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 SIPDIS 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 BEIRUT 00000545 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: CDA Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). SUMMARY -------------- ¶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 -------------- ¶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 -------------- ¶6. (C) Dismissing as untrue comments attributed to the Secretary that the U.S. does not want an election soon, Welch SIPDIS 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 -------------- ¶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 BEIRUT 00000545 002.2 OF 002 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 -------------- ¶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