LEBANON: SINIORA URGES U.S. TO ENCOURAGE SYRIA TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 BEIRT 000096 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA ALSO FOR I/O PDAS WARLICK P FOR DRUSSELL AND RRANGASWAMY USUN FOR WOLFF/GERMAIN/SCHEDLBAUER NSC FOR MCDERMOTT E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS LE SY SUBJECT: LEBANON: SINIORA URGES U.S. TO ENCOURAGE SYRIA TO RETURN TO ARAB FOLD *********************** * Missing Section 001 * *********************** BEIRUT 01230096 002 OF 002 ¶5. (C) In discussing the possibility of continued indirect Syrian-Israeli talks, the Ambassador queried Siniora about the potential for future indirect talks between Lebanon and Israel. Siniora, as he has in the past, rejected this, saying Lebanon was interested in the final result of Israeli-Syrian talks only, a result that would cause Syria to change its behavior in Lebanon and would strengthen its alliances with regional neighbors. Siniora also speculated that if indirect talks between ISRAEL and Syria were renewed, "something will change" regarding Hizballah (implying a positive change). TAKE AWAY HIZBALLAH'S ARGUMENT -------------- ¶6. (C) Regarding Hizballah, Siniora said the U.S. administration needed to work to "reduce the group's argument." Citing the border town of Ghajjar, the status of Sheba'a Farms, and continued Israeli overflights, Siniora argued Hizballah was being given "all the arguments." Movement on these issues would put Hizballah on the defensive and force the group to transition into a purely political organization. Siniora opined that U.S. steps against Hizballah had wasted resources and had proved ineffective in the fight against extremism and terrorism. Siniora and Noureddine said that UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon's recent visit to Lebanon, while positive, had achieved no progress on either Ghajjar or Sheba'a. ¶7. (C) In response to the Ambassador's query on the status of the Lebanese Armed Forces/UNIFIL investigation into recent rocket attacks launched from south Lebanon into Israel, Siniora assessed -- citing UNIFIL Commander General Claudio Graziano's public statements -- that the perpetrators of the rocket attacks were professionals. He said the first set of rockets had been intended to reach Israel, while the second set intentionally did not. Siniora said GOL policy will continue to be to stress support for UNSCR 1701 and to encourage cooperation between UNIFIL and LAF forces in southern Lebanon. URGING PALESTINIAN UNITY IN LEBANON -------------- ¶8. (C) Responding to a question from the Ambassador about the current situation in Lebanon's Palestinian camps, Siniora said that "from day one" of fighting in Gaza he had invited Fatah and Hamas representatives to his office to inform them that "if they want to fight with each other, they must fight outside (Lebanon)." Siniora said he had brought both PLO Representative in Lebanon Abbas Zaki and senior Hamas representative Osama Hamdan to his office on several occasions to urge them to maintain calm inside the camps and to display a unified Palestinian stance in Lebanon. (Note: Minister of Education Bahia Hariri told us of similar efforts she had undertaken with Palestinian leaders in Sidon's Ain el-Hilweh Palestinian camp, reftel. End note.) COMMENT -------------- ¶9. (C) Siniora's message on the Saudi initiative to return to the Arab fold was strong. However, given the Lebanese sensitivity that international actors might seek better relations with Damascus at Lebanon's expense, we recommend that the U.S. and other friends of Lebanon continue to voice frequent and strong public reaffirmation of our support for Lebanon's sovereignty as well as strong public support for the Special Triunal, stressing our confidence that this indepenent judicial body will ensure that justice prevails in the assassination of PM Rafiq Hariri and others, no matter where the trail leads. End comment. SISON