LEBANON: CARETAKER JUSTICE MINISTER RIZK LOBBYING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000822 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA 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: 06/01/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINR EAID ENRG UNSC LE SUBJECT: LEBANON: CARETAKER JUSTICE MINISTER RIZK LOBBYING TO RETAIN MINISTERIAL POST Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) Justice Minister Charles Rizk impressed upon the Charge in a June 2 meeting the importance of him staying on as Justice Minister, for the benefit of the Special Tribunal. Rizk fears the ministry is being politicized, as March 14 politicians are jockeying for representation in the new cabinet. ¶2. (C) Newly-elected President Michel Sleiman is growing on Rizk, Rizk relayed. The caretaker Justice Minister because he believes the President will accept guidance on key issues. Rizk reported that he is encouraging Sleiman to consider seriously Syrian President Bashar Assad's statement that Lebanon should enter the peace process with Israel, especially because it could be an opportunity to discuss Hizballah's arms. Rizk suggested that the U.S. provide visible assistance in the form of water and energy expertise to benefit the Lebanese people. End summary. WISHES TO REMAIN AS JUSTICE MINISTER -------------- ¶3. (C) The Charge, accompanied by PolOff, met caretaker Justice Minister Charles Rizk at his home in Ashrafiyeh on June 2. Reporting on his June 1 consultations with Prime Minister-designate Fouad Siniora and President Michel Sleiman, Rizk complained that Siniora does not recognize the importance of the Special Tribunal to investigate former PM Rafiq Hariri's assassination, and the related significance of the Justice Ministry. ¶4. (C) Rizk, who fervently wishes to stay on as Justice Minister, expressed his frustration that the ministerial post is being used as a political bargaining chip among March 14 leaders. Rizk stressed that the Justice Ministry is a critical piece to ensuring the success of the Special Tribunal, and he should stay on because of his experience and political savvy. Further, he complained, "the Ministry is becoming a victim of Maronite issues. I am not wishing to stay on as Minister so that the Justice portfolio remains with the Maronite." ¶5. (C) He calculated that there are three Maronite seats for March 14 to fill, noting that four "village politicians," former President and Kataeb (Phalange) leader Amine Gemayel, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, Social Affairs Minister Nayla Mouawad ("who needs a position to win votes for the 2009 parliamentary elections, and may switch sides if she is not appointed"),and MP Boutros Harb (a "village politician" who Rizk fears is his biggest competitor for the Justice Ministry),all covet ministerial positions. ¶6. (C) Rizk, who is concerned that the cabinet formation will be rushed so that it is done before French President Nicolas Sarkozy's June 7 visit, believes that PM Siniora should take his time. He hopes the U.S. will encourage Siniora to proceed with caution, and will argue the importance of the Justice Ministry to Siniora. ¶7. (C) He said he pleaded with Siniora to understand the need to "continue pushing UNIIIC Commissioner Daniel Bellemare" with his investigation. Siniora reportedly replied, "What if there is no case?" To Rizk, this was the wrong response because it "should not be an option" for Bellemare to not have a case. If Bellemare indeed comes up with nothing, Rizk continued, then the timing of this announcement is important because "March 14 will lose if Bellemare announces there will be no prosecutions." Conversely, he argued, if Bellemare has a case, the timing of this announcement must also be strategically calculated. SPECULATING OTHER CABINET POSITIONS -------------- BEIRUT 00000822 002 OF 002 ¶8. (C) Rizk informed the Charge that majority leader Saad Hariri wants Rizk to remain the Justice Minister. (Note: This is also our impression. End note.) He agreed with the Charge that President Michel Sleiman will likely appoint his own candidates to the Defense and Interior Ministries. He also speculated that Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun will attempt to spoil the cabinet formation if he is given the Education Ministry only. (Note: He is demanding five ministries: Health, Labor, Finance, Public Works, and either Agriculture or Industry. End note.) ¶9. (C) Rizk said he was confident that Siniora would not appoint Finance Minister Jihad Azour as a minister in the new cabinet. He suspects that the Finance Minister will represent March 14, but may not be Maronite. He affirmed to the Charge that he had also heard Rafiq's sister and MP Bahia Hariri or Leila Solh were possibilities for the Social Affairs Ministry, and that current Minister Nayla Mouawad was unlikely to be re-appointed. EXPLORING SYRIAN PROPOSAL TO ENTER TALKS WITH ISRAEL -------------- ¶10. (C) Acknowledging that he had been unenthusiastic about Sleiman's presidential candidacy (due to Sleiman's military background),Rizk, who had met the President the previous day, said he believes Sleiman can be "guided" away from Syrian influence and "educated" on major issues. One such issue, Rizk illustrated, is to seize the opportunity presented by Syrian President Bashar Assad's recent statement that Lebanon should join the peace process with Israel. (Note: Rizk said that Syria's long-standing position was that Lebanon should not talk to Israel. End note.) ¶11. (C) Noting that Siniora dismissed Assad's statement, Rizk said Sleiman was receptive to Rizk's prodding. Rizk said talks with Israel are an opportunity to discuss Hizballah's arms, adding that "Those who arm Hizballah have the power to take away its weapons." Rizk expressed his interest in pursuing this path, and reported the Sleiman seemed willing, "As long as Assad is on board." SUGGESTS U.S. PROVIDE WATER, ENERGY EXPERTISE -------------- ¶12. (C) The Charge noted USG interest in supporting Lebanon, such as promoting economic measures in the north as well as opening up the Rene Mouawad/Kleyate airport to commercial traffic. Rizk proposed that the U.S. provide an irrigation expert to assist Lebanon with irrigating the water from the Chabroukh Dam along the Dog River in Mount Lebanon. He said that the dam was not built properly and consequently a great source of water is not being used. ¶13. (C) An irrigation expert would be invaluable, he suggested, to provide precise steps for implementing an irrigation system. Such assistance is visible to the public and could undercut Aoun's support in the predominately-Christian area. He added that other dams in the Metn district and throughout Lebanon were needed. ¶14. (C) Rizk also recommended that the U.S. could provide alternative energy expertise assistance. He said the GOL desperately lacks the expertise, relaying that he had mentioned alternative energy sources to an engineer from the Ministry of Energy, who was unfamiliar with geothermal technology. Energy assistance also directly benefits the people, he argued. SISON