LEBANON: PM SINIORA TELLS CODEL CARNAHAN JUNE 7

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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

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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