LEBANON: PM SINIORA TELLS CODEL CARNAHAN JUNE 7

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000438 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA ALSO FOR IO ACTING A/S WARLICK P FOR DRUSSELL STATE PASS TO OVP HMUSTAFA USUN FOR WOLFF/GERMAIN/SCHEDLBAUER NSC FOR SHAPIRO, MCDERMOTT DOD/OSD FOR FLOURNOY/KAHL/DALTON DRL/NESA FOR WHITMAN, BARGHOUT E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/08/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV LE IS IR SUBJECT: LEBANON: PM SINIORA TELLS CODEL CARNAHAN JUNE 7 ELECTIONS WILL BE "COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT" Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) Prime Minister Fouad Siniora told visiting Congressional members Representatives Russ Carnahan (D-MO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI),Jim McDermott (D-WA),Ben Chandler (D-KY),and Diane Watson (D-CA) that Lebanon was committed to hold "completely transparent" parliamentary elections on June ¶7. He said the majority March 14 coalition shared similar values with the U.S., including support for democracy, respect for sovereignty, and independence. Achieving Arab-Israeli peace was the singular issue that could have the most positive impact on the whole region, and advised that Israel should agree to the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative. PM Siniora said the Arab moderates were completely discredited, partially in response to U.S. military engagement in Afghanistan and Iraq, and required greater support. The PM thanked the U.S. for its continued support of Lebanon's military and its state institutions. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) Prime Minister Siniora and his senior advisor, Rola Nourreddine, welcomed the visiting congressional delegation (Codel) at the Grand Serail April 9. Members of the Codel included: Representative Russ Carnahan (D-MO) and Judge Debra Carnahan, Representative Mazie Hirono (D-HI),Representative Jim McDermott (D-WA),Representative Ben Chandler (D-KY), Representative Diane Watson (D-CA),Director of Interparliamentary Affairs Kay King, House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) Professional Staff Member John Lis, HFAC Professional Staff Member David Beraka, and USAF Colonel Joey Booher. The Ambassador was accompanied by the DCM and Poloffs. LEBANON "DETERMINED" TO HAVE TRANSPARENT ELECTIONS -------------- ¶3. (C) Prime Minister Siniora told visiting CODEL Carnahan that Lebanon was "determined" to have "completely transparent" parliamentary elections on June 7. The elections were an important step in Lebanon's democracy after a wave of assassinations and political turmoil the last four years, he said. He emphasized that holding elections in a secure and transparent environment was most important for Lebanon's sovereignty and independence. PM Siniora thanked the U.S. for its continued support of Lebanon's democratic development, including support for international observation missions to monitor the elections. ¶4. (C) PM Siniora said the difference between the current majority March 14 coalition (that he is a member of) and the opposition March 8 coalition was a question of defined goals. He characterized March 14 as sharing the same values of the United States, including respect for Lebanon's sovereignty, a believe in fairness, and a desire for regional peace. He reaffirmed Lebanon was part of the Arab world, but unique because of its multi-confessional character and power-sharing structure agreed to in the 1989 Taif Accord by Lebanon's Muslim and Christian leaders. By contrast, March 8, he said, was not willing to give up its weapons to achieve peace with Lebanon's neighbors and sought a more dependent relationship on Syria and Iran, for example. March 14, Siniora stressed, desired mutually beneficial relationships with both Syria and Iran, but based on shared interests and mutual respect. ARAB-ISRAELI PEACE MOST IMPORTANT FOR MIDDLE EAST REGION -------------- ¶5. (C) Turning to the issue of regional peace, PM Siniora advocated that Israel should accept the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative (API). He believed the API complimented previous BEIRUT 00000438 002 OF 002 UN Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs) and offered the best chance for peace in the future. Siniora blamed Israel for pushing the wider Muslim and Arab world to more "radical thinking" and violence through its continued settlement building and resorting to military action. When Congressman McDermott asked if Israel had any control over who it would be willing to negotiate with, PM Siniora responded that until now, Israel has not been an earnest negotiating partner. To negotiate, he said, "you must be willing to make concessions. Israel is not willing to give up anything," he accused. ¶6. (C) If Arab-Israeli peace were achieved, it would become easier for countries in the Arab world to address other important issues, such as economic and social problems. The new U.S. administration, the Prime Minister surmised, could play an instrumental role in achieving peace in the region. The Codel agreed and said they were optimistic about President Obama's commitment to finding a lasting solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict. ARAB MODERATES NEED SUPPORT -------------- ¶7. (C) Unfortunately, the U.S. had provided "gifts" to Iran and Arab extremists by engaging in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, PM Siniora lamented. These wars had polarized the regional governments and contributed to discrediting Arab moderates, he continued. Iran, particularly, was taking advantage of Arab issues to portray itself as the "true protector of Islam" and to advance its own agenda, he said. Prime Minister Siniora advised that Arab moderates needed more support. In Lebanon, the PM Siniora said he appreciated continued U.S. support to the Lebanese Armed Forces and other state institutions, but said more was needed. Representative Carnahan thanked the Prime Minister for his leadership and commitment to maintain stability in Lebanon, saying this was important for the whole region. The U.S. would continue its active support for Lebanon and its institutions, Representative Carnahan said. ¶8. (U) CODEL Carnahan has cleared this message. SISON