LEBANON: VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN ASSURE SLEIMAN: NO

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIRUT 000593

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA
ALSO FOR IO A/S BRIMMER
P FOR DRUSSELL, RRANGASWAMY
DRL/NESA FOR WHITMAN
OVP FOR HMUSTAFA
USUN FOR WOLFF/GERMAIN/SCHEDLBAUER
NSC FOR SHAPIRO, MCDERMOTT
DOD/OSD FOR FLOURNOY/KAHL/DALTON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/23/2019
TAGS: OVIP PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC KPAL SY IS IRLE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN ASSURE SLEIMAN: NO
DEALS AT LEBANON'S EXPENSE

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

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


1. (C) Vice President Joe Biden visited Lebanon on May 22,
the first visit by a U.S vice president since 1983. Regional
peace talks topped the agenda of his meeting with President
Michel Sleiman, including the issue of Palestinian refugees
in Lebanon and the roles of both Syria and Iran. Biden
repeatedly stressed that the United States would not make
deals at Lebanon's expense, and that an independent, stable
and secure Lebanon was a precondition for peace in the
region. Lebanon's June 7 parliamentary elections therefore
would be a critical indicator of whether Lebanon would move
in this direction, the Vice President said. End summary.


2. (SBU) Vice President Joe Biden visited Lebanon on May 22,
his first visit to the Middle East since taking office. His
first stop was Baabda Palace, where he first held a small
meeting with Lebanese President Sleiman, accompanied by
Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs
Jeffrey Feltman. He then held an expanded meeting that
included the Ambassador, National Security Advisor to the
Vice President Antony Blinken, Principal Deputy Assistant
Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs
Joseph McMillan, Senior Advisor to the Vice President for the
Middle East and South Asia Herro Mustafa, National Security
Council Director for Syria, Lebanon and North Africa Meaghen
McDermott, and Embassy notetaker on the U.S. side, and
Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh, Lebanese Ambassador to the
U.S. Antoine Chedid, Diplomatic Advisor Naji Abi Assi,
Director General Elie Assaf, Military Advisor General
Abdulmuttale Hannaoui, Secretary General Dr. Antoine
Choucair, and Chief of the Press Office Adib Abi Akl on the
Lebanese side.

REGIONAL PEACE TOPS AGENDA
--------------


3. (C) The Vice President told President Sleiman that
President Obama had asked him to come to Beirut to express
U.S. support for Lebanon. Noting Lebanon's June 7
parliamentary elections, Biden also stressed the importance
of the overall bilateral relationship, and reassured Sleiman
that there would be no compromise on Lebanon. Sleiman
expressed his appreciation for U.S. support, thanking him for
his visit, President Obama's April letter to him, Secretary
Clinton's April 26 visit to Lebanon, as well as continuing
U.S. assistance to Lebanese institutions, especially the
Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF).


4. (S) On regional peace efforts, the Vice President relayed
in the smaller meeting that President Obama believed the Arab
Peace Initiative (API) announced in Beirut contained good
elements. The U.S. is committed to a two-state solution and
a comprehensive peace, he said. President Obama had made
this clear to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
during the two leaders' May 18 meeting in Washington, and had
told Netanyahu that Israeli settlements, including tenders
and natural growth, must stop. Biden added that the U.S.
hoped Lebanon would be part of a comprehensive peace, when
the time is right. Peace and security in the region was not
possible without a strong, secure and independent Lebanon, he
stressed, commending Sleiman for his personal courage in this
regard.


5. (C) Biden observed that Iran had changed the focus in the
region, with many Arab states and Israel increasingly
concerned about Iran's behavior. This presented both a new
opportunity for peace and a new sense of urgency. He
stressed that in its dialogue with Syria and Iran, the U.S.
would not do anything to "sell out" Lebanese interests,
reaffirming that the U.S. would continue to support Lebanese
sovereignty, the LAF, and a free, open political system in
Lebanon. "We will stand with you," he said.


BEIRUT 00000593 002 OF 003



6. (S) Sleiman welcomed the Vice President's assurances, as
well as U.S. engagement with Syria, which he said was in
Lebanon's interest. Syria holds many cards in the
Arab-Israeli conflict, he said, and has influence in Iraq and
even Iran. He argued that it was best to start with Syria,
expressing his conviction that Syrian President Asad sought
better relations with the U.S. and was ready to discuss all
issues, according to a "pre-approved plan." Syria also had
influence over Hizballah and "thousands" of armed
Palestinians in Lebanon. The Vice President agreed, and
again stressed that U.S. talks with Syria would not come at
Lebanon's expense.

LARGER MEETING FOCUSES
ON PALESTINIAN PROBLEM,
REGIONAL PEACE
--------------


7. (C) In the expanded meeting, Sleiman reiterated his
appreciation for U.S. support for Lebanon, as well as the
openness that the new U.S. administration had demonstrated
from the start for the region. Lebanon had no fear that the
U.S. would make a deal at Lebanon's expense, he said, and
looked forward to a "fair peace" that takes into account
Lebanon's interests. Sleiman also welcomed Senator
Mitchell's appointment as Special Envoy, noting his Lebanese
origins.


8. (C) Sleiman highlighted the problem of Palestinian
refugees in Lebanon, commenting that the Lebanese
constitution excluded their permanent resettlement
("tawteen") in Lebanon. Noting the large numbers of Lebanese
living abroad, including the U.S., Sleiman argued that these
individuals had more right to Lebanese nationality than the
400,000 Palestinians in Lebanon.


9. (C) Furthermore, he continued, these Palestinian refugees
were a major problem for Israel as well as Lebanon.
Palestinian efforts to liberate Israel had led to civil war
in Lebanon and Israeli occupation of south Lebanon, which in
turn had created various militia groups, with Hizballah
emerging as the most important. After 30 years, the LAF was
now present in the south, following Hizballah's 2006 war with
Israel, but for this "experiment" to succeed, a regional
peace needed to be established.


10. (C) Sleiman said Lebanon adhered to the Arab Peace
Initiative as the only way to reach peace. "The opportunity
is there for peace," he said, because all Arab countries now
agreed on the Arab Peace Initiative, although he warned that
is unity would not last. Lebanon was therefore seeking U.S.
support in sponsoring negotiations on outstanding issues.
Lebanon would attend any meeting based on the principles of
the Arab Peace Initiative and Madrid and Annapolis
initiatives, he said, and was looking forward to hearing more
about Russia's plans to hold a peace conference.


11. (C) The Vice President stressed U.S. support for an
independent, secure Lebanon with strong institutions and free
of outside influence. Lebanon had a central role to play in
peace efforts, he said, which it can and needs to play to be
part of the solution. This was why Lebanon was his first
Middle East stop as Vice President. The U.S. administration
was committed to reaching a comprehensive peace, and had
communicated to countries in the region, including Israel and
Syria, its support for the Arab Peace Initiative.


12. (C) The Vice President said both the Israelis and Arabs
must meet minimum requirements. Thus far, he said, there has
been lots of rhetoric but not a lot of action. The United
States was looking for action. Biden reaffirmed U.S.
commitment to a two-state solution, between "equal and
independent" states. Recalling his May 5 AIPAC speech, he
reiterated that there needed to be a "real freeze" on Israeli
settlements, including on natural expansion.


13. (C) Biden also noted that both Lebanon and Israel still
needed to fulfill many of the requirements under UNSCR 1701,

BEIRUT 00000593 003 OF 003


including the dismantling of militias, demarcation of
borders, the arms embargo, and Israeli overflights. Sleiman
complained about new Israeli violations in the form of "spy
rings" in Lebanon, in addition to its continued "occupation"
of Shebaa Farms and "daily violations" of Lebanese air space.
He hoped that Special Envoy Mitchell would focus not only on
Palestinian-Israel issues, but also on Lebanon-Syria.


14. (C) The Vice President assured Sleiman that the United
States understood that Arab unity on the Arab Peace
Initiative might not last, and that this was another reason
the U.S. wanted to move quickly to reach a regional peace.
However, he again stressed that no initiative would trade
away Lebanon's interests. On the contrary, Lebanon's
independence, sovereignty, and security (including a strong
LAF) were an "essential precondition to peace in the region."



15. (C) Lebanon's June 7 parliamentary elections could be a
strong first step forward toward strengthening Lebanon's
stability, institutions, and borders, the Vice President
continued. The U.S. hoped to see free, open and fair
elections that led to a governing program that focused on
building the strength of Lebanese institutions, especially
the LAF and the presidency, Conversely, a move in the
opposite direction would make things "exponentially" more
difficult, he warned.


16. (C) Sleiman said Lebanon's parliamentary elections would
be transparent, but he expected the results to be close.
Regardless of whether the "moderates" or "hard-liners" won,
he said this winner would be responsible for governing in
cooperation with the opposition, with the President
overseeing the overall process.


17. (C) Sleiman ended the meeting thanking the Vice President
and his delegation for the visit and sending a message to
President Obama that the Arabs were expecting much from him.
"Peace today is better than peace later," he said.


18. (C) The Office of the Vice President has cleared this
message.

SISON