Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BEIRUT766
2008-05-26 14:04:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:  

LEBANON: PARLIAMENT ELECTS MICHEL SLEIMAN AS

Tags:  PREL PGOV PTER PINR ASEC UNSC EAIR SA IR LE 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO3165
OO RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHLB #0766/01 1471404
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 261404Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2036
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2394
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 2697
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 BEIRUT 000766 

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/26/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINR ASEC UNSC EAIR SA IR LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: PARLIAMENT ELECTS MICHEL SLEIMAN AS
PRESIDENT

REF: BEIRUT 733

Classified By: CDA 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 04 BEIRUT 000766

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/26/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINR ASEC UNSC EAIR SA IR LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: PARLIAMENT ELECTS MICHEL SLEIMAN AS
PRESIDENT

REF: BEIRUT 733

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

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


1. (C) After 19 previous sessions were canceled, the Lebanese
Parliament finally succeeded in electing former Lebanese
Armed Forces (LAF) Commander Michel Sleiman as president,
ending the presidential vacuum that had gripped Lebanon for
the past six months. In what many viewed as a stronger than
expected acceptance speech, President Sleiman emphasized
Lebanon's commitment to UNSC Resolutions and the Special
Tribunal. While commending Hizballah's efforts in resisting
Israeli aggression, he argued that a new defensive strategy
is needed for Lebanon, and concluded with a call for unity
and national reconciliation.


2. (C) The election, the first step in the Arab
League-mediated deal reached in Doha on May 21 (reftel),was
greeted with fireworks and fanfare throughout the country as
Lebanese celebrated what they hoped would be an end to the
continuing political instability and violence of the past
three years. After moving into the Baabda presidential
palace on May 26, Sleiman will begin consultations with
parliamentary blocs on May 27 to determine who will be the
next prime minister. End summary.

AT LONG LAST, PARLIAMENT
ELECTS A PRESIDENT ...
--------------


3. (C) Parliament elected former Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF)
Commander Michel Sleiman on May 25 with a total of 118 out of
127 votes cast in a secret ballot that took less than eight
minutes. Of the remaining nine ballots, six were cast as
blank "white votes," one was cast for former minister Jean
Obeid, another for former MP and previous March 14
presidential candidate Nassib Lahoud, and one ballot for

assassinated former PM Rafik Hariri and all other martyred
MPs. Future Movement MP Bassem Sabaa later claimed credit
for the latter, while independent Tripoli MP Mosbah Ahdab was
rumored to have voted for Nassib Lahoud.

...BUT NOT WITHOUT DISSENT
--------------


4. (C) Speculation abounded that Aoun bloc MPs had cast the
white votes in an attempt to discredit Samir Geagea's
Lebanese Forces, who had threatened to abstain due to
concerns that constitutional procedures required to elect a
standing senior government official had not been heeded.
Others attributed the white votes to March 14 MPs Nayla
Mouwad and Boutros Harb, who, along with former Speaker and
current MP Hussein Husseini, voiced their objections prior to
the vote count to proceeding with the election without
addressing the constitutional issue. Speaker Nabih Berri
quickly put an end to the dissent, stating he would note
their reservations.


5. (C) Lebanese Forces MP George Adwan also conveyed his
bloc's reservations on the electoral law agreed at Doha;
however, Adwan said Lebanese Forces supported Sleiman's
election. (Note: At Doha leaders agreed to revert to the
1960 law, based on small "qada" districts, as a starting
point for electoral reform. Lebanese Forces had advocated
even smaller districts, which would increase their Christian
support. End note.)


6. (C) Opposition MPs, who have protested the legitimacy of
the Siniora government since the 2006 resignation of six
opposition cabinet members (including all five Shia members)
did not join the rest of parliament in standing and warmly
applauding the entrance of PM Fouad Siniora and his cabinet.
Speaker Berri, an opposition stalwart, earlier had announced
a postponement in a scheduled separate parliamentary session
called to amend the electoral law to avoid having the Siniora
government in attendance, deferring the debate until a new
cabinet is formed. (Comment: Now caretaker Justice Minister

BEIRUT 00000766 002 OF 004


Charles Rizk told the Charge later that evening that Berri
took this decision because he did not want Siniora's cabinet
involved. Sidon Chamber of Commerce head Mohammad Zaatari,
however, told Charge the following day that this was a
mistake, as it would burden the new cabinet with this issue.
End comment.)

BERRI CRITICIZES U.S.
NEW MIDDLE EAST PROJECT
--------------


7. (C) Flanked by the Speaker, cabinet members, and Qatari
Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifah al-Thani, PM and FM Sheikh
Hamad bin Jassim, and Arab League SYG Amr Moussa, President
Sleiman took the oath of office, putting an end to the sixth
month vacancy. Speaker Berri then took the floor, noting in
his remarks that two issues remained on the agenda of the
National Dialogue begun in Qatar (reftel): forming a new
cabinet and agreeing on a new electoral law. Berri also
noted Sleiman's responsibility, according to the Doha
agreement, to conduct a dialogue on the relationship between
the state and its defensive apparatus. Berri thanked several
European and Arab countries, and the Arab League, for helping
to resolve the political crisis. He then expressed sarcastic
thanks to the U.S. for becoming "aware that Lebanon is not
the suitable place for the birth of its Broader Middle East
project, which in our opinion will never find a suitable
place for labor pain and birth in the Middle East."

SLEIMAN CALLS FOR
"PLURALISM AND COMMITMENT"
TO BUILD LEBANON
--------------


8. (C) Beginning his inaugural address with a moment of
silence in honor of all the "Lebanese martyrs," Sleiman
called for "all political forces and citizens to build a
Lebanon we all agree on, setting the interests of Lebanon
above our individual interests," and called for unity and
solid reconciliation. He underlined the need to preserve
Lebanon's pluralism and reiterated his commitment to the
principles of the Taif Accord. Sleiman declared, "If it is
important that the electoral law provide a just
representation of the people, it is even more important,
then, that the results of the elections be accepted." He
also acknowledged Lebanese compatriots who live abroad,
stating that the Lebanese diaspora had the right to Lebanese
citizenship, and, "We must acknowledge the rights of the
Lebanese abroad."

SLEIMAN REAFFIRMS SUPPORT FOR
UN RESOLUTIONS AND TRIBUNAL,
CALLS FOR DEFENSIVE STRATEGY
--------------


9. (C) Sleiman also reaffirmed his commitment and respect for
all UNSC resolutions, as well as the Special Tribunal for
Lebanon for the "martyr Rafik Hariri and all our martyrs."
He further stated that "the continuation of Israeli
aggression necessitated the creation of a defense strategy
which allows us to make use of the resistance's experience."
Sleiman praised the bravery of Hizballah's fighters and the
grandeur of its martyrs who succeeded in forcing the
occupiers out of Lebanon. He called for "brotherly
relations" between Lebanon and Syria, with mutual respect for
sovereignty by each country. The speech met with widespread
applause, with the notable exception of Syrian FM Moallem,
who, seated two rows in front of the Charge and Rep. Rahall,
did not applaud Sleiman's remarks on either the Tribunal or
relationship with Syria.


10. (C) Most of our interlocutors deemed Sleiman's speech,
which they believed he drafted himself, as "unexpectedly"
strong. One contact said Sleiman had been overheard to say
"they won't be expecting this" just moments before entering
the plenary. Caretaker FM Tareq Mitri noted as significant
Sleiman's references to the "resistance" in the past tense,
as assessment shared by Justice Minister Rizk and UAE Foreign
Minister Abdullah bin Zayed al Nahyan, who believed it was a
deliberate nuance that merited attention. Seated at dinner
with the Charge and Pol/Econ Chief, Internal Security Forces

BEIRUT 00000766 003 OF 004


(ISF) General Ashraf Rifi, Surete Generale head Wafiq Jezzini
and Lebanese Armed Forces G-2 (military intelligence)
Director BG Georges Khoury expressed surprise that Sleiman's
remarks had been as hard-hitting as they were. All three
believed he had drafted the text himself.


11. (C) Rizk (conveying plans to return to private business,
but admitting he would not refuse a cabinet seat) also was
pleased that Sleiman had emphasized the independence of the
judiciary, which has been the target of efforts to prevent
the Special Tribunal from moving forward. He also
appreciated Sleiman's stance on the rightful role of the
Lebanese diaspora, which he wished "to engage in a way that
will make them feel like actual citizens." Rizk reported
that he is working on an initiative to grant nationality to
overseas Lebanese and give them voting rights, although he
believes this plan will not be in place in time for the
Spring 2008 parliamentary elections.

QATARI EMIR DISMISSES
"NO WINNER NO LOSER" SLOGAN
--------------


12. (C) In an unprecedented move during a presidential
election session, Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifah
al-Thani delivered a speech following Sleiman's swearing-in,
in which he dismissed the common slogan of "no winner and no
loser" in Lebanon's political rift, stating instead that
"Lebanon was the winner and strife was the loser."

FOREIGN DIGNITARIES
WITNESS THE EVENT
--------------


13. (C) Other foreign dignitaries also were in attendance,
including French FM Bernard Kouchner, Italian FM Franco
Frattini, Spanish FM Miguel Moratinos, EU High Representative
Javier Solana, Iranian FM Manouchehr Mottaki, Saudi Arabian
FM Prince Saud al-Faisal, Syrian FM Walid Moallem, Egyptian
FM Ahmad Abu el-Ghaith, Turkish PM Rajab Tayeb Erdogan,
Turkish FM Ali Babajan, Bahraini FM Kahlid bin Ahmad
al-Khalifa, Jordanian FM Saleheddin al-Bashir, Kuwaiti FM
Mohammad al-Salem al-Sabah, Omani FM Yousef bin Alawi bin
Abdullah, UAE FM Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan, UN
Special Envoy for the Implementation of UNSCR 1559 Terje Roed
Larsen, UNIFIL Commander General Claudio Graziano, European
Parliament Vice President Luisa Morgantini, and Iraqi
National Assembly Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashadani representing
the Arab Inter-Parliamentarian Union.


14. (C) A visiting CODEL led by Congressman Nick Rahall
(D-WV) and compromised of three Congressmen of Lebanese
descent (Rahall, Darrell Issa (R-CA),and Ray Lahood (D-IL)
plus three other members (Charlie Melancon (D-LA),John
Linder (R-GA) and Jack Kingston (R-GA) and Charge Sison
represented the United States at the ceremony.

STRANGE BEDFELLOWS
--------------


15. (C) Following the election, Speaker Berri hosted a dinner
in honor of the Qatari Emir at the Biel convention center,
where Patchi chocolates were placed at each plate with the
words "Thank you Qatar" inscribed on the wrapping. While
many of the foreign dignitaries had departed, the Lebanese
were out in full force. Druze leader Walid Jumblatt created
great consternation at the Charge's dinner table when he
walked across the room to greet FM Mottaki. Surete General
Gen. Jezzine told the Charge, "This is how it starts.
Remember this moment. Walid is moving toward Hizballah."
Jumblatt later pooh-poohed the encounter, telling the Charge
FM Mottaki did not even know who Jumblatt was. Another guest
at the dinner joked that it was too bad alcohol was not
involved, as only then would it become clear what new
alliances were forming, when embraces and hugs were observed.


LEBANON CELEBRATES
--------------


16. (U) Celebratory shots were fired into the air and

BEIRUT 00000766 004 OF 004


fireworks lit up the sky as crowds of jubilant people poured
into the streets of Beirut and Sleiman's hometown Amchit.
Press reported that five individuals were injured by
celebratory stray bullets.

SLEIMAN'S NEXT STEPS
--------------


17. (C) Sleiman arrived at Baabda Palace, the president's
residence, at noon on May 26. According to press reports,
his first official visitor was Iranian FM Mottaki. Sleiman's
first official engagement as Lebanon's president will be a
tour of Arab states, including Qatar, Syria, Saudi Arabia,
Egypt, and the UAE. Sleiman will begin consulting with
parliamentarian blocs on May 27 to determine who will be the
next prime minister. (Note: The government automatically is
considered resigned and reverts to caretaker status upon the
election of a president. Current predictions are that
Siniora will stay on as Prime Minister, though Future MP
Bahia Hariri, sister of Rafik, told Charge on May 26 that she
was urging Saad to take the job. End note.)

A HISTORIC MOMENT,
BIG CHALLENGES AHEAD
--------------


18. (C) The May 25 election of Michel Sleiman represents a
historic moment for Lebanon. Two of Lebanon's former
presidents, Amine Gemayel and Emile Lahoud, observed the
proceedings from the parliament's gallery. Sleiman is the
twelfth president since independence, and more importantly,
the first president to be elected since the withdrawal of the
Syrian Army in April 2005.


19. (C) Lebanon must not resolve key remaining issues that
led to the political crisis, namely dealing with Hizballah
arms, implementing the 1989 Taif agreement, and establishing
a fair and transparent electoral law that would further
democratic representation in Lebanon. While the election is
a bright moment that should be celebrated, it needs to be put
in perspective. The unresolved issues of the past still
present the greatest danger for Lebanon.

SISON