Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BEIRUT599
2009-06-01 14:41:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:  

LEBANON: PRESIDENT SLEIMAN'S POST-ELECTION AGENDA

Tags:  PREL PGOV PTER PINR MOPS IS SY LE 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO7482
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHLB #0599/01 1521441
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 011441Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5003
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 3853
RHMCSUU/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 000599 

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/27/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINR MOPS IS SY LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: PRESIDENT SLEIMAN'S POST-ELECTION AGENDA

REF: A. BEIRUT 587

B. BEIRUT 570

Classified By: Classified by Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000599

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/27/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINR MOPS IS SY LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: PRESIDENT SLEIMAN'S POST-ELECTION AGENDA

REF: A. BEIRUT 587

B. BEIRUT 570

Classified By: Classified by Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.
4 (b) and (d)

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


1. (C) President Michel Sleiman, in an energetic May 27
speech to mark the anniversary of his first year in office,
called for action on a broad domestic agenda, to be led by
him if, he implied, the new government is too divided to get
anything done. His words and tone previewed a potentially
more active presidency after the June 7 election. End
summary.

SLEIMAN: YEAR TWO
--------------


2. (SBU) President Michel Sleiman celebrated his first year
in office at a large dinner in his home district of Jbeil
attended by Ambassador and other COMs and a who's who of
Lebanese government, politics and business. In his speech at
the event, 11 days before Lebanon's election, Sleiman laid
out an ambitious agenda for government action post-election.
This included calling for proportional representation and a
devolution of central power to regions, judicial sector
reforms, economic reform, better education and health care,
empowering woman in society, granting citizenship to
immigrants while rejecting any form of Palestinian
resettlement, and reinforcing the security forces. He called
for adhering to the legitimate institutions of the
constitution while allowing the "democratic game" to takes
its course. Noting his effective efforts over the past year
in regaining a role for Lebanon in the Arab and international
community, Sleiman declared it was Lebanon's duty also to
liberate its occupied territories, help achieve peace via the
Arab Peace Initiative, and reconcile internal disputes.

3.(C) With parliamentary elections on June 7, and the
outcomes still clouded by several "too-close-call" Christian
dominated districts, Sleiman's agenda-setting speech
highlighted areas on which there likely would be no progress
if election results lead to continued gridlock in a new
national unity government.

SLEIMAN'S NEW LOOK
--------------


4. (C) As another possible sign of his new assertiveness,
Sleiman a few days before the speech pushed through the
cabinet the completion of five remaining appointments to the
Constitutional Council (Ref A). The Council is the body that
will handle electoral disputes, and the absence of complete
membership was a cause of concern among many observers.
Sleiman seemed to acknowledge in his May 27 speech that
during his first year, he has worked to be a consensual,
impartial, and conciliatory president, but he also dropped
clear hints about taking a more assertive role in the future,
saying the President has the "obligation to guarantee and
ensure" application of the Constitution and "(the President)
should have the means to end and decide any dispute."

COMMENT
--------------


5. (C) It was a mild surprise that Sleiman focused to such an
extent in his anniversary speech on the post-election period
and his desire to move on a broad government agenda. Former
military man Sleiman is frustrated at the slowness and
ineffectiveness of the current government and is interested
in using his position to get more done, a businessman who
advises him on economic matters, Shadi Karam, told DCM on May

29. Sleiman "knows the limits" of his office and so is
interested in expanding his ability to accomplish things,
Karam said, including perhaps gathering a group of MPs or
ministers to be close to him. In his speech, Sleiman may
have been trying to build support for independent candidates
who will support his Presidency on issues that come before

BEIRUT 00000599 002 OF 002


the government. He also may have been sending a preemptive
message to Michel Aoun that the current President is not
going anywhere soon. End Summary.

SISON