EMBASSY NICOSIA HOLDS INITIAL EAC ON LEBANON CRISIS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NICOSIA 000292

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR D, P, M, DS, S/CT, CA, EUR, A, IO, S/ES, DS/CC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2018
TAGS: ASEC CASC PREL PGOV CY LE TU
SUBJECT: EMBASSY NICOSIA HOLDS INITIAL EAC ON LEBANON CRISIS

REF: A. SMITH-SCHLICHER EMAIL OF MAY 9

B. BEIRUT 640 AND OTHER

Classified By: Ambassador Ronald Schlicher, Reasons 1.4 (c),(d)


1. (C) Summary: In response to recent developments in
Lebanon and a message from the Department ExecSec (Ref A),
Ambassador Schlicher chaired a meeting of Post's Emergency
Action Committee (EAC) on May 9 at 1000 hrs local to discuss
contingency plans for supporting Embassy Beirut as well as a
possible assisted departure of Americans from Lebanon
(clashes in southern Lebanon in 2006 led to the largest
evacuation of Americans from foreign soil in history.)
Ambassador outlined the current situation on the ground in
Lebanon and noted that events could quickly escalate even
further. He discussed priority Embassy actions, based on Ref
A: discreetly identifying available sealift assets for
transporting evacuees, available hotels, internal transport
from ports/airports, and staging areas. Also discussed was
the possible restart of a Beirut Airbridge (BAB). Ambassador
tasked EAC staff to determine additional personnel needs that
would be required to deal with a similar-sized (to 2006)
crisis, focusing especially on Consular, Management, RSO/DHS,
and Public Affairs (PAS). In the event of evacuations,
consular will evaluate activation of the new NonCombatant
Evacuation Operation (NEO) Tracking System, while PAS will
engage with Washington to determine an SOP to deal with
possible inquiries from international media. Ambassador
instructed all staff to review 2006 Lessons Learned
information maintained in Post files, and to reach out now to
counterparts at Embassy Beirut, neighboring posts, and
Washington. Post will conduct another EAC at 1630 local, and
stands prepared to call others throughout the weekend as
circumstances merit. Post will compile and forward to
Department a section-by-section table of resources that would
be needed successfully to staff a full-blown NEO effort,
along with thoughts on the Cyprus portion of the crisis. of
key importance for contingency planning purposes is the
determination of whether evacuees would reimburse the USG for
travel out of Lebanon, as it will greatly affect the numbers
departing. End Summary.


2. (C) The Ambassador began the meeting by briefing
colleagues about the situation in Lebanon; he was especially
concerned by the lack of access to the Beirut International
Airport and the difficulties incurred in leaving Lebanon
overland, meaning the great majority of evacuees might have
to depart by sea, as in 2006. He next discussed funding a
possible NEO, noting that Post's funds were clearly
insufficient and that other accounts would need to cover
costs incurred. The DCM outlined the dual mission of the
Embassy should a NEO be declared: 1) our top priority is
serving Embassy Beirut in whatever fashion possible, and 2)
returning Americans safely and quickly to American soil.
CONS will put the NEO Tracking System into immediate use,
taking advantage of training recently conducted here; as it
showed some quirks during training, a manual backup system
will also be used. Both PAS and CONS noted that for public
and consular affairs, TDYers were most needed at the
beginning of a crisis, and so asked that potential TDYers be
identified as soon as possible. PAS stated that in a crisis
situation, coordination with Washington regarding the ground
rules for dealing with international reporters was necessary;
PAS will be in touch with Washington to coordinate.


3. (C) The Ambassador issued action taskings for each section
and asked all section heads to assess staffing/ equipment/
resource needs to share with Department colleagues, to review
"lessons learned" from the 2006 NEO, update contact
information, check the Lebanon Crisis Portal for updates, and
reach out to Embassy Beirut, neighboring embassies, and State
colleagues in Washington. The Front Office committed to
liaising with the British High Commission and Cypriot
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. ECON, in coordination with DAO
and MGMT, will assess possible commercial shipping options to
transport Americans departing Lebanon for Cyprus. CONS will

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conduct further evaluation of the NEO System, and coordinate
with counterparts in Beirut to discuss screening procedures
for departing Americans and other evacuees, hoping to avoid
pitfalls with inadmissible persons.


4. (C) DAO is in close touch with the European Command
(EUCOM),to identify possible available U.S. Naval assets
(the USS Mt Whitney is nearby); it is also dusting off plans
and its SOP for the Airbridge. Noting that Beirut estimates
that the airport could remain inaccessible for at least a
week, the RSO will assemble a needs list and review
procedures and preparations for security and screening of
evacuees. RSO also recommends that DHS come to Post and
forward-deploy to Beirut. MGMT and ECON will seek
appropriate shelter facilities and medical services for
incoming/departing evacuees, and MGT will provide technical
support for Post's command center. POL will stand-up, staff,
and run the center.


5. (U) The DCM ended the meeting by urging section heads,
should a NEO be decided, to push down decision-making
whenever possible, consult local staff for their
institutional memory of the 2006 NEO and other crisis
situations, and keep a close eye on staff morale and needs.


6. (U) Post will conduct a follow-on EAC at 1630 and report
results septel.
SCHLICHER