Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BEIRUT653
2008-05-11 22:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:  

LEBANON: JUSTICE MINISTER RIZK WANTS TO MAINTAIN

Tags:  PREL PGOV PTER PINR ASEC UNSC EAIR SA IR LE 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1030
OO RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHLB #0653/01 1322240
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 112240Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1802
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2254
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 2560
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIRUT 000653 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA
ALSO FOR A/S SILVERBERG AND PDAS WARLICK
USUN FOR KHALILZAD/WOLFF/KUMAR/PHEE
NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/YERGER/GAVITO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINR ASEC UNSC EAIR SA IR LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: JUSTICE MINISTER RIZK WANTS TO MAINTAIN
STATUS QUO

REF: A. BEIRUT 618


B. BEIRUT 635

C. BEIRUT 648

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).

SUMMARY
--------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIRUT 000653

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA
ALSO FOR A/S SILVERBERG AND PDAS WARLICK
USUN FOR KHALILZAD/WOLFF/KUMAR/PHEE
NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/YERGER/GAVITO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINR ASEC UNSC EAIR SA IR LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: JUSTICE MINISTER RIZK WANTS TO MAINTAIN
STATUS QUO

REF: A. BEIRUT 618


B. BEIRUT 635

C. BEIRUT 648

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).

SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) Justice Minister Rizk told the Charge on May 11 that
he had not anticipated such a strong reaction from Hizballah
to the Cabinet's May 5 decisions to transfer the head of
airport security and to declare Hizballah's fiber optics
network illegal. Rizk criticized the relationship between
the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and Hizballah, noting its
coordination in the positional takeovers of Future Movement
party offices and media stations. Rizk believes that the
Arab League could be a neutral host of the National Dialogue.
Hizballah lost legitimacy, according to Rizk, by using its
arms internally and by attacking state institutions,
referring to the airport road. End summary.

SURPRISED AT OPPOSITION'S
REACTIONS TO CABINET DECISIONS
--------------


2. (C) The Charge, accompanied by Defense Attache and PolOff,
visited Justice Minister Rizk at 1400 local time on May 11.
A distraught Rizk said that he had not anticipated the
opposition's reactions to the Cabinet's decisions to transfer
the head of airport security Wafiq Shucair and declare
Hizballah's fiber optics network illegal (Ref A). Rizk noted
that he had advised the cabinet members to consult with
Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) Commander Michel Sleiman on
Shucair's case prior to making a decision.


3. (C) However, Rizk relayed, Minister of Telecommunications
Marwan Hamadeh and Defense Minister Elias Murr were pushing
for a Cabinet decision on the discovery of
Hizballah-installed surveillance cameras at the airport.
Rizk mentioned that Prime Minister Fouad Siniora had not been

in favor of transferring Shucair and faulted the environment
(Hizballah is everywhere around the airport, Rizk explained),
not the individual, for enabling the camera placement. Rizk
said he argued with Minister of Education Khaled Qabbani,
who, as a judge, preferred to refer the fiber optics network
issue to the Special Prosecutor.


4. (C) Rizk stated, "I didn't think our decisions were such
a big deal. No one predicted how Hizballah was going to
react, he continued. He added that, as the Defense Minister,
Murr should have had some intelligence that Hizballah would
respond in this manner. Further, Rizk argued, Hizballah has
many informants in the government, even in the Grand Serail.
(Note: Rizk was implying that someone informed Hizballah
about the letter that Siniora sent to the UN declaring
Hizballah's fiber optics network illegal. End note.) We
were unprepared, Rizk remarked. "Maybe it isn't a coup
d'etat, but it sure smells like one," he asserted.

ANALYSIS OF SLEIMAN
--------------


5. (C) Rizk suggested that the U.S. provide "software, not
hardware" to the LAF; "The army won't benefit from more
equipment," he argued. "The LAF stands to lose 70 percent of
its officers -- the Sunnis, Christians, and Druze -- but
Sleiman is not talking about this," Rizk said. He added that
he believes Sleiman is happy in his current role. Rizk
provided his assessment, "Sleiman was first Syria's
candidate, then he shifted, thanks to Elias Murr. Then he
performed in a reasonable manner in Nahr al-Barid, though he
was unenthusiastic about taking action at the outset. Next
Sleiman started to be perceived as more reasonable, more
March 14, which caused him to lose support from his original
protectors. Hizballah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah
praised Sleiman so excessively in his May 8 speech that he
effectively disqualified him." Rizk wondered what/who
prompted Sleiman to request the government to officially
withdraw its controversial decisions.

BEIRUT 00000653 002 OF 003




6. (C) While commenting that he thought Siniora was "too
tough" on Sleiman, Rizk criticized Sleiman for asking Siniora
to do things he knew he couldn't do, referring to Sleiman's
letter (septel) requesting the Cabinet cancel its decisions.


7. (C) Rizk surmised that Hizballah has been showing
restraint to support Sleiman. He said he believed that the
LAF was involved in all of the Future Movement media and
party office takeovers on May 9 (Ref B). He reasoned, "Maybe
the LAF was going further than Hizballah because it was the
army that was ordering the Future supporters to leave their
offices." Rizk said it was a "stupid move" to burn the
Future offices, suggesting that it was "so stupid that maybe
it was done by Syrian intelligence to embarrass Hizballah."

ARAB LEAGUE AS POTENTIAL
"NEUTRAL ELEMENT"
--------------


8. (C) Rizk believed it is naive to expect the Arab League to
offer anything practical on Lebanon. At a minimum, he
acknowledged, the Arab League can provide a neutral element
for a National Dialogue, referring to Siniora's suggestion in
his May 10 televised address (Ref C). Rizk said that there
is speculation that the National Dialogue could take place in
Cairo.


9. (C) In the long-term, Rizk said, he sees only losses for
both the opposition and the majority. Hizballah is losing
its "legitimacy" to possess weapons for the purposes of
resistance, he stated. Further, he added, Hizballah lost
credibility by attacking state institutions, noting that the
airport road technically belongs to the state. Rizk said
that there remains a possibility to benefit from this
situation, explaining, "This crisis cannot be seen as local.
The Siniora government and the U.S. previously had a strong
position in Lebanon. The balance has now been altered." He
asked, "Can the U.S. or Saad Hariri accept this loss?"

PREFERENCE FOR STATUS QUO
--------------


10. (C) Rizk remarked that he thought everyone was accepting
of the status quo and political vacuum (before the events
starting May 7). Now, he said he does not believe the
situation is irreversible. "If we elect Sleiman as
president, he and his newly formed cabinet will be under
Hizballah's influence. Even the new electoral law would be
as Hizballah directs it." Instead, he argued, we should
extend the status quo for a while. He advocated that no
action be taken to open the road to Beirut International
Airport, and the government should seek out alternatives,
such as the Rene Mouawad/Kleyate airport in northern Lebanon
and/or a helicopter transport to Cyprus.


11. (C) Rizk expressed his displeasure with Minister of
Transport and Public Works Mohammed Safadi, noting that he
did not stay for the duration of this week's ten-hour Cabinet
meeting (Ref A). Rizk further slammed Safadi, who oversees
the airports, for publicly declaring on May 10 that the Rene
Mouawad/Kleyate airport in northern Lebanon was inoperable,
arguing that the airport is indeed operable for commercial
aircraft. (Note: Safadi's private company was briefly
interested in taking over the airport after a USG-funded TDA
feasibility study had been completed. End note.) Rizk
remarked that it was "stupid" for Lebanon to only have one
airport for commercial aircraft use, advocating that there be
three airports. Rizk continued, "We don't want to cede BIA,
but we should at least open the airport in the north for the
time being." He also believes that there should be
helicopter service to Cyprus.

COMMENT
--------------


12. (C) Even before finishing his second slug of 12 year-old
Johnnie Walker Black, Rizk displayed a measured sense of calm
and subdued satisfaction that was perhaps not surprising.
Earlier in the day, Defense Minister Elias Murr told he
suspected Rizk still harbors presidential ambitions. In

BEIRUT 00000653 003 OF 003


attempting to put himself above the fray, Rizk was not overly
critical of anyone, suggesting he wanted to appear to us as
someone who could work with all sides. End comment.
SISON