Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BEIRUT822
2008-06-02 18:01:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:  

LEBANON: CARETAKER JUSTICE MINISTER RIZK LOBBYING

Tags:  PREL PGOV PTER PINR EAID ENRG UNSC LE 
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P 021801Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2150
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2454
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RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
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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
--------

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