SLEIMAN: LAF/UNIFIL COORDINATION ESSENTIAL TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000944 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 OVP FOR HMUSTAFA PARIS FOR DNOBLES E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/21/2019 TAGS: LE PGOV PINR PREL SA SY SUBJECT: SLEIMAN: LAF/UNIFIL COORDINATION ESSENTIAL TO STABILITY REF: BEIRUT 819 Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). SUMMARY AND COMMENT -------------- ¶1. (C) Although the situation in south Lebanon has cooled, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) must coordinate effectively with UNIFIL to prevent Hizballah from using future disturbances as a pretext to launch a strike against Israel, President Michel Sleiman emphasized to the Ambassador and DCM. Sleiman reaffirmed his support for Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri and underscored the importance of coordination between the presidency and the premiership while characterizing Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) leader Michel Aoun's demands as "too high." The most effective way to support the cabinet-formation process, he said, was to continue to support the LAF and to encourage Syrian-Saudi rapprochement. ¶2. (C) The President has cast himself as an honest broker who seeks to bridge the gap between the PM-designate and the opposition parties. Aoun's shrill demands for the Interior Ministry -- while officially directed at the PM-designate -- are an increasingly direct criticism of the President, and it is clear that Aoun's allies in the opposition are in no mood to force him to acquiesce. End summary and comment. LAF/UNIFIL COORDINATION ESSENTIAL TO STABILITY -------------- ¶3. (C) The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) must coordinate effetively with UNIFIL to prevent Hizballah from using future disturbances in south Lebanon as a pretex to launch a strike against Israel, President Michel Sleiman underscored to the Ambassador and DCM in an August 20 meeting at Baabda Palace. According to Sleiman, the LAF has three functions: fighting terrorism, maintaining internal security, and fully implementing UNSCR 1701 in coordination with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The situation in the South has calmed, he asserted, adding that the LAF is working to alleviate tensions between UNIFIL and the local population to prevent future incidents like the Kfar Shouba Blue Line violations on July 18 (reftel). Referring to the ongoing discussions on extension of the present mandate of UNIFIL, Sleiman expressed optimism that the LAF and UNIFIL could work effectively together, although he stressed deepening the relationship would take time. Ambassador noted the need for the GOL, working in coordination with UNIFIL, to ensure a weapons-free zone in south Lebanon. Sleiman added that a key concern of the LAF continues to be rearmament within Lebanon's Palestinian refugee camps, although, he assessed, the LAF has performed well in handling the issue lately. AOUN'S DEMANDS "TOO HIGH" -------------- ¶4. (C) Sleiman reaffirmed his support for Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri and underscored the importance of coordination between the presidency and the premiership He said he had urged Hariri to redouble his efforts to meet with the various political leaders to complete the formation of the government. Sleiman said he did not disagree with Hariri's refusal to allow defeated candidates in the new Cabinet, though he conceded that the Lebanese constitution did not forbid it. The president added, however, that he did not feel this precluded naming a failed candidate as one of the ministers in his block. "It would be a small compromise but it might be the way to solve it," he said. Characterizing Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) leader Michel Aoun's demands as "too high," Sleiman appeared as perplexed as the rest of Lebanon's political class about Aoun's unchanging insistence that his son-in-law be reappointed to BEIRUT 00000944 002 OF 002 the next Cabinet and that the FPM receive both the Interior and Telecommunications portfolios. ¶5. (C) Questioning their backing of Aoun's excessive demands, Sleiman noted that Hizballah among with Marada Movement leader Sleiman Frangieh and National Assembly Speaker and Amal Party head Nabih Berri had previously declared their support for caretaker Interior Minister Ziad Baroud and his performance n the last government. According to Sleiman, the opposition's endorsement of Baroud was incongruous with Aoun's insistence that he and not the President be granted the ministry. Sleiman reported that he had met the day before with Hizballah MP Hussein Hajj Hassan, who reiterated the group's support or including the Interior portfolio within the President's bloc. He had asked Hassan to deliver a message to Hizballah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah, asking him to intervene to ease the political logjam. ¶6. (C) Sleiman also was surprised that Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt's departure from the March 14 coalition had not been embraced more fully by the minority and instead seemed to have generated an escalation in Aoun's demands. Sleiman said that he had been in close contact with both sides throughout the government formation process, and he was always ready to engage with leaders from across the Lebanese political spectrum, although he hesitates to reach out to his rival Aoun. Sleiman said the most effective way for the U.S. to support Lebanon was to continue to support the LAF and to encourage Syrian-Saudi rapprochement. COMMENT -------------- ¶7. (C) Sleiman has cast himself as an honest broker who seeks to bridge the gap between the PM-designate and the opposition parties. His consensus mentality informs his reluctance to address his primary rival for the role of Christian leader, Michel Aoun. Aoun's shrill demand for the Interior Ministry -- while officially directed at the PM-designate -- constitutes an increasingly direct criticism of the President, especially in the wake of this week's jailbreak by Fatah Al-Islam prisoners. Hizballah Deputy Secretary General Naim Qassem's statements on August 20 that the party "made no commitments" to Hariri beyond the 15-5-10 formula indicates that Aoun's allies in the opposition are in no mood to force him to acquiesce. SISON