LEBANON: GERMAN AMBASSADOR SAYS ANY SUPPORT MUST

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 002813 SIPDIS SIPDIS NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/MARCHESE/HARDING E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/2016 TAGS: PREL MOPS KPKO LE SY SUBJECT: LEBANON: GERMAN AMBASSADOR SAYS ANY SUPPORT MUST BE WITHIN UNIFIL Classified By: Jeffrey D. Feltman, Ambassador. Reason 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: During an 8/28 meeting with Ambassador Feltman and poloff, German Ambassador to Lebanon Marius Haas provided a readout on the recent visit of a German military delegation to Lebanon. Haas said that Germany is willing to provide technical equipment and support to Lebanon, as well as a substantial maritime component to an augmented UNIFIL, and possibly an air component. Haas stressed that this contribution could only come under the UNIFIL umbrella, and not, as the Lebanese clearly prefer, as a strictly bilateral arrangement. Haas said that PM Siniora has written a letter to Chancellor Merkel requesting equipment, which the Germans have yet to answer. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) Haas said the German military delegation came for a one-week assessment and departed on August 27. The Lebanese security delegation,headed by Internal Security Forces (ISF) commande Ashraf Rifi (considered pro-Hariri),claimed that the Beirut port and international airport are boh safe and that no smuggling is possible throughpoints of entry. The Lebanese also claimed to hve purchased two scanners for the airport. Conseuently, the Lebanese urged the German delegationto focus more on security and customs proceduresat the northern port of Tripoli (the delegation di not inspect Tyre or Sidon). Not believing everthing they heard, the Germans assessed -- internaly -- that the Tripoli and Beirut ports and Beirt airport are all "not in good order." ¶3. (C) On the Syria-Lebanon border, the Lebanese spoke of "six stations" along the frontier which would ned to be equipped with advanced surveillance equipent. The German delegation told the Lebanese thy could offer technical assistance and training n the border, ports, and airport, as well as airpatrols over land and sea (Haas mentioned specifcally Tornado jets),and a significant maritime cmponent of as many as 1,200 sailors. ¶4. (C) Has said the Cabinet could approve the naval force as early as next week, and that parliamentary appoval would soon follow. The Germans will likelyinsist that the force, which will include other Eropeans, have the "ability to fire." He added tat the German warship "Frankfurt" could begin saling to Lebanon before government approval if itcame as part of a "humanitarian" flotilla. ¶5. C) The Ambassador asked if the Germans have confidnce in the Lebanese personnel who would be operaing the equipment. Haas said that the initial Lbanese response to the German offer had not beenespecially receptive, leaving the delegation wit the impression that while they badly want the sohisticated equipment, they do not care for the Geran trainers who would be part of the package. "raining is part of the deal," Haas said, adding hat, "Our assessment is that the pro-Syrian elemnt is still very strong." ¶6. (C) Siniora has snt an "ambitious" written request to Chancellor erkel requesting equipment, according to Haas, ad Berlin still owes him a response. While Siniorahad at first seemed supportive of the maritime cmponent, he had suddenly gotten cold feet when hesaw the large scale of the proposed naval force. Haas added that Siniora prefers a strict bilateral arrangement between Lebanon and Germany, but that Berlin is insisting that German support come as part of an augmented UNIFIL. "The Lebanese are not eager to have UNIFIL as an intermediary," said Haas, who stressed that the Germans will accept no other arrangement. FELTMAN