LEBANON: CHURCHES LAUNCH POLITICAL CONDUCT CHARTER

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 000306 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA ALSO FOR DRL/NESA FOR WHITMAN, BARGHOUT IO ACTING A/S WARLICK P FOR DRUSSELL, RRANGASWAMY USUN FOR WOLFF/GERMAIN/SCHEDLBAUER NSC FOR SHAPIRO, MCDERMOTT DOD/OSD FOR FLOURNOY/KAHL/DALTON E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/16/2019 TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC LE SUBJECT: LEBANON: CHURCHES LAUNCH POLITICAL CONDUCT CHARTER Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (U) On March 5, a group of church leaders in Lebanon released a charter for political conduct in advance of the June 7 parliamentary elections. The charter calls for support for the sovereignty of the state, regulating relations with Syria and the Palestinian Authority, and the separation of church and state. Furthermore, the charter affirms that weapons should be solely in the hands of the Lebanese state. End summary. MARONITE FIGURES HOPE TO INFLUENCE POLITICS -------------- ¶2. (U) In an apparent attempt to influence political life in Lebanon three months before the June 7 parliamentary elections, a joint committee of churches in Lebanon released a political conduct charter on March 5 at the Dbayeh Convention Center. Political and religious figures, both Christian and Muslim, attended the event. ¶3. (U) According to Maronite Bishop Bishara Rai, the idea of the charter stemmed from annual spiritual training carried out by the Maronite Patriarch and bishops and was initiated because there was a need to educate and guide the "political conscience back to the right track." Rai indicated that politics have "deviated from its role to serve the public." ¶4. (U) The 54-page charter says politics in Lebanon should be "based on a set of principles aimed to serve the people." It calls for regulating ties between the GOL and the Palestinian Authority in Lebanon, establishing normal relations with Syria, and ensuring that all weapons are within state control. ¶5. (U) The charter also cites as national interests the establishment of a sovereign and independent Lebanon as well as a modern democratic state with a fair, representative electoral law. The charter calls upon voters to elect "ethical and qualified candidates" of their own free will and warned against using "extremism" as a means to winning the elections. ¶6. (U) The charter emphasizes the need for separation of church and state, while also suggesting that there should be cooperation between the two entities to "better serve the people." COMMENT -------------- ¶7. (C) While local news reported on the charter at the time it was launched, it has received little attention since then. Though it did not overtly support March 14, the charter strongly espoused goals shared by the ruling coalition, particularly its position against the arms of Hizballah. Taking a strong public stance in February, the Maronite Patriarch said it would be a "historic mistake" if the March 8 coalition won a majority in parliament. We doubt the charter will have a significant impact on the Christian electorate, but strong statements from the Patriarch will influence Christian voters. End comment. SISON