LEBANON: MARCH 14 TO HOLD FIRST CONVENTION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000339 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA, PRM/FO, AND PM/FO NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/YERGER TREASURY FOR U/S LEVEY DEPT PASS TO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PARM PINR PREF MASS SY IS LE SUBJECT: LEBANON: MARCH 14 TO HOLD FIRST CONVENTION REF: BEIRUT 205 BEIRUT 00000339 001.2 OF 002 SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 12. ¶2. (U) The March 14 coalition, seeking to build on the momentum gained during the February 14, 2008 third commemoration of Rafiq Hariri's assassination, which rallied larger than expected crowds, is planning its first ever convention on March 14, 2008. The convention's purpose is to rally local and international support for the March 14 movement and develop coalition-wide positions on major policy issues. End summary. ¶3. (U) On February 29, representatives from March 14,s one-month old General Secretariat (reftel) briefed Embassy staff on plans for the first ever March 14 convention, to be held at the Beirut International Exhibition and Leisure Center (BIEL) March 14. The representatives included March 14 SYG Fares Suaid, Phalange regional offices director and advisor to former President Amine Gemayel Michel Mecattaf, convention coordinator Sami Nader, advisor to Defense Minister Elias Murr and JOURNALIST Melhem Riachi, and Daniele Gerges, JOURNALIST with l'Hebdo Magazine. The draft presentation was emailed to NEA/ELA on February 29. March 14's official website is www.14March.org. GOALS -------------- ¶4. (U) The convention, which aims to develop and publicize the March 14 coalition's program and vision and to reinvigorate the March 14 movement, will bring together approximately 1,000 participants under the slogan "Together, We Achieve the Lebanese Dream." The organizers hope to create a "Beirut Spring 2008" paralleling that of 2005, when the Cedar Revolution reached its peak, resulting in an overwhelming parliamentary victory for March 14. The convention also will include a strong youth presence, in an effort to promote a new generation of leaders. Finally, the convention organizers intend to paint March 14 as a movement that celebrates life rather than the "culture of death" promoted by the Hizballah-led opposition. ¶5. (U) The organizers intend to use the convention to send messages to non-Lebanese as well. First, the international community, to show that people are still committed to the Cedar Revolution principles of freedom, democracy, sovereignty. Second, to the Arab world, to demonstrate that Lebanon's democracy is of its own choosing, and not imposed by the U.S. Third, to the Syrian people (vice regime),to demonstrate March 14's goodwill and determination to build a better relationship, and explain that the Special Tribunal is about justice rather than politics. Finally, to the Palestinians, to show that despite past conflicts with individual March 14 groups (i.e., Phalange),March 14 is committed to developing a Palestinian policy that addresses both the issue of refugees in Lebanon and the broader Palestinian question. PROGRAM -------------- ¶6. (U) The convention will consist of an opening session, with a welcome address by MP Samir Franjieh, followed by a documentary and exhibition on the history and achievements of the Cedar Revolution, workshops aimed at establishing unified March 14 positions on key issues, a closing "town hall" session with March 14 leaders and the press, and a "mega-concert" to conclude the convention. ¶7. (SBU) Each workshop, which the organizers envision as "virtual institutions" to address state-building issues, comprises three key elements: a subject matter expert, a March representative, and a youth representative. The goal is to develop a two-page "white paper" (policy paper) to present to March 14 leaders. The workshops will continue their work in the following two months. Workshop topics BEIRUT 00000339 002.2 OF 002 include state-building, Lebanese-Syrian relations, Lebanese-Palestinian relations, UN diplomacy and resolutions, relations with the Arab world, Islamic-Christian dialogue, the Taif Agreement, electoral reform, March 14's vision, mission, and organization structure, and an action plan. PARTICIPATION -------------- ¶8. (U) March 14 plans to invite Arab, U.S., and European diplomats and parliamentarians, local and international journalists, business and civil society representatives, academics and think tank representatives, religious leaders, young leaders from different sectors of society, as well as supporters of the 2005 Cedar Revolution to the convention. March 14 planned to focus especially on the participation of UNIFIL countries, whose troops in south Lebanon made them susceptible to being "held hostage" by the pro-Syrian opposition. ATTRACTING AOUN SUPPORTERS -------------- ¶10. (U) In a bid to discredit Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun, Mecattaf told Pol/Econ Chief on February 26 that March 14 entrusted various young leaders previously aligned with Aoun to carry out some essential activities related to the convention and to chair some of the workshops. He said this effort was welcomed by Aoun's former supporters as well as by March 14 leaders. BUDGET -------------- ¶11. (SBU) Suaid told Pol/Econ Chief on February 27 that the Hariri family was ready to pay for all the costs associated with the convention. However, he also hoped to enlist the support of various foundations created in the name of assassinated March 14 victims and of Lebanese-American groups in the U.S. (Note: March 14 often is accused as being a Hariri/Sunni-dominated group, especially by opposition Christians seeking to undermine its support. End note.) ACTION REQUEST -------------- ¶12. (SBU) To maximize international participation in the convention and demonstrate strong international support for the March 14 majority, Post requests that Department demarche key Arab and European (especially UNIFIL) capitals, as well as the EU and UN, encouraging them to be represented at the convention. Recognizing that time is short, post also would welcome Department's suggestions for names of members of Congress and prominent Lebanese-Americans in the business, civil society, religious, academic and think tank communities to whom March 14 should extend invitations to the Convention. End action request. SISON