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DE RUEHLB #1339/01 2561217
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P 121217Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT
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INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIRUT 001339 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA, NEA/PI AND DRL/FO 
ALSO FOR AID/ME BEVER/LAUDATO/SCOTT 
NSC FOR ABRAMS/RAMCHAND/YERGER/MCDERMOTT 
DEPT PLEASE PASS TO USAID 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2018 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR NAS LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: INTERIOR MINISTER SAYS LACK OF TIME 
HINDERS ELECTION REFORM 
 
REF: BEIRUT 1327 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reason 1.4 
(b) and (d) 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
¶1. (C) Implementation of proposed election administration 
reforms will be difficult prior to the spring 2009 
Parliamentary elections, according to Minister of Interior 
Ziyad Baroud, who is responsible for organizing the 
elections.  Recognizing the value of the Boutros draft 
election reform proposals, Baroud regretted that there was 
insufficient time and resources to institute many of them. 
He stated that Lebanon will proceed with plans to adopt and 
implement a range of reforms in the hope they will all be in 
place in time for the municipal elections of 2010.  He does 
not advocate delaying the date of the 2009 parliamentary 
elections to be able to implement all the proposed reforms, 
and is confident that his Ministry can undertake the 
administration of the 2009 elections in a transparent and 
effective manner. End summary. 
 
2009 ELECTION TO BE HELD 
IN APRIL 20-JUNE 20 TIMEFRAME 
----------------------------- 
 
¶2. (C) In a September 10 meeting with the Ambassador, USAID 
Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Middle East 
James Bever and embassy INL Director, Lebanese Minister of 
Interior and Municipalities Ziyad Baroud discussed Lebanon's 
plans on implementing proposed changes in election 
administration reforms.  Elections in Lebanon are 
administered by the Ministry of Interior.  The Boutros draft 
law on election reform proposes that the responsibility for 
the administration of elections should be transferred to a 
newly established Independent Election Commission.  The new 
draft election law should be submitted to Parliament by 
September 25 but will not be voted on by Parliament before 
the second week of October, according to Baroud.  Baroud 
stressed that his office is meeting three times a week to 
discuss proposals that can be fully implemented in the time 
remaining before the parliamentary elections.  Baroud 
confirmed that many of the administration of elections' 
reforms proposed in the Boutros Draft Law will be impossible 
to implement within the short period of time remaining before 
the parliamentary election, scheduled to be held between 
April 20 and June 20, 2009. 
 
SUPPORT FOR INDEPENDENT ELECTION COMMISSION, 
BUT NO TIME 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (C) Baroud, a longtime election reform advocate before 
becoming Minister, supports the concept of establishing an 
Independent Election Commission (IEC) as proposed in the 
Boutros Draft Law, but stated that it is not feasible to do 
so at this point, less than nine months from the election. 
Baroud cited EU and other NGO reports stating that full 
implementation of an IEC would require twelve months. To 
create an effective IEC, Lebanon would need to obtain Council 
of Ministers' approval, process nominations and appointments 
of members, locate premises, train civil servants, and 
transfer the official election responsibilities from the MOI 
to IEC.  It is not possible to have an effective IEC up and 
running until October 2009, according to Baroud. If the law 
requires an IEC, then elections would have to be delayed 
until October 2009, which is something he does not advocate. 
He believes the Lebanese Parliament would not support any 
delay in elections. 
 
¶4. (C) The IEC can be operational and should run the 2010 
Municipal elections, Baroud said.  Baroud noted that outcome 
of the 2010 municipal elections can be even more important 
for the direction of Lebanese politics, particularly after 
the changes that may ensue following the parliamentary 
elections. 
 
DONATIONS TO SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION OF ELECTION LAW ) 
TRANSPARENT, EFFECTIVE, NON-DUPLICATION 
AND NO CASH, PLEASE 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
BEIRUT 00001339  002 OF 003 
 
 
 
¶5. (C) From September 25 through the end of October the MOI 
will schedule meetings with potential donors interested in 
supporting the changes proposed under the draft election law. 
 Baroud is currently in the process of developing his "Master 
Plan" for donors,  which will be the guiding document 
coordinating donor contributions.  The MOI, through the 
Master Plan, will provide donors with implementation 
timelines and will identify specific needs. By developing 
these guidelines for the donors, Baroud and the Ministry aims 
to 1) be transparent, 2) avoid duplication and 3) have 
donations be effective.  The donor's guidelines will state, 
for example, that this is what Lebanon has, and this is what 
Lebanese needs to implement the reforms and hold the 
elections.  Donors will be asked to provide contributions 
solely in accord with this statement of needs. 
 
¶6. (C) The MOI strongly prefers in-kind donations, not direct 
cash donations to the Lebanese government, to achieve 
transparency and avoid procurement headaches.  The donation 
of loaned experts is acceptable, clarified Baroud, as long as 
the proffered expert is intimately familiar with the reality 
and functioning of Lebanon, and adapts his or her training to 
that Lebanese reality.  Baroud, for example, said he had no 
problem with the International Foundation for Electoral 
Systems (IFES) or other organizations providing the expertise 
on voting matters, but he stressed that he would like to meet 
with them first.  That way he can thoroughly explain the best 
method for them to assist Lebanon and provide what the MOI 
really needs.  Baroud welcomes participation by 
representatives from the Carter Center, but reminded us that 
the visit must be organized through the proper diplomatic 
channels (NFI). 
 
SINGLE VOTING DAY NOT FEASIBLE; 
TWO DAYS MAY BE 
------------------------------- 
 
¶7. (C) Baroud stressed that the Ministry is trying hard to 
meet the people's expectations as to what it should deliver 
on election reform, but he is concerned that they may be 
heading toward disappointment.  Baroud mentioned that no MP 
will ever say that he or she is against reform.  It always 
comes down to implementation -- not enough time or money or 
manpower.  Baroud is sorry to admit that there is not enough 
time to institute proposed changes prior to the election. 
 
¶8. (C) Baroud also confirmed that the proposal to shorten the 
number of voting days to one, from four, cannot be 
implemented due to the lack of sufficient Internal Security 
Forces' personnel to cover all the polling stations and 
ballot boxes on the same day (reftel).  Now the government is 
leaning toward adopting a change for elections to take place 
over a two day period. 
 
¶9. (C) The Minister also cited the delays that ensue from 
awaiting Ministerial-level approvals for all reform proposals 
(e.g., out-of-country voting) and the release of funding to 
implement proposed reforms.  The proposal for the Ministry to 
issue a national voter ID was almost defeated from the start 
due to a lack of funds.  The MOI needed $1 million to get the 
ID underway, but the government refused to accelerate funds 
for the project.  Baroud obtained the money by asking the 
Internal Security Forces (ISF) Director General to transfer 
funds originally designated for ISF security purposes to the 
National Voter ID project.  Baroud promised him he would pay 
back the ISF, which is part of his Ministry. 
 
PROJECTS TO SUPPORT 
DECENTRALIZATION OF MUNICIPALITIES 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶10. (SBU) USAID Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator James 
Beaver asked the Minister how the U.S. could best utilize its 
development assistance in the area of local government and 
municipal assistance.  Baroud, a technical and academic 
expert in municipal governance, mentioned that Lebanon had 
recently formed a Consultative Commission on 
Decentralization, and he would welcome U.S. assistance in 
that area.  Lebanon would benefit greatly from a national 
master plan for municipalities that establishes a 
comprehensive approach, and which adopts decentralization as 
a goal, particularly with regard to administrative and 
 
BEIRUT 00001339  003 OF 003 
 
 
financial responsibilities.  The hope is that a draft law on 
municipalities will be presented in seven months, and to have 
the law voted upon by parliament prior to the 2010 municipal 
elections. 
 
SISON