LEBANON: SECRETARY LAHOOD CONGRATULATES SLEIMAN ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000632

SIPDIS

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/07/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL LE IS
SUBJECT: LEBANON: SECRETARY LAHOOD CONGRATULATES SLEIMAN ON
ELECTIONS

REF: A. BEIRUT 629

B. BEIRUT 630

C. BEIRUT 631

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

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


1. (C) In a June 7 election day meeting with Secretary of
Transportation Ray LaHood, President Michel Sleiman was
pleased to see elections taking place peacefully in one day.
He predicted the difference between majority and opposition
would be only two or three seats, and said the close
elections showed the strength of Lebanese democracy. He
assessed that his biggest challenge as president had been to
represent all the Lebanese people and to get them to accept
his decisions. He believed tensions would ease following the
elections, hopefully paving the way for electoral reforms,
including the creation of a Senate and a proportional
representation system. Sleiman was positive about President
Obama's June 4 speech in Cairo, saying he was impressed with
the President's commitment to resolving the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict. End summary.

ELECTIONS IN ONE DAY:
"THEY SAID WE COULDN'T DO IT"
--------------


2. (SBU) Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, Kathleen
LaHood, the Ambassador, LaHood Chief of Staff Joan DeBoer,
INLOff, and EconOff called on President Sleiman at Baabda
Palace at 5 pm on election day, June 7, two hours before the
polls closed. Secretary LaHood arrived after observing
voting in ten polling stations in Jbeil, Metn, Beirut, Aley,
and Baabda districts. LaHood praised the smooth execution of
the elections and noted that turnout appeared high. He
explained that he had come to express U.S. support for
Lebanon's elections and to pass the message that it was
important for the Lebanese to vote. Sleiman estimated
overall turnout would be at least 45-50%, and that some
polling stations might have to extend voting hours beyond the
official 7 pm closing, because of crowds. He was pleased the
elections were taking place in one day (as opposed to the
previous four-day scenario) and praised Interior Minister
Ziad Baroud for organizing the process. Secretary LaHood
reiterated his praise for the electoral process, and noted
that the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and Internal Security
Forces (ISF) were doing an excellent job of maintaining order.


3. (SBU) Sleiman believed the election would be close, with
only a few seats separating the majority and minority. He
made no predictions about the results, but said the closeness
of the electoral battle was a testament to the strength of
Lebanese democracy. Once results are in, he anticipated the
process of forming a government would take time. (Note: As
of 3 pm on June 8, it appeared the March 14 alliance had won
71 seats to March 8's 57. End note.)

EASIER TO BE PRESIDENT THAN GENERAL
--------------


4. (C) Secretary LaHood asked Sleiman what his greatest
challenges have been as president. Sleiman answered without
hesitation, "To represent all the Lebanese and have them
accept my decisions." He recounted how both sides of the
political spectrum had criticized him in his first year:
March 14 for his attendance of the Arab League summit in Doha
and his trips to Iran and Syria, and the opposition for his
meeting with President Bush and his attendance of the
Interfaith Dialogue in New York sponsored by Saudi King
Abdallah. Fortunately, with each controversial move, in the
end all parties accepted his decisions, he said.


5. (C) In response to a question from the Secretary, Sleiman
said that although Lebanese politicians are difficult to work

BEIRUT 00000632 002 OF 002


with, the presidency was still an easier job than his
previous position as commander of the LAF. He recalled each
decision he made to send soldiers into harm's way -- from
dealing with instances of sectarian street conflict to
rooting out extremists in the Nahr al-Barid refugee camp --
and assessed that that responsibility was heavier than any he
had taken on in the political realm in the past year.
Nonetheless, he joked that at least soldiers followed orders,
unlike Lebanon's unruly political class.

POST-ELECTION AGENDA:
REFORM
--------------


6. (C) Although Sleiman expected the process of government
formation after the elections to be difficult and potentially
long, he anticipated that tensions would decline afterwards.
He thought this would offer an opportunity to reform the
judicial system and the electoral law, moving toward a system
of proportional representation, and potentially creating a
second parliamentary chamber. Sleiman envisioned a Senate
where each confessional community could elect its
representatives, while all Lebanese would vote for
representatives of all confessions in the lower chamber.
Nonetheless, he did not necessarily think the existence of a
Senate should mean elimination of the 50-50 Muslim-Christian
quota in parliament. "We have a national understanding," he
said. "We are a country of both Christians and Muslims, and
it is important to preserve that."

MIDDLE EAST PEACE
IMPORTANT FOR LEBANON
--------------


7. (C) Sleiman believed President Obama's June 4 speech in
Cairo was a good step forward, and he was particularly keen
on the President's stated commitment to Israeli-Palestinian
peace, a topic of particular concern to Lebanon, with its
large population of Palestinian refugees. Secretary LaHood
stressed that Lebanon should be part of the process of
comprehensive Middle East peace. Sleiman said he looked
forward to working with Special Envoy George Mitchell.


8. (U) Secretary LaHood has cleared this cable.
SISON