Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BEIRUT1633
2007-10-18 14:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:
LEBANON: ON BORDER PROJECT, GERMANS LOOKING AHEAD
how-toVZCZCXRO3170 RR RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV DE RUEHLB #1633/01 2911452 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 181452Z OCT 07 ZFF5 FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT TO RUEHXQ/ALL EUROPEAN UNION POST RUEHXP/ALL NATO POST COLLECTIVE RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RHMFISS/USCENTCOM SPECIAL HANDLING MACDILL AFB FL RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1597 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 1732 RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9768
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 001633
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/GAVITO/YERGER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2017
TAGS: ECON PG PGOV PREL SY
SUBJECT: LEBANON: ON BORDER PROJECT, GERMANS LOOKING AHEAD
AND NOT AT SHORT TERM PROBLEMS
REF: BEIRUT 1565
Classified By: DCM William Grant for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 001633
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/GAVITO/YERGER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2017
TAGS: ECON PG PGOV PREL SY
SUBJECT: LEBANON: ON BORDER PROJECT, GERMANS LOOKING AHEAD
AND NOT AT SHORT TERM PROBLEMS
REF: BEIRUT 1565
Classified By: DCM William Grant for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
Summary
--------------
1. (C) A businessman whose firm is the logistical consultant
for the German Northern Border Pilot Project (NBPP) told
Poloff in an October 17 meeting that the NBPP continued to
face serious delays and would not be fully operational by
mid-February, rather than the target December 1 final
deadline. He also noted that the incoming head of the NBPP,
General Carl-Ulrich Stoltz, was not well liked by his German
team members which may lead to further conflicts. He
believes that the Germans are rushing to complete the NBPP
even if they do not meet standards, in order to start on a
larger, more prestigious eastern border project. End Summary.
DECEMBER 1 START DATE FOR NBPP IN DOUBT
--------------
2. (C) Sabeh Labaki, a Lebanese businessman whose firm is the
logistical consultant for the NBPP (and also provides
services to the U.S. Embassy),said in an October 17 meeting
with PolOff, that the NBPP has had numerous procurement and
managerial problems since the project began. Labaki noted
that the primary problem has been with the NBPP,s
procurement office. Labaki (please protect) said that his
company was originally responsible for procurement matters
for the NBPP, however, once the project got off its feet, his
role was reduced to that of a consultant. After this change,
Labaki said that the project,s procurement problems
increased and the NBPP as a whole began to face serious
logistical problems.
3. (C) Labaki added that he believed that the project would
be fully operational by mid-February. When PolOff mentioned
that operations are set to begin by a final deadline of
December 1, Labaki laughed, saying that it could begin on
December 1, but that it would not be fully operational.
Labaki said that the project would lack many necessities on
December 1, such as cameras and lights for the border
crossing points, and uniforms for border agents. He added
that the training being provided by Danish would not begin
until well into January (Note: After attending several NBPP
meetings, our view is that training is the least of the
problems plaguing this project, and appears to be the only
aspect of the NBPP running smoothly. End Note).
NEW GERMAN LEAD NOT WELL LIKED BY STAFF
--------------
4. (C) Labaki also noted that the incoming head of the NBPP,
General Carl-Ulrich Stoltz, was not well liked by his German
subordinates. Labaki added that outgoing head, Detlef
Karioth, was more liked by the NBPP staff and was held in
higher regard by the German Ambassador and DCM in Lebanon.
Labaki gossiped that someone back in Germany (identity
unknown to Labaki) wanted Detlef recalled from the NBPP.
Labaki added that when the German Ambassador tried to step in
on Detlef,s behalf, higher authorities in Germany rebuffed
the request, wondering why the Ambassador would want Detlef
to stay given his poor performance on the project.
GERMAN DESIGNS ON THE EASTERN BORDER
--------------
5. (C) During the discussion, Labaki gave his opinion that
the Germans were too busy worrying about being designated
with the lead role for the bigger border control effort on
Lebanon's eastern border with Syria (reftel). Labaki said
that the Germans mentioned to him that they might need his
services in June 2008 if the eastern border project gets the
green light. Labaki added that Germany, after the leading
the NBPP, would be well placed to offer such services to the
Lebanese and Syrians. He feared that the Germans were
willing to rush through the NBPP, in order to begin the new
project on the eastern border.
COMMENT
--------------
BEIRUT 00001633 002 OF 002
6. (C) Labaki is clearly plugged in to the NBPP and knows the
technical details well. His analysis of the proposed larger
eastern border project seemed to be speculation, however. As
discussions of the NBPP continue, we will watch for problems
in the areas he cited: completing work at less than necessary
standards and strains between the incoming head and other
German staff. End Comment.
FELTMAN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/GAVITO/YERGER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2017
TAGS: ECON PG PGOV PREL SY
SUBJECT: LEBANON: ON BORDER PROJECT, GERMANS LOOKING AHEAD
AND NOT AT SHORT TERM PROBLEMS
REF: BEIRUT 1565
Classified By: DCM William Grant for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
Summary
--------------
1. (C) A businessman whose firm is the logistical consultant
for the German Northern Border Pilot Project (NBPP) told
Poloff in an October 17 meeting that the NBPP continued to
face serious delays and would not be fully operational by
mid-February, rather than the target December 1 final
deadline. He also noted that the incoming head of the NBPP,
General Carl-Ulrich Stoltz, was not well liked by his German
team members which may lead to further conflicts. He
believes that the Germans are rushing to complete the NBPP
even if they do not meet standards, in order to start on a
larger, more prestigious eastern border project. End Summary.
DECEMBER 1 START DATE FOR NBPP IN DOUBT
--------------
2. (C) Sabeh Labaki, a Lebanese businessman whose firm is the
logistical consultant for the NBPP (and also provides
services to the U.S. Embassy),said in an October 17 meeting
with PolOff, that the NBPP has had numerous procurement and
managerial problems since the project began. Labaki noted
that the primary problem has been with the NBPP,s
procurement office. Labaki (please protect) said that his
company was originally responsible for procurement matters
for the NBPP, however, once the project got off its feet, his
role was reduced to that of a consultant. After this change,
Labaki said that the project,s procurement problems
increased and the NBPP as a whole began to face serious
logistical problems.
3. (C) Labaki added that he believed that the project would
be fully operational by mid-February. When PolOff mentioned
that operations are set to begin by a final deadline of
December 1, Labaki laughed, saying that it could begin on
December 1, but that it would not be fully operational.
Labaki said that the project would lack many necessities on
December 1, such as cameras and lights for the border
crossing points, and uniforms for border agents. He added
that the training being provided by Danish would not begin
until well into January (Note: After attending several NBPP
meetings, our view is that training is the least of the
problems plaguing this project, and appears to be the only
aspect of the NBPP running smoothly. End Note).
NEW GERMAN LEAD NOT WELL LIKED BY STAFF
--------------
4. (C) Labaki also noted that the incoming head of the NBPP,
General Carl-Ulrich Stoltz, was not well liked by his German
subordinates. Labaki added that outgoing head, Detlef
Karioth, was more liked by the NBPP staff and was held in
higher regard by the German Ambassador and DCM in Lebanon.
Labaki gossiped that someone back in Germany (identity
unknown to Labaki) wanted Detlef recalled from the NBPP.
Labaki added that when the German Ambassador tried to step in
on Detlef,s behalf, higher authorities in Germany rebuffed
the request, wondering why the Ambassador would want Detlef
to stay given his poor performance on the project.
GERMAN DESIGNS ON THE EASTERN BORDER
--------------
5. (C) During the discussion, Labaki gave his opinion that
the Germans were too busy worrying about being designated
with the lead role for the bigger border control effort on
Lebanon's eastern border with Syria (reftel). Labaki said
that the Germans mentioned to him that they might need his
services in June 2008 if the eastern border project gets the
green light. Labaki added that Germany, after the leading
the NBPP, would be well placed to offer such services to the
Lebanese and Syrians. He feared that the Germans were
willing to rush through the NBPP, in order to begin the new
project on the eastern border.
COMMENT
--------------
BEIRUT 00001633 002 OF 002
6. (C) Labaki is clearly plugged in to the NBPP and knows the
technical details well. His analysis of the proposed larger
eastern border project seemed to be speculation, however. As
discussions of the NBPP continue, we will watch for problems
in the areas he cited: completing work at less than necessary
standards and strains between the incoming head and other
German staff. End Comment.
FELTMAN