LEBANON: MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT FOCUSED ON FOREST

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 001145

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA
ALSO FOR IO ACTING A/S HOOK, PDAS WARLICK
USAID/W/ME FOR ELAINE SCOTT
P FOR HMUSTAPHA AND RRANGASWAMY
USUN FOR KHALILZAD/WOLFF/KUMAR
NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/YERGER/GAVITO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/01/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR ECON EAID SENV UNSC LE SY
SUBJECT: LEBANON: MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT FOCUSED ON FOREST
FIRES

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. William Grant for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).

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

1. (C) Newly appointed Minister of Environment Tony Karam
discussed his priorities for the ministry with Charge in a
August 4 courtesy call. First, Karam intends to work with
civilian groups to enforce current environmental protection
laws. Second, he would like to create an elite firefighting
unit that could be used to fight forest fires. He requested
USG assistance to help in the short-term. On politics, Karam
believes March 14, with which he is allied, needs to win 55
percent of the Christian vote to be successful in the 2009
elections. End summary.

KARAM'S PRIORITIES
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2. (C) March 14 member and newly appointed Minister of
Environment Antoine "Tony" Karam (Lebanese Forces) told
Charge Grant, accompanied by Poloff, in an August 4 courtesy
call that he has two priorities for the ministry. First,
Karam intends to implement existing laws with the cooperation
and assistance of local NGOs. In his view, these civilian
organizations are "not influenced by politics" and so will
apply laws objectively. Karam said his second priority is to
establish an elite firefighting unit to act as first
responders at the outbreak of forest fires that afflict
Lebanon most summers.


3. (C) Karam was disappointed with the capabilities of the
all-volunteer firefighting force, after a personal tour of
the scene of one of the late-July forest fires near Beirut.
He reported the firefighters lack sufficient equipment, are
not well-trained professionals and are hesitant to act
because of a lack of government insurance or compensation.
He noted that the GOL had contracted for firefighting
helicopters from a Russian company based in Cyprus, but he
saw a need for having its own helicopters (or other air
assets) to fight fires at the outset and requested USG
assistance.


4. (C) Charge explained to Karam that Embassy had researched
fire fighting assistance the USG could provide to Lebanon.
For most assistance, the lead time required meant that it was
not likely the USG could assist this fire season. However,
he noted, the U.S. Forest Service is developing a program of
assistance for Lebanon focused on forest management to
prevent fires. A USFS team likely will come to Lebanon soon
to begin formulating a plan that would help for the long
term. Karam said he was appreciative and understood the
bureaucratic realities, but asked for "easier things" like
protective clothing and tools for the firefighters.

CHRISTIAN AREAS KEY
IN 2009 ELECTIONS
--------------


5. (C) Karam, a Christian, medical doctor and founding member
of the Lebanese Forces (LF) party led by Samir Geagea,
believes the 2009 elections are an important turning point
for Lebanon. He predicted March 14 needs to garner at least
55 percent of the vote in Christian areas to win the
election. He noted that the LF wanted stronger wording in
the ministerial statement about the state's dominance over
all decisions. (Note: at the cabinet meeting later that day,
Karam was one of four ministers, all March 14 Christians, who
expressed a reservation before approving the ministerial
statement. End note.)
GRANT