LEBANON: MARCH 14 CONVENTION REINVIGORATES THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000392 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT PASS TO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/GAVITO E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/15/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL SY LE SUBJECT: LEBANON: MARCH 14 CONVENTION REINVIGORATES THE MOVEMENT Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) On March 14th, the March 14 coalition commemorated the third anniversary of the 2005 Cedar Revolution with a convention that attracted a strong showing of over 2,300 supporters. The event set out to reinvigorate the movement and recapture public support. The speeches focused on March 14's vision of a democratic, sovereign, prosperous Lebanon through a presidential election, support for the Taif accord, an embracing of Lebanon's confessions, and normal relations with a Syrian government that recognizes Lebanon's independence. ¶2. (SBU) The program included the reading of a new March 14 political declaration. One highlight from the declaration was directed at Hizballah: the emphasis on one army and Lebanon's right to resistance, but to the benefit of the national interest and not to serve foreign interests. The first-ever March 14 event was a success overall but the lengthy, droning speeches, coupled with the absences of majority leader Saad Hariri and high-level Christian church representatives, were shortcomings. End summary. ELECTRIC ATMOSPHERE -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The March 14 convention, held at the Beirut International Exhibition and Leisure Center, kicked off on a high note. The decor of the auditorium, packed with over 2,300 people well before the event started, ignited a sense of excitement and anticipation in the audience. One wall was covered with the portraits of the political "martyrs" and the names of all of the civilians killed with them, and the other wall showed moving scenes from the Cedar Revolution of 2005. The speakers' backdrop featured the new March 14 symbol, a clenched fist reminiscent of the 1960's holding a cedar branch, on a bold red background. Screens captured for the audience the VIPs as they entered the hall, and several March 14 leaders were greeted with enormous applause upon entry. (Note: The Charge's entrance, immediately preceding the start of the convention, also was met with a round of applause. End note.) PARTICIPATION -------------- ¶4. (SBU) All of the March 14 party leaders were present, except for majority leader Saad Hariri, still in Saudi Arabia and Lebanese Forces (LF) leader Samir Geagea, who is still in the U.S. PM Fouad Siniora was at the OIC event in Senegal. An advisor represented Hariri and a LF MP represented Geagea. Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, former president and Phalange leader Amine Gemayel, Telecommunications Minister Marwan Hamadeh, Nassib Lahoud, Social Affairs Minister Nayla Mouawad, MP and Minister of Information Ghazi Aridi, leader of the National Bloc Carlos Edde, president of the National Liberal Party Dory Chamoun, Sheikh Michel Khoury, MP Henri Helou, MP Wael Abu Four, MP Robert Ghanem, and members of the March 14 Secretariat were just some of the prominent March 14 members present. ¶5. (SBU) Heavy lobbying of EU embassies by the U.S. and March 14 paid off to an extent, with EU countries upgrading their representation to DCM at the last minute. Although the diplomatic community was well represented, the only other COM was the Japanese ambassador. ¶6. (SBU) March 14 stalwart Nassib Lahoud remarked to us in a meeting immediately following the event that he was pleased to note the attendees were not the typical March 14 supporters, but instead were local leaders or civil society members, and that the competition to receive an invitation was high. He wished to invite 400 people, but was only able to secure 100 invites. STRUCTURE -------------- ¶7. (SBU) A JOURNALIST from Saad's Future TV emceed the event, which consisted of a series of lengthy speeches, interspersed by some touching documentaries. The event was well-organized; however, the lack of a written program BEIRUT 00000392 002 OF 002 resulted in some confusion when a musical interlude prompted an exodus of people believing the event was over. Future Movement's MP Samir al-Jisr gave the opening speech and March 14 Secretary General Fares Souaid delivered the March 14 declaration detailing March 14's principles, vision, and steps for the future. An advisor to Nassib Lahoud outlined the next week's agenda for various issue-based workshops, which attracted nearly 500 names signed up, a younger speaker from Jumblatt's party addressed the youth movement within March 14, and an LF member discussed Lebanon's emigration problems. ¶8. (SBU) The peak of the event was an especially moving documentary, highlighting the long list of assassinations and the history and achievements of the March 14 movement. The video elicited the convention's strongest responses from the audience, which applauded furiously at pictures of each "martyr" and of current leaders Saad Hariri, Jumblatt, and Prime Minister Fouad Sinoria, as well as Maronite Patriarch Sfeir. The worked-up audience booed during a clip of Hizballah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah speaking as well as to the repeated naming of Syria as culpable for Lebanon's suffering. MESSAGES -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Among the dominant foward-looking themes was the presidential election, which is "not a luxury but a necessity," according to MP al-Jisr. He added, "We have reached a consensus on Lebanese Armed Forces Commander Michel Sleiman, and there is no justification that he is still not elected," which was met with applause. He voiced March 14's support for the Arab League initiative, calling for Sleiman's election, the formation of a national unity cabinet, and the adoption of an electoral law. ¶10. (SBU) The speakers also focused on confessionalism, which can be "an aspect of fear" in driving a wedge among Lebanese, but, when embracing the Taif accord, allows for a positive plurality in the Lebanese identity. Souaid demonstrated this when reading the headline speech, March 14's declaration, by describing the diversity of March 14, which includes the Patriarch, the supporters of Jumblatt, and Hariri's base. While all confessions should be embraced, the speakers explicitly stated that there should only be one army, a clear reference to Hizballah's operating a fighting force apart from the GOL. The declaration addressed the idea of resistance, the term Hizballah uses to justify its existence, saying that while Lebanon has such a right, it should be for the benefit of the national interest, and not to serve foreign interests. ¶11. (SBU) In addition to stating March 14's principles and vision, the declaration differentiated between its culture and that of the opposition, repeatedly describing the March 14 culture as a "culture of peace, coexistence, and interaction with the other," and referring to the opposition's "culture of violence and division." ¶12. (SBU) The speakers did not shy away from expressing their frustration with Syrian intervention. They emphasized the importance of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon as a tool of accountability, not of revenge. In line with the convention's focus on the future, Souaid suggested normalizing relations with Syria, but only if its regime recognized Lebanon's sovereignty and independence. COMMENT -------------- ¶13. (C) While March 14 achieved most of its objectives for the convention, its implementation could have been better. When we asked former March 14 presidential candidate Nassib Lahoud that evening for his assessment, his first response was "Long!!" Further, the absence of Saad and high-ranking representatives from the Christian faith were noticed. Nevertheless, the high attendance is significant, and the professional optics of the convention suggest that March 14 is serious in its efforts to recapture public opinion and reinvigorate its movement. End comment. SISON