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### Viewing cable 06BEIRUT2609, LEBANON: JUSTICE MINISTER SAYS DRAFT TRIBUNAL

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
06BEIRUT2609 | 2006-08-14 08:30 | 2011-03-15 18:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Beirut
Appears in these articles: not yet set

`

    VZCZCXRO9432
    OO RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK
    DE RUEHLB #2609/01 2260830
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    O 140830Z AUG 06
    FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5024
    INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
    RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
    RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
    RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
    RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
    RUCNFB/FBI WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
    RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
    RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0074
    RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0959

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 002609

    SIPDIS

    SIPDIS

    NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/SINGH/HARDING

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/13/2016
    TAGS: PREL KCRM PTER PINR MOPS LE SY IS
    SUBJECT: LEBANON: JUSTICE MINISTER SAYS DRAFT TRIBUNAL
    FRAMEWORK IS UNDER STUDY (PART II)

    Classified By: Jeffrey D. Feltman, Ambassador. Reason 1.4 (d).

    SUMMARY
    --------

    ¶1. (C) During an August 13 meeting with Ambassador and
    poloff, Lebanese Minister of Justice Charles Rizk said that
    the United Nations had provided him with a draft framework
    for a "special tribunal of international character" to try
    suspects in the assassination of Rafiq Hariri, and that the
    draft is currently under study. He added that, separate from
    the international tribunal, Saad Hariri and former Justice
    Minister Bahij Tabbareh want to present a case against PM
    Ehud Olmert and Israeli military commanders. Rizk agreed
    with the Ambassador that they should be discouraged from
    pursuing this course. In a discussion on Lebanese politics,
    Rizk suggested that the root of Lebanon's problems is in its
    stubborn adherence to a confessionalized party system, and
    that a new electoral law would help encourage the formation
    of cross-sectarian parties. End Summary.

    INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL
    ----------------------

    ¶2. (C) Rizk said that the UN's Office of the Legal Advisor
    (OLA) had provided an "informal draft" laying out the
    framework for a "special tribunal with international
    character" to try suspects in Hariri's assassination. Noting
    that the draft is being kept very close hold, Rizk said he
    had passed it to PM Siniora who had shared it with former
    Minister of Justice Bahij Tabbareh to study before it comes
    under more general government scrutiny.

    ¶3. (C/NF) Rizk said Hariri's widow Nazek had also requested
    a copy, which he had refused to provide to her. He added
    that Nazek, ensconced in Paris, had called him to tell him
    that "my friend here asks why don't you call Kofi?" Rizk
    says he told her that he couldn't do so because "it's still
    not government policy." Suspecting Nazek's "friend" to be
    Jacques Chirac, Rizk believes the French President is leaning
    heavily on the UN to get the tribunal set up.

    ¶4. (C) Regarding the draft, Rizk said there are two initial
    concerns with it. Firstly, the pre-trial judge assigned in
    conjunction with the prosecutor is given "too much control."
    Secondly, the tribunal is given competency over the Hariri
    assassination and "all related crimes between October 2004
    and December 2005," those dates marking the assassination
    attempt on Marwan Hamadeh and the assassination of Gibran
    Tueni respectively. While Rizk professes he would prefer a
    tribunal with competency from October 2004 until five years
    hence, in order to "dissuade any future criminal act," he
    believes that Hizballah would never accept even the timeframe
    as it is in the current draft. Rizk noted though, that much
    depends on whether Hizballah emerges stronger or weaker from
    the current conflict with Israel.

    SUING ISRAEL
    ------------

    ¶5. (C/NF) In a very brief mention, Rizk said that Hariri
    and Tabbareh had asked him to look into suing Israeli
    leadership, including PM Olmert, over its prosecution of the
    war with Lebanon. Rizk acknowledged he had been in touch
    about this with UNIIIC Chief Serge Brammertz, who had
    referred him to another judge (Note. Rizk mentioned this
    judge is Italian. End Note). The second judge informed him
    that Lebanon risked being counter-sued over the behavior of
    Hizballah. Rizk said Tabbareh had been incensed when he
    heard this, and had criticized Rizk for consulting someone
    "on the other side." Agreeing with the Ambassador that this
    suit against Israel would be a most ill-advised move, Rizk
    said that nevertheless it is still under consideration.

    DO AWAY WITH CONFESSIONAL POLITICS
    ----------------------------------

    ¶6. (C) Towards the end of the meeting, Rizk expounded on
    his opinion that reform of the electoral system in Lebanon
    was key to fostering a more effective and united central
    government. Claiming that the Christian population in

    BEIRUT 00002609 002 OF 002

    Lebanon is "melting under the sun," a reference to the high
    rate of emigration, he said that the only way for the
    Christians to survive would be through establishing a new
    electoral law which supports cross-confessional politics.
    Rizk suggests keeping the 50/50 parliamentary split between
    Chirstians and Muslims, while establishing constituencies in
    which political parties must present balanced
    cross-confessional slates that are not based on the
    demographic makeup of the constituency so that, in effect, a
    Maronite would need votes in an all-Shi'a district or a Druze
    in an all-Maronite district. "They would have to be part of
    a ticket. I relish a system whereby the Muslims need the
    Christians, and vice versa."

    ¶7. (C) Aware that his plan would meet with widespread
    resistance from the dwindling primarily-Maronite, Christian
    population since their MPs would be forced to appeal to more
    and more Muslim voters, Rizk said that he had spoken on this
    with Maronite Patriarch Sfeir who was supportive of his idea.
    The Maronites can not continue to behave as though they are
    still the largest community in Lebanon, according to Rizk.
    "The Maronites should not hang on to this sinking ship."

    COMMENT
    -------

    ¶8. (C) If the cessation of hostilities holds, we need to
    focus on reenergizing the Hariri investigation and
    facilitating the establishment of a tribunal. Syria and its
    Lebanese allies are likely hoping to slow-roll the process.
    We need to ensure this does not happen. When Syria suffered
    a defeat in September 2004 with the passage of UNSCR 1559,
    Syria -- presumably -- responded by killing Rafiq Hariri.
    When Syria suffered a second defeat with the March 14, 2005
    "Cedar Revolution" and departure of the Syrian troops a month
    later, Lebanon was hit with a dozen bombings, assassinations,
    and assassination attempts. UNSCR 1701 is another defeat for
    Syria (and for those, like Spanish Foreign Minister
    Moratinos, who advocated a role for Syria in the
    deliberations). We should brace ourselves for a Syrian
    response. Moving ahead expeditiously on the establishment of
    a special tribunal with international character should help
    protect Lebanon.
    FELTMAN

`