Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BEIRUT672
2006-03-06 15:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:  

MGLE01: UN OFFICE VIEWS IMPROVED GOL COOPERATION

Tags:  IS KPKO LE MOPS PM PTER SY 
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INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA PRIORITY 0031
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 0065
RUEHKV/AMEMBASSY KIEV PRIORITY 0094
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RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000672 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/WERNER/SINGH

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2016
TAGS: IS KPKO LE MOPS PM PTER SY
SUBJECT: MGLE01: UN OFFICE VIEWS IMPROVED GOL COOPERATION
IN SOUTHERN LEBANON

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

SUMMARY
--------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000672

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/WERNER/SINGH

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2016
TAGS: IS KPKO LE MOPS PM PTER SY
SUBJECT: MGLE01: UN OFFICE VIEWS IMPROVED GOL COOPERATION
IN SOUTHERN LEBANON

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

SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) On March 3, econoff and epartment NEA/ELA Deputy
Director met with UN Political Officers Imran Riza and
Georges Nasr of the office of UNSYG's Personal Representative
to Lebanon Geir Pederson. Riza said that the GOL's Joint
Security Force (JSF) had modestly increased its presence in
southern Lebanon and had been more visible in conducting
patrols. Riza welcomed this development, especially in
conjunction with the Lebanese army's opening of liaison
offices at the UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura and with the
Ghanaian and Indian battalions. Riza hoped for more
cooperation in the future, noting that Geir Pederson had
recently met with Defense Minister Elias Murr who assured him
that he had ordered the army to stop arms shipments to
Hizballah from Syria. Hizballah is maintaining calm along
the Blue Line and has not reacted to the increased JSF
presence, according to Riza. He added that Hizballah
officials told UNIFIL that they consider only the immediate
area along the Blue Line to be Hizballah's area of
responsibility, not the whole south. End summary.

INCREASED GOL SECURITY PRESENCE
--------------


2. (C) In a March 3 meeting, UN Political Officers Imran
Riza and Georges Nasr reported that the Lebanese Joint
Security Force (JSF) has increased its presence and activity
in southern Lebanon. The JSF, a combined Internal Security
Forces and Lebanese military police task force under Ministry
of Interior control, is now numbering some 400-500 personnel
actually deployed in southern Lebanon, according to Riza.
The number of JSF personnel has increased slightly in recent
months, but is still below its advertised troop level of
1,000. In addition to the modest increase in troop strength,
the JSF is also conducting more patrols and demonstrating a
greater visibility. Riza estimated that there may be as many
as 100 JSF personnel deployed in Naqoura.



3. (C) The up-tick in JSF presence is a positive
development following the establishment of JSF and Lebanese
army liaison cells co-located with UNIFIL earlier this year.
Lebanese army liaison officers are now co-located with UNIFIL
staff at UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura and at the
headquarters of the Ghanaian battalion and the Indian
battalion. A Chinese engineering battalion is due to arrive
soon to replace the Ukrainian battalion accused of
malfeasance. Riza expressed optimism about these
developments but hoped for more GOL cooperation in the future.


4. (C) Riza said that UNSYG Personal Representative to
Lebanon Geir Pederson had met with Defense Minister Elias
Murr and Lebanese army Chief of Staff Gen. Michel Sleiman
regarding reports that the Lebanese army allowed arms
shipments from Syria to reach Hizballah. According to Riza,
Murr told Pederson that it appeared to have been an "internal
transfer." Murr promised Pederson that he has issued
instructions that this not happen again. Sleiman claimed the
Lebanese military did not observe the arms transfer, but
confirmed that he issued orders to prevent another such
incident. Riza commented that Hizballah does not need any
more weapons. Hizballah has plenty of arms and ammunition to
continue its intermittent, low-intensity attacks on Israeli
Blue Line positions for a long time. Besides, Riza added,
many of Hizballah's attacks in the Sheba'a Farms are more for
demonstration of capabilities than any significant military
effect.

HIZBALLAH KEEPING QUIET
--------------


5. (C) Riza said that Hizballah officials have told him
that they have no interest in any fighting along the Blue
Line at this time. It was clear that Hizballah had nothing
to do with the rocket attack on Kiryat Shemona in late
December, he said. Riza sensed that Hizballah had appeared
upset that another group had attacked Israel from its
territory without seeking permission. Right now, the only
Hizballah military activity of note is its ongoing
psychological warfare to keep Israeli forces in a state of
perpetual alert. Hizballah is making military movements that
the Israelis could interpret as preparations for an attack,
but then does not carry out the operation, according to Riza.
On a side note, Riza added that the water dispute around
Ghajar has been quiet this winter. Israeli airspace
violations are continuing, but at a slightly reduced level,
according to Riza and Nasr.


6. (C) Riza and Nasr noted that Hizballah has not reacted
to the increased JSF presence in southern Lebanon. Hizballah
officials told UNIFIL that Hizballah's area of responsibility
is the immediate border area along the Blue Line, not the
whole south. This seemed to imply that Hizballah
acknowledges the GOL's right to exercise control over most of
southern Lebanon except for the area of the border with
Israel and Israeli-occupied territory. Riza also noted that
Hizballah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah recently said
that security in Quthern Lebanon is the responsibility of
the government.
FELTMAN