(U) Secretary Clinton's April 8, 2009

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 035241 E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/08/2019 TAGS: OVIP CLINTON HILLARY PREL PTER LE SY SUBJECT: (U) Secretary Clinton's April 8, 2009 conversation with Lebanese Defense Minister Elias Murr ¶1. Classified by NEA Acting Assistant Secretary Jeffrey Feltman. Reason: 1.4 (d) ¶2. (SBU) April 8, 2009; 3:00 p.m.EDT; Washington, DC. ¶3. (SBU) Participants: U.S. The Secretary NEA Acting Assistant Secretary Jeffrey Feltman Matthew Irwin (NEA Notetaker) LEBANON Minister of Defense Elias Murr Ambassador Antoine Chedid ¶4. (C) SUMMARY. The Secretary and Defense Minister Elias Murr each stated their firm commitments to Lebanon's sovereignty and democracy. Murr noted that a win by Hizballah and its Christian ally Michel Aoun in the June 7 parliamentary elections would be bad for Lebanon, the United States, and the region. Murr sought strong messages from the Secretary and President Obama to dissuade voters, and Christians in particular, from supporting Hizballah. Finally, Murr noted that Israeli- Lebanese peace would quickly follow Israeli-Palestinian and Israeli-Syrian agreements. END SUMMARY. -------------- MUTUAL COMMITMENT -------------- ¶5. (C) Murr opened the meeting by reiterating his commitment to protecting Lebanon's sovereignty and democracy by building strong relations with the United States, adding as he cradled his still-disabled right hand that he had "paid too much" for this choice. (NOTE. Murr was severely injured in a July 2005 car bombing, widely blamed on Syria. END NOTE.) Murr distinguished U.S. assistance to the institutions of the Lebanese state and support for Lebanon's freedom and independence from the "interference" of other countries, noting that former U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Jeffrey Feltman had put his life at risk for four years to defend these principles. "They wanted to kill him." ¶6. (C) Murr said that Feltman's nomination as Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern affairs, as well as Secretary Clinton's appointment, sent a clear message that the Obama administration would continue the United States' strong support for Lebanon. The Secretary agreed, noting that the administration's engagement with Syria and Iran would not come at Lebanon's expense. Murr thanked the Secretary and invited her to visit Lebanon before the June 7 parliamentary elections. -------------- ELECTIONEERING -------------- ¶7. (C) Murr urged the Secretary to do everything possible to prevent Hizballah and its Christian ally, Michel Aoun, from winning the June 7 elections, noting this would be a "disaster" for Lebanon, add to Syria and Iran's leverage in their conversations with the United States, and complicate efforts to broker regional peace. Murr noted that Hizballah's alliance with Christian leader Michel Aoun had given the group national cover, but that an increase in Hizballah's influence would come at the Christians' expense. ¶7. (C) The Secretary asked what the United States could say to convince Lebanese voters, and particularly fence- sitting Christians, that an alliance with Hizballah was not in their interest. Murr suggested that the Secretary or President Obama reiterate publicly that Lebanese Christians are best protected by the Lebanese state, and that the United States does not deal with Hizballah now and will not deal with the group after the elections. Murr also urged the Secretary to counter Hizballah and Aoun's claim that the United States had "failed" in its attempt to reform Syria and Iran, and that dialogue would come at the expense of reformers in Lebanon and elsewhere. ¶8. (C) Murr noted that the pro-sovereignty March 14 coalition and his family's own political messaging would portray the elections as a series of choices for Lebanese Christians. Do they want a Lebanese government or an Iranian and Syrian government? Do they prefer to be protected by the Lebanese army or by Hizballah? Do they want a state or a state-within-a-state? -------------- REGIONAL PEACE -------------- ¶9. (C) Finally, Murr said that Lebanon would make peace with Israel as soon as agreements had been signed by Syria and the Palestinians, noting that if Lebanon went first, both Syria and Lebanon's Palestinian refugees would cause trouble. Murr noted that Lebanon "will come to the table with very few files, as our issues are simple." Murr also pointed out that Lebanon was already negotiating with Israel to secure the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanese territory in the border village of Ghajar. Murr said that Lebanon's other issues could be resolved easily, "but not if Hizballah and Aoun win the elections." CLINTON