Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BEIRUT304
2009-03-16 18:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:
LEBANON: SINIORA NOT OPPOSED TO NEW UNITY
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000304
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA
ALSO FOR IO/ACTING A/S WARLICK
PRM FOR ACTING A/S WITTEN
P FOR DRUSSELL AND RRANGASWAMY
USUN FOR WOLFF/GERMAIN/SCHEDLBAUER
NSC FOR SHAPIRO, MCDERMOTT
DOD/OSD FOR FLOURNOY, KAHL, DALTON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/15/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR PREF IS SY QA MU LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: SINIORA NOT OPPOSED TO NEW UNITY
GOVERNMENT, IF IT WORKS
Classified By: AMBASSADOR MICHELE J. SISON FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) AND (d)
SUMMARY
--------------
1, (C) PM Siniora complained about what he said were Syrian
statements in support of a blocking third in the new Lebanese
cabinet. He said he was not opposed to a unity government
that would include both majority and opposition in the
cabinet-- but not one that makes the government ineffective,
as is the case now. He said Oman had pledged to provide $7
million for Nahr al-Barid reconstruction. While saying it is
"99.5" percent certain he would not run for parliament, he
once again left the door open a crack. End Summary.
SYRIA
--------------
2. (C) Ambassador and DCM met with PM Fouad Siniora and his
aide Roula Noureddine at the PM's office on March 16.
Ambassador thanked Siniora for his and the GOL's continued
support for counterterrorism activities. Siniora noted his
concern at what he sees as Syrian pressing for a "blocking
third" of its allies in the next cabinet, as exists now. He
clarified his own position, saying he does not oppose a
coalition government after the next election, but not on the
basis of current blocking minority. The current situation
does not llow a government to function, he complained.
Siiora added that he had been annoyed by Syrian Presdent
Asad's remark to a Japanese media outlet that Hizballah and
Hamas should be together in talks with the Lebanese and
Syrian governments, which caused Siniora to respond pointedly
in an Al-Arabiya interview on March 12 that Lebanon does not
need a "chaperone".
3. (C) Ambassador asked Siniora's reaction to recent regional
events such the visits by Iranian FM Mottaki to Saudi Arabia
and Syrian President Asad to Qatar. The PM admitted that his
access to information from KSA had been interrupted since
former Saudi Ambassador Khoja had departed Beirut a few weeks
ago to join the Saudi cabinet. (Note: A Beirut press report
says the KSA government will name current Ambassador to
Pakistan Ali Awaad Assiri as the new Ambassador to Beirut.)
Siniora complained that potential for progress on the Arab
Peace Initiative was hurt by lack of Israeli cooperation.
The Israeli approach "gives credit to the radicals; the
moderates are not being helped", he argued.
NAHR AL-BARID: OMAN PLEDGES $7 MILLION
--------------
4. (C) Oman has made a new pledge of $7 million for
reconstruction of Nahr al Barid refugee camp, Siniora said,
which will help the GOL pay for expropriation of land to
allow reconstruction. The Saudi government has still not
made a pledge, he noted (this pledge has been pending since
the June 2008 Vienna donors' conference for Nahr al Barid
reconstruction). Ambassador noted Information Minister Tarik
Mitri's comments that the GOL's effort to rebuild the camp
for the benefit of the Palestinian refugees did not mean the
GOL supported "tawteen", or permanent resettlement of the
Palestinians in Lebanon.
SINIORA LEAVES THE DOOR AJAR TO RUN FOR PARLIAMENT
--------------
5. (C) The discussion turned to politics. Siniora joked that
it was now "99.5 percent" likely he would not run for
parliament from his native city of Sidon and that he was
engaged in an effort to push others to run with current MP
and Minister Bahia Hariri for Sidon's two MP seats, but March
14 had not found anyone yet. (Comment: we know from other
contacts, however, that Siniora is seen as a stronger
candidate than other persons who have been considered. End
Comment.) He was unconcerned about recent violence in Sidon,
saying it was fighting among gangs. Asked his reaction to
the convention of the March 14 coalition two days before,
Siniora bluntly called the speech by the woman who
BEIRUT 00000304 002 OF 002
represented the common citizen "crap." Noureddine commented
that some in March 14 thought the woman's speech was "too
Lebanese Forces", referring to the party of March 14
Christian leader Samir Geagea. Siniora also said March 14
will be focusing more on economic and social issues as its
campaign unfolds.
THE ITALIAN BRIDGE PROBLEM AND OTHER USAID ISSUES
--------------
6. (C) Ambassador asked about the status of the Italian
government project to rebuild a bridge damaged during the
2006 conflict near where a $30 million USAID project to
repair the Mudairaj bridge is moving ahead. Siniora listed
the problems the GOL has had working with the Italians on the
project, for which work has not begun, and asked if the USG
could take it over. Ambassador also asked Siniora's help to
facilitate a USG-GOL memorandum of agreement governing the
operation of USAID and other assistance programs. She left
him a copy of the draft agreement and he promised to follow
up.
SISON
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA
ALSO FOR IO/ACTING A/S WARLICK
PRM FOR ACTING A/S WITTEN
P FOR DRUSSELL AND RRANGASWAMY
USUN FOR WOLFF/GERMAIN/SCHEDLBAUER
NSC FOR SHAPIRO, MCDERMOTT
DOD/OSD FOR FLOURNOY, KAHL, DALTON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/15/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR PREF IS SY QA MU LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: SINIORA NOT OPPOSED TO NEW UNITY
GOVERNMENT, IF IT WORKS
Classified By: AMBASSADOR MICHELE J. SISON FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) AND (d)
SUMMARY
--------------
1, (C) PM Siniora complained about what he said were Syrian
statements in support of a blocking third in the new Lebanese
cabinet. He said he was not opposed to a unity government
that would include both majority and opposition in the
cabinet-- but not one that makes the government ineffective,
as is the case now. He said Oman had pledged to provide $7
million for Nahr al-Barid reconstruction. While saying it is
"99.5" percent certain he would not run for parliament, he
once again left the door open a crack. End Summary.
SYRIA
--------------
2. (C) Ambassador and DCM met with PM Fouad Siniora and his
aide Roula Noureddine at the PM's office on March 16.
Ambassador thanked Siniora for his and the GOL's continued
support for counterterrorism activities. Siniora noted his
concern at what he sees as Syrian pressing for a "blocking
third" of its allies in the next cabinet, as exists now. He
clarified his own position, saying he does not oppose a
coalition government after the next election, but not on the
basis of current blocking minority. The current situation
does not llow a government to function, he complained.
Siiora added that he had been annoyed by Syrian Presdent
Asad's remark to a Japanese media outlet that Hizballah and
Hamas should be together in talks with the Lebanese and
Syrian governments, which caused Siniora to respond pointedly
in an Al-Arabiya interview on March 12 that Lebanon does not
need a "chaperone".
3. (C) Ambassador asked Siniora's reaction to recent regional
events such the visits by Iranian FM Mottaki to Saudi Arabia
and Syrian President Asad to Qatar. The PM admitted that his
access to information from KSA had been interrupted since
former Saudi Ambassador Khoja had departed Beirut a few weeks
ago to join the Saudi cabinet. (Note: A Beirut press report
says the KSA government will name current Ambassador to
Pakistan Ali Awaad Assiri as the new Ambassador to Beirut.)
Siniora complained that potential for progress on the Arab
Peace Initiative was hurt by lack of Israeli cooperation.
The Israeli approach "gives credit to the radicals; the
moderates are not being helped", he argued.
NAHR AL-BARID: OMAN PLEDGES $7 MILLION
--------------
4. (C) Oman has made a new pledge of $7 million for
reconstruction of Nahr al Barid refugee camp, Siniora said,
which will help the GOL pay for expropriation of land to
allow reconstruction. The Saudi government has still not
made a pledge, he noted (this pledge has been pending since
the June 2008 Vienna donors' conference for Nahr al Barid
reconstruction). Ambassador noted Information Minister Tarik
Mitri's comments that the GOL's effort to rebuild the camp
for the benefit of the Palestinian refugees did not mean the
GOL supported "tawteen", or permanent resettlement of the
Palestinians in Lebanon.
SINIORA LEAVES THE DOOR AJAR TO RUN FOR PARLIAMENT
--------------
5. (C) The discussion turned to politics. Siniora joked that
it was now "99.5 percent" likely he would not run for
parliament from his native city of Sidon and that he was
engaged in an effort to push others to run with current MP
and Minister Bahia Hariri for Sidon's two MP seats, but March
14 had not found anyone yet. (Comment: we know from other
contacts, however, that Siniora is seen as a stronger
candidate than other persons who have been considered. End
Comment.) He was unconcerned about recent violence in Sidon,
saying it was fighting among gangs. Asked his reaction to
the convention of the March 14 coalition two days before,
Siniora bluntly called the speech by the woman who
BEIRUT 00000304 002 OF 002
represented the common citizen "crap." Noureddine commented
that some in March 14 thought the woman's speech was "too
Lebanese Forces", referring to the party of March 14
Christian leader Samir Geagea. Siniora also said March 14
will be focusing more on economic and social issues as its
campaign unfolds.
THE ITALIAN BRIDGE PROBLEM AND OTHER USAID ISSUES
--------------
6. (C) Ambassador asked about the status of the Italian
government project to rebuild a bridge damaged during the
2006 conflict near where a $30 million USAID project to
repair the Mudairaj bridge is moving ahead. Siniora listed
the problems the GOL has had working with the Italians on the
project, for which work has not begun, and asked if the USG
could take it over. Ambassador also asked Siniora's help to
facilitate a USG-GOL memorandum of agreement governing the
operation of USAID and other assistance programs. She left
him a copy of the draft agreement and he promised to follow
up.
SISON