UAE RESPONSE TO URGENT REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 000857 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/ELA MATTHEW IRWIN E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/23/2017 TAGS: PREL PTER MASS LE AE SUBJECT: UAE RESPONSE TO URGENT REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE TO LEBANESE ARMED FORCES REF: STATE 70449 Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 (b and d). ¶1. (U) ACTION REQUEST -- See para 4. ¶2. (SBU) On May 23 we stressed the urgency of assistance to the LAF with both Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed (AbZ) and the Crown Prince's office. Ambassador spoke first with Col. (Ret.) Jack McGuinness, Military Advisor to Abu Dhabi Crown Prince/Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed (MbZ) to convey the request for assistance on behalf of the Government of Lebanon. Ambassador emphasized that the ammunition requirements needed to be delivered as soon as possible, preferably within days. Col. McGuinness agreed to pass the list of ammunition caliber/quantity requirements to MbZ immediately. (MbZ is in Morocco at present on a private trip, along with several of his brothers, including Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah. McGuinness has since confirmed that he faxed a copy of the LAF requirements to MbZ in Morocco and that it had been delivered to the Crown Prince.) ¶3. (C) In a telephone conversation later in the day, Ambassador reiterated the request to Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah, who noted that a senior UAE military officer had called on Prime Minister Siniora the day before in Beirut and had discussed LAF requirements. (NOTE: We believe Sheikh Abdullah might have been referring to UAE Directorate of Military Intelligence officer Col. Mohammed Khalfan, who is based in Beirut. END NOTE.) AbZ underscored the UAEG's continuing support for the government of PM Siniora. ¶4. (U) We will continue to follow-up with both the Foreign Minister and the Crown Prince's office and will report any developments. ¶5. (C) ACTION REQUEST: Reftel notes that U.S.-origin ammunition would require USG approval for transfer to Lebanon. Can PM or NEA/ELA provide more detail regarding possible timeframe for such approval(s)? Also, Embassy requests Department advice as to whether we should urge UAEG to use their own C-130s or whether third nation transport of consolidated donations coming from the Gulf region might be preferable. SISON