IS LE SUBJECT: LEBANON: AOUN INSISTS ON BLOCKING THIRD, ELECTORAL REFORM, NO PALESTINIAN RESETTLEMENT BEIRUT 00000266 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) In his first meeting with Charge Sison, Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun stressed the opposition's demand for a blocking third in cabinet and the need for a more representative electoral law if the Arab League initiative was going to succeed. Palestinian refugees was one of the key issues in which the opposition must have a voice. Calling himself a pacifist, Aoun said he was fighting for a solution and blamed other internal and external "fanatics" for Lebanon's political problems. End Summary. ¶2. (C) The Charge, accompanied by Pol/Econ Chief, paid an introductory call on Free Patriotic Movement leader General Michel Aoun at his residence in Rabieh on February 18. Aoun's advisor (and son-in-law) Gebran Basil also attended the meeting, which Aoun conducted in French. INSISTENCE ON BLOCKING THIRD -------------- ¶3. (C) On the Arab League initiative, Aoun said the problem was the March 14 majority did not want the opposition to have 11 cabinet seats because this would allow it to have a voice in policy-making. But with only 10 seats, Aoun said, the opposition would be only a spectator to the government's actions. If I have no voice, why should I participate in the government, he asked, and why should I accept the government's decisions? The opposition needed to be involved in decision-making, especially those that require a two-thirds majority, he insisted. The opposition had been demanding a national unity government for 18 months, and the majority's answer was still a complete refusal, despite the fact that the opposition has 45 percent of the seats in parliament. ¶4. (C) Aoun also stressed a new electoral law as key to the success of the Arab League initiative. His bloc favored a new law based on the 1960 law, but with redistricting to allow for better representation in parliament, as well as the extension of the right to vote to Lebanese overseas and the removal of the requirement for LAF and ISF members to request permission to vote. "I'm for the inalienable right of everyone to vote," he declared. ¶5. (C) Aoun, noting that his MPs were active in parliamentary committees (which continue to meet despite the 15-month old closure of parliament),said his party's two most important goals were 1) promoting security and justice and 2) economic development and the fight against corruption. On his campaign against corruption, Aoun said he would call for "forensic auditing" to determine why the government was losing money and creating such a huge deficit. The others know they'll be implicated, he said, adding, "Everyone always asks me, but General, do you want to put everyone in jail?" NO TO PALESTINIAN RESETTLEMENT -------------- ¶6. (C) Aoun pointed to the issue of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon as one of the "sensitive" issues in which the opposition must have a say. Lebanon is a country of emigration, he said, and a poor country, therefore it cannot afford to take in refugees. Settling the 300 to 400 thousand Palestinians in Lebanon permanently would raise questions of space and "biological equilibrium." Lebanon already was the most densely populated Arab country and one with the fewest resources, and it could not absorb the Palestinian population. Aoun expressed his hope that the UN could provide assistance in creating a voluntary program for Palestinians to relocate outside of Lebanon. BEIRUT 00000266 002.2 OF 002 WHO'S CALLING WHOM CRAZY? -------------- ¶7. (C) One-third of the Lebanese feel isolated, Aoun said, referring to Lebanon's Christian population, and this is very dangerous. "I am fighting for a solution, not war, but other parties, both inside and outside Lebanon, are creating problems. We need to avoid a repeat of the 2006 war, he said, and find a peaceful, one based on a pluralist society and a secular government." ¶8. (C) It is the fanatics who are creating problems, Aoun continued, and the Free Patriotic Movement is the "antidote to extremism." Part of the problem, he said, is that there is a "psychological malady" in the country -- "people's obsession with Aoun." Even Phalange leader Amine Gemayel called for the election of General Michel Aoun, he said, referring to Gemayel's obvious slip of the tongue during his February 14 speech. Saad Hariri's Future Movement, journalists, everyone is obsessed with me, he said, but I'm used to it. Aoun agreed that there had been excellent cooperation between various security forces andpolitical groupings for the February 14 events, dding, "You see, we're not completely crazy." COMMENT -------------- ¶9. (C) One can only wonder how Aoun can profess pacifism while his major ally, Hizballah SYG Hassan Nasrallah, launched a virulent attack against Israel, declaring Hizballah's intention to wage war against Israel wherever necessary. But then again, consistency has never been one of Aoun's strong points. Arguing that Lebanon is a country of emigration while at the same time denying its ability to absorb Palestinian refugees already living in the country also strikes us as a bit contradictory. ¶10. (C) As for his diagnosis of the mental health of his fellow countrymen, suffice it to say he who lives in a glass house in Rabieh should not throw stones. Needless to say, we did not/not tell Aoun the Charge's introductory call on him was on the U.S. Presidents' Day holiday. End Comment. SISON