LEBANON: JUSTICE MINISTER RIZK WITH S/P GORDON:

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000837

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA, S/P
USUN FOR KHALILZAD/WOLFF/KUMAR/PHEE
NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/YERGER/GAVITO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2018
TAGS: PGOV PINR KDEM UNSC EAID LE SY IR
SUBJECT: LEBANON: JUSTICE MINISTER RIZK WITH S/P GORDON:
SPECIAL TRIBUNAL, ELECTORAL REFORM, AND ENERGY

REF: BEIRUT 00822

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

Summary
--------------


1. (C) David Gordon, Director of Policy Planning, met with
Acting Justice Minister Charles Rizk in his home on June 3.
Rizk said that although the Tribunal should be above
politics, in reality, it will likely play an important
strategic role before the 2009 parliamentary elections. He
would like UNIIIC Commissioner Daniel Bellemare to ensure
that his public statements do not leave an impression that
"there is no case."


2. (C) Rizk, a constitutional law specialist, also offered
his thoughts on electoral reform. He believes that overseas
voting rights for Lebanese citizens who still hold national
ID cards would provide an important new dimension in the
upcoming election. "The majority will be Maronite
Christians, who will represent a new and important
constituency for candidates to court."


3. (C) Finally, Rizk urged the USG to look at other
high-impact support measures that would help Lebanon. He
specifically asked for technical assistance for water
resource management and also believes that Lebanon must begin
to explore alternate energy sources to alleviate its current
power supply problems. End Summary.

Timing and Tone of Tribunal Announcements Will Be Critical
--------------


4. (C) The Director of the Office of Policy Planning David
Gordon, his chief of staff Todd Deatherage, S/P staffer
Whitley Wolman and the Charge, accompanied by Special
Assistant, met with Acting Justice Minister Charles Risk in
Beirut on June 3. Gordon began by assuring Rizk that the USG
would continue to provide support in the Security Council for
the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, but cautioned that this
investigation will be carefully lengthy and may not necessary
be able to respond to requests for urgency.


5. (C) Rizk was pleased that Security Council had passed on
June 2 an extension if the mandate of the UN International
Independent Investigative Commission (UNIIIC),the body
investigating the Hariri and other assassinations in Lebanon.
He told Gordon that the work of the Commission and the
Special Tribunal that will follow was at the very center of
critical political issues in Lebanon and will likely dominate
the atmosphere in advance of the 2009 parliamentary
elections. "We must present the case by winter, in order to
gain any political leverage from the indictments. People are
frustrated by the delays."


6. (C) Rizk was displeased with UNIIIC Commissioner Daniel
Bellemare's "lack of discretion" in recent public statements,
saying that people were beginning to believe that there was
no case against the perpetrators of the Hariri assassination.
Gordon replied that Washington believes that a case and
future indictments are possible. Rizk ended by saying that
he would like Bellemare to acknowledge that his job
description is different than his predecessor, Serge
Brammertz. Bellemare is the prosecutor, as well as the
investigator. Although the "prosecutor" title brings with it
additional threats for Bellemare, Rizk said he must accept
this. Bellemare lives in a guarded fortress outside of
Beirut, unlike the Lebanese prosecutor, of the case, Sami
Mirza, who has received specific personal threats from
Hizballah. "Bellemare should 'take the heat' off of
vulnerable Lebanese individuals."

Overseas Voting Will Strengthen the Maronites
--------------


7. (C) Rizk informed us that there are approximately two
million Lebanese citizens (i.e., persons holding national
identity cards) living overseas. The majority are Maronites
and represent an "interesting" new constituency that is
removed from day-to-day- Aoun influence. "Candidates would
have to court this group with serious and targeted messages.

BEIRUT 00000837 002 OF 002


It will be a boon for the democratic process in Lebanon." He
agreed with the Charge that President Sleiman's inaugural
speech had "left the door" open for movement on this issue.
Rizk assures us that overseas voting could be implemented by
an administrative decree and does not require parliamentary
consideration. "We already have this legal right and if you
bring it to Parliament, Berri will just block it. We just
need the Ministry of Interior to organize the balloting."

Asking for USG Assistance for Water and Power Issues
--------------


8. (C) Rizk also asked that the USG consider funding a
technical assistance program to help distribute water from
the Chabroukh Dam along the Dog River in Mount Lebanon.
"This is an Aoun area, but tangible USG assistance on the
ground will deliver a number of political dividends for March
14 Maronites."


9. (C) Rizk also asked for USG assistance to address the
poorly managed electrical distribution system in Lebanon,
which costs the GOL approximately USD 1 billion annually.
According to Rizk, the current privatization plan for
Electricite de Liban, the national electricity company, is
out of date. "There are some new technologies available
which could used to tap Lebanon's hydroelectric, wind and
solar resources -- we just need technical advice on how to
proceed."


10. (U) S/P Director Gordon did not have an opportunity to
clear this message before departing Beirut.

SISON