LEBANON: DUTCH MAY END THEIR ASSISTANCE TO THE LAF

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 000871 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA ALSO FOR IO A/S SILVERBERG AND PDAS WARLICK USUN FOR KHALILZAD/WOLFF/KUMAR/PHEE NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/YERGER/GAVITO DOD/OSD FOR EDELMAN/LONG/KIMMITT E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/09/2018 TAGS: MARR MASS PGOV PINR PREL UNSC LE NE SUBJECT: LEBANON: DUTCH MAY END THEIR ASSISTANCE TO THE LAF Classified By: CDA Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) International donor country representatives working with Lebanon's security sector met on June 9 to review donor contributions to Lebanon's security agencies. Early in the meeting, the Dutch Charge d'Affaires noted her embassy's disappointment in the performance of GOL security agencies during the conflict that took place in May between government and opposition forces in the streets of Beirut and other areas of Lebanon. She added that her embassy was considering whether or not continue its assistance program to the GOL security agencies. End Summary. DUTCH MAY END ASSISTANCE TO LAF -------------- ¶2. (C) In a June 9 International Donor Security Sector Coordination meeting, Nelleke Kruijs Voorberge, Dutch Charge d'Affaires, said her government was conducting internal discussions about whether or not to continue its financial assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) following what she considered to be the LAF's "poor performance" in early May during the armed clashes which took place between majority and opposition militias. Voorberge questioned the wisdom of continued support to the LAF, as well as the Internal Security Forces (ISF),due to what she called a "lack of visibility" in the streets following the takeover of West Beirut by Hizballah forces. Dutch DATT Paul Flos estimated the Dutch contribution to the LAF to be around $3 million. ¶3. (C) Most representatives from the other donor countries said their governments had yet to make a decision as to whether or not they would continue to provide financial assistance to Lebanon's security agencies. The majority of donors said their countries' would wait until after cabinet decision are made and the national unity government is formed to assess whether or not to continue assistance. Some countries, such as Canada, would be barred from providing financial assistance to certain ministries, depending on what political party the minister belongs to. COMMENT -------------- ¶4. (C) The Netherlands currently provides logistics, maintenance, and driving instruction training to the LAF. The Dutch have also supplied the LAF with over one hundred four ton military trucks including spare parts. The end of the Dutch assistance, if it comes to pass, likely will not severely hurt the LAF. If other donors were to join them, though, the situation might change. End Comment. SISON