LEBANON: SINIORA NOT OPPOSED TO NEW UNITY

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 �00A;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