LEBANON: WITH WELCH, PATRIARCH URGES THE CHRISTIAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000545

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SIPDIS

NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/YERGER
DEPT PASS TO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL SY LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: WITH WELCH, PATRIARCH URGES THE CHRISTIAN
OPPOSITION TO ACCEPT A PRESIDENT

REF: BEIRUT 519

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

SUMMARY
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1. (C) NEA Assistant Secretary David Welch told Maronite
Patriarch Sfeir during an April 18 meeting that the Arab
League summit successfully exposed Syrian interference in
Lebanon and generated "very solid" support among the Arab
world for Lebanon. The Christian office in Lebanon, the
presidency, must be filled, Welch emphasized, and Maronites
should have representation in the cabinet. He assured the
Patriarch that the U.S. would continue to support Lebanon
politically and economically and also to assist further the
Lebanese Armed Forces.


2. (C) Noting the historically long presidential vacuum
plaguing Lebanon, the Patriarch stressed that Lebanon needed
a president before it could resolve any other issue. This
requires a change in position by the Christians in the
opposition, he pressed. He pointed to Iran and Syria as the
provocateurs, while saying that Lebanon wants positive
relations with its neighbors. End summary.

U.S., ARAB WORLD CALLING
FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
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3. (C) Visiting NEA Assistant Secretary David Welch,
accompanied by Charge, Pol/Econ Chief, Special Assistant, and
PolOff, met with Maronite Patriarch Sfeir at his residence in
Bkirke on April 18. Welch remarked that the Arab League
summit successfully exposed Syrian interference in Lebanon
and generated "very solid" support among the Arab world for
Lebanon, citing the April 22 "Friends of Lebanon" meeting in
Kuwait as evidence. The Arab states are now especially aware
of the need for an immediate presidential election, Welch
told the Patriarch.


4. (C) Having recently spoken to the King of Morocco, the
Tunisian and Algerian presidents, the Saudis, Emiratis,
Egyptians, and Kuwaitis, Welch relayed that the Arab Muslim
world is fully supportive of Lebanon's Maronite community.
They all believe that a division in the Maronite community is
harmful, he continued, and criticize Free Patriotic Movement
leader Michel Aoun even more than people do in Lebanon.
These states are also resisting pressure from Hizballah,
Welch reported.


5. (C) Noting that the Siniora government is performing well
given the circumstances, Welch asserted that the presidency,
the highest Christian office in Lebanon must be filled and
that the Maronite community must be adequately represented in
the cabinet. He assured the Patriarch that U.S. policy will
remain solidly in support of Lebanon, irrespective of the
U.S. presidential election. Agreeing that dialogue is a
helpful activity, Welch reported that he had told Speaker
Nabih Berri that a president must be elected prior to
convening a dialogue.

U.S. POLITICAL, FINANCIAL
SUPPORT WILL CONTINUE
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6. (C) Dismissing as untrue comments attributed to the
Secretary that the U.S. does not want an election soon, Welch

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assured the Patriarch that the U.S. is pushing hard for the
immediate election of a president. In addition to continuing
its political support for Lebanon, Welch said the U.S. is
looking at ways to expand economic support for Lebanon as
well as assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces.

HISTORICALLY LONG
POLITICAL CRISIS
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7. (C) Expressing his gratitude for Welch's visit to Lebanon,
the Patriarch said he is certain the U.S. aspires to help
Lebanon, which is in a "very grave situation," find a
solution. He lamented that this is the first time Lebanon
has experienced such a long period without a president and
without parliament adjourning. Ministers who are supposed to

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participate in the government instead act outside of the
government, he said, and the government has not been united
in months. He believed many Christians would accept an
invitation to join the Siniora cabinet. He implored that
Lebanon needs a new president before anything else, before a
new cabinet is set and before a new parliament is elected.
Referring to the fast-approaching 2009 parliamentary
elections, the Patriarch urged that a president be elected
immediately.

PUSH THE CHRISTIAN OPPOSITION
TO ACCEPT A PRESIDENT
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8. (C) The Patriarch proposed to Welch that the U.S. "can
push some Christians from the opposition" to accept a
president. Acknowledging divisions in Michel Aoun's party
(reftel),the Patriarch predicted that it is only the
beginning. He opined that in working democracies, the
majority controls the government and the minority is the
opposition, but here in Lebanon, the majority is handcuffed
by the opposition and so the government is unable to operate.
Other Christians should join this government, he argued.

SYRIA AND IRAN ARE TO BLAME
--------------


9. (C) The Patriarch, agreeing with PM Siniora's decision
that Lebanon would be absent from the Arab League summit in
Damascus, indicated that Syria and especially Iran are the
sources of Lebanon's problems. Syria has an historic
influence on Lebanon and is trying to return and dominate
Lebanon again, he posited. Welch responded that Syria will
not be able to return to Lebanon. The Patriarch insisted
that Lebanon wants good relations with its neighbors.


10. (U) A/S Welch has not had the opportunity to clear this
cable.
SISON