Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BEIRUT440
2009-04-16 09:49:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:  

LEBANON: SLEIMAN OPTIMISTIC ABOUT ARAB PEACE WITH

Tags:  PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC LE SY 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1312
PP RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHLB #0440/01 1060949
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 160949Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4688
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 3671
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 3871
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000440 

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: 04/07/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC LE SY
SUBJECT: LEBANON: SLEIMAN OPTIMISTIC ABOUT ARAB PEACE WITH
CODEL CARNAHAN

Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

SUMMARY
--------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000440

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: 04/07/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC LE SY
SUBJECT: LEBANON: SLEIMAN OPTIMISTIC ABOUT ARAB PEACE WITH
CODEL CARNAHAN

Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) Meeting with President Sleiman April 9, visiting
Congressional Representatives Russ Carnahan (D-MO),Mazie
Hirono (D-HI),Jim McDermott (D-WA),Ben Chandler (D-KY),and
Diane Watson (D-CA),accompanied by the Ambassador and
Poloff, stressed U.S. support for Lebanon's independence and
sovereignty and thanked Sleiman for working to ensure
stability in his country. Sleiman, expressing his
appreciation for substantial U.S. aid to Lebanon, argued that
peace in the region was essential in order to protect the
multi-confessional diversity of the Middle East, especially
of Lebanon. The June 7 parliamentary elections would occur
on time, Sleiman said, although he was unsure about the
results.


2. (C) In a separate meeting, Chairman of the Parliamentary
Foreign Affairs Committee MP Abed al Latif Zein echoed
similar themes. He thanked the U.S. for its strong support
and noted that President Obama's recent statements on the
need for a two-state solution in Israel and the Palestinian
territories had calmed Lebanese concerns about the new
Israeli government. Latif Zein also emphasized that Lebanese
parliamentary elections would occur peacefully. End summary.


3. (C) In addition to the Congressional members, the visiting
delegation included: Judge Debra Carnahan, 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.

REGIONAL PEACE
POSSIBLE
--------------


4. (C) Visiting Representative Russ Carnahan (D-MO),the
Ambassador, and the accompanying Congressional delegation

expressed U.S. support for Lebanese independence and
diversity in an April 9 meeting with President Michel
Sleiman. Sleiman said he looked forward to continued
cooperation with the U.S. and thanked the CODEL for
substantial U.S. aid provided to Lebanon. Sleiman told
Representatives that the U.S. could play a role in
encouraging acceptance of the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative
(API).


5. (C) CODEL Carnahan reiterated the U.S. Administration's
focus on the Middle East and efforts to find a peaceful
solution to the Israeli-Palestinian issue. Responding to a
question from Representative Diane Watson, Sleiman assessed a
two-state solution was the only possible solution to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict. According to Sleiman, the
Israeli-Palestinian issue was the biggest challenge to peace
in the wider Middle East region, and it was the duty of the
international community to work towards peace.


6. (C) Sleiman emphasized the Palestinian right of return was
particularly important for Lebanon. Although no new
Palestinians were arriving in Lebanon, the overall number of
Palestinians in the country continued to increase because of
a high birth-rate among Palestinians Lebanon's refugee camps,
Sleiman said. He argued the Israeli-Palestinian issue should
be addressed now in order to prevent the continued rise of
extremism. Although Sleiman vewed the new Israeli
government as "extremist," e expressed hope that the new
U.S. administration could help both sides work toward a
solution.


7. (C) Sleiman expressed support for U.S. outreach toward
Syria. He also argued U.S. relations with Iran were
important. Iran held a key position in the region, Sleiman
said. He noted that Shia Muslims in Lebanon historically

BEIRUT 00000440 002 OF 002


looked toward the religious leaders of Iraq but, following
destabilization in Iraq, Lebanese Shia began to see Iranian
ayatollahs as their religious guides. Noting the complex and
changing Middle East region, CODEL Carnahan thanked Sleiman
for his role in providing stability in Lebanon.

ELECTIONS
CALM, WHAT
NEXT?
--------------


8. (C) Congressman Ben Chandler expressed U.S. appreciation
of Sleiman's efforts to encourage moderation in the region
and in Lebanon. On elections, Sleiman said the atmosphere
was "good" and did not foresee any obstacles to a successful
election day on June 7. On the other hand, Sleiman expressed
uncertainty about the election results; he said the
difference between the winners and the losers would be small,
probably no more than two seats. No independent bloc would
take shape before elections, Sleiman said, but four or five
independent candidates could win seats in the new Parliament.


9. (C) Representative Carnahan asked about the alliance
between some Christian parties and Hizballah in Lebanon.
Sleiman said he was hopeful that Christians could come
together after the election and establish relations with both
Shia and Sunni political parties. He saw the political
landscape changing after elections mainly through the
strengthening of the position of the President. Christians
would not unite before elections, Sleiman assessed.

MP LATIF ZEIN
ECHOS SLEIMAN
--------------


10. (C) Similarly, Chairman of the Parliamentary Foreign
Affairs Committee MP Abed al Latif Zein said the region would
not be at peace until the Israeli-Palestinian issue was
solved, in a separate April 9 meeting with the visiting
CODEL. He noted that Lebanon was the country most affected
by Palestinian refugees and urged a solution based on UNSCR
194, which stipulated the Palestinian right of return. Latif
Zein, echoing Sleiman, said President Obama's recent
statements of support for a two-state solution had quieted
some concerns about the stance of the new Israeli government.



11. (C) Latif Zein also expected the Lebanese election to
take place without any major security incidents. He credited
internal stability to the efforts of President Sleiman and to
the fact that both minority and majority factions were
seeking victory in the election. In Latif Zein's opinion, a
national unity government -- like the current government in
Lebanon -- was not an ideal solution. The opposition should
be outside the government, he said. CODEL Carnahan
reiterated that stability in Lebanon was vital to the region.


12. (U) CODEL Carnahan has cleared this message.
SISON