Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BEIRUT238
2008-02-14 17:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:
LEBANON: CANADA AND BELGIUM NEED PUSH TO AID LAF,
how-toVZCZCXRO8431 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV DE RUEHLB #0238 0451719 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 141719Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1010 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS PRIORITY 0384 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 0154 RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1957 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RHMFISS/USCENTCOM SPECIAL HANDLING MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 000238
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/YERGER
DEPT FOR EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2018
TAGS: MARR MASS MCAP PGOV PREL PTER BE CA LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: CANADA AND BELGIUM NEED PUSH TO AID LAF,
DATTS SAY
Classified By: DCM William Grant for Reasons: Section 1.4 (b) and (d).
SUMMARY
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 000238
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/YERGER
DEPT FOR EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2018
TAGS: MARR MASS MCAP PGOV PREL PTER BE CA LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: CANADA AND BELGIUM NEED PUSH TO AID LAF,
DATTS SAY
Classified By: DCM William Grant for Reasons: Section 1.4 (b) and (d).
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) During a February 12 international donor assistance
meeting for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF),Canadian and
Belgian DATTs (protect) requested USG help in approaching
their host countries' foreign ministries to seek additional
support for the LAF. The DATTs said that each of their
countries has the ability to donate more, but their home
governments lack the confidence in LAF accountability
standards, that would ensure that their donations does not
end up in the arsenal of Hizballah. End Summary.
CANADIAN AND BELGIAN DATTS
WANT TO CONTRIBUTE MORE
--------------
2. (C) In a February 12 coordination meeting for
international donors to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF),
emboffs were approached by LTC Jean-Pierre Bergeron, GOC DATT
to Lebanon, and MAJ Luc Wynant, GOB Deputy DATT to Lebanon
(protect both) about the possibility of having the USG
approach their governments' foreign ministries to seek
increased support to the LAF. Bergeron and Wynant indicated
their governments' ability to contribute more resources to
the LAF. Bergeron said the GOC had a large stockpile of
badly needed ammunition (25,000 rounds) that he could donate
to the LAF rather quickly. Wynant explained how the GOB
initiated an agreement with the GOL to donate 43 Leopard 1
tanks (an important upgrade from the outdated tanks the LAF
is currently using); however, the deal is now in jeopardy due
to a change of government in Belgium.
3. (C) Bergeron and Wynant indicated their home governments'
fear that the ammunition and equipment could potentially fall
into the hands of Hizballah. Bergeron and Wynant inquired
about the possibility of USG representatives approaching GOC
and GOB foreign ministry officials, to request additional
support to the LAF and explain the level of confidence that
the USG has in LAF tracking. The US SAO (ODC) chief, as well
as the British and French DATTs, noted that during the
fifteen year civil war the LAF was able to keep track of, and
account for, the overall majority of its weapons arsenal.
4. (C) This included all of the LAF's large, crew served
weapon systems (such as TOW missiles),artillery, tanks,
aircraft and associated ammunition. The U.S. ODC chief
mentioned that he just completed the 2007 annual End Use
Monitoring (EUM) inventory where 100 percent of sophisticated
Night Vision Devices (NVDs) and large caliber sniper systems
were accounted for by serial number and visual inspection.
In addition, there are no reports of LAF equipment ending up
in the hands of Hizballah.
COMMENT
--------------
5. (C) In recent demarche, Department urged increased
international donor contributions to the LAF as part of
broad-based support for Lebanon. We are not in the best
position to recommend approaches to the Canadian and Belgian
governments, but note that what their DATTs proposed to us is
in line with that demarche. We can attest to the good
end-use monitoring record of the LAF and that it needs the
kind of support Canada or Belgium can provide. End Comment.
SISON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/YERGER
DEPT FOR EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2018
TAGS: MARR MASS MCAP PGOV PREL PTER BE CA LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: CANADA AND BELGIUM NEED PUSH TO AID LAF,
DATTS SAY
Classified By: DCM William Grant for Reasons: Section 1.4 (b) and (d).
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) During a February 12 international donor assistance
meeting for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF),Canadian and
Belgian DATTs (protect) requested USG help in approaching
their host countries' foreign ministries to seek additional
support for the LAF. The DATTs said that each of their
countries has the ability to donate more, but their home
governments lack the confidence in LAF accountability
standards, that would ensure that their donations does not
end up in the arsenal of Hizballah. End Summary.
CANADIAN AND BELGIAN DATTS
WANT TO CONTRIBUTE MORE
--------------
2. (C) In a February 12 coordination meeting for
international donors to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF),
emboffs were approached by LTC Jean-Pierre Bergeron, GOC DATT
to Lebanon, and MAJ Luc Wynant, GOB Deputy DATT to Lebanon
(protect both) about the possibility of having the USG
approach their governments' foreign ministries to seek
increased support to the LAF. Bergeron and Wynant indicated
their governments' ability to contribute more resources to
the LAF. Bergeron said the GOC had a large stockpile of
badly needed ammunition (25,000 rounds) that he could donate
to the LAF rather quickly. Wynant explained how the GOB
initiated an agreement with the GOL to donate 43 Leopard 1
tanks (an important upgrade from the outdated tanks the LAF
is currently using); however, the deal is now in jeopardy due
to a change of government in Belgium.
3. (C) Bergeron and Wynant indicated their home governments'
fear that the ammunition and equipment could potentially fall
into the hands of Hizballah. Bergeron and Wynant inquired
about the possibility of USG representatives approaching GOC
and GOB foreign ministry officials, to request additional
support to the LAF and explain the level of confidence that
the USG has in LAF tracking. The US SAO (ODC) chief, as well
as the British and French DATTs, noted that during the
fifteen year civil war the LAF was able to keep track of, and
account for, the overall majority of its weapons arsenal.
4. (C) This included all of the LAF's large, crew served
weapon systems (such as TOW missiles),artillery, tanks,
aircraft and associated ammunition. The U.S. ODC chief
mentioned that he just completed the 2007 annual End Use
Monitoring (EUM) inventory where 100 percent of sophisticated
Night Vision Devices (NVDs) and large caliber sniper systems
were accounted for by serial number and visual inspection.
In addition, there are no reports of LAF equipment ending up
in the hands of Hizballah.
COMMENT
--------------
5. (C) In recent demarche, Department urged increased
international donor contributions to the LAF as part of
broad-based support for Lebanon. We are not in the best
position to recommend approaches to the Canadian and Belgian
governments, but note that what their DATTs proposed to us is
in line with that demarche. We can attest to the good
end-use monitoring record of the LAF and that it needs the
kind of support Canada or Belgium can provide. End Comment.
SISON