Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08NICOSIA307
2008-05-15 12:30:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Nicosia
Cable title:
LEBANON CRISIS EAC, MAY 15 0845 HRS
how-toVZCZCXRO5166 OO RUEHBW RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHNC #0307 1361230 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 151230Z MAY 08 FM AMEMBASSY NICOSIA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8771 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT IMMEDIATE 4305 RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS IMMEDIATE 2114 RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN IMMEDIATE 0451 RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO IMMEDIATE 0270 RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV IMMEDIATE 6444 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 1135 RHEFNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/TSA HQ WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L NICOSIA 000307
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR D, P, M, DS, S/CT, CA, EUR, A, IO, S/ES,
LEBANON MONITORING GROUP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/14/2018
TAGS: ASEC CASC PREL PGOV LE CY
SUBJECT: LEBANON CRISIS EAC, MAY 15 0845 HRS
REF: NICOSIA 300 AND OTHERS
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald Schlicher, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1 (SUB) Ambassador on May 15 convened Lebanon-related
Emergency Action Committee (EAC) meeting. He began by
providing a brief summary of the political/security situation
there and a readout of the day-earlier DVC with Embassy
Beirut, S/ES-CMS, and various U.S. military elements. He
next raised various elements of Embassy Nicosia's Beirut
support effort, detailed below.
2. (C) Beirut Logistical Support Mission (BLSM). Per EUCOM
request in most-recent DVC, Embassy is gathering procedural
information regarding the last time the support mission (then
called Beirut Airbridge -- BAB) transitioned from a U.S.
military- to a civilian-run operation. May 14 ops to
transport acting CENTCOM commander to Lebanon concluded
successfully; the next BLSM mission is scheduled for May 16.
The Embassy received manifest control-related guidance from
Washington and will incorporate it into its operations -- we
reiterate that all inbound USG travelers to Lebanon must have
country clearance from both Embassy Beirut AND Embassy
Nicosia. Two USAF C-130s arrived May 14 into RAF Akrotiri
with personnel and equipment to complete the deployment of a
Joint Mobile Ashore Support Team (JMAST). Preparations are
ongoing to replace USN helos carrying out the BLSM mission
with USAF air assets.
3. (SBU) Embassy Preparations for Possible NEO. The Embassy
continues to refine its information management routines to
ensure the widest possible distribution of key,
Lebanon-related messages. It has established additional
email collectives on both classified and unclass systems, and
added links on its Intellipedia and Intranet websites to key
information (such as "lessons learned" telegrams and
hotel/travel agent listings).
4. (SBU) Media Dealings. The Embassy has received guidance
from EUR/PPD to refer all Lebanon-related calls from
international journalists back to Washington. This procedure
will function fine as long as call volume remains light, but
must be revisited if a full-blown NEO commences and call
volume spikes.
5. (SBU) Consular Matters. The May 14 expected arrival of a
"ferry carrying 150 passengers, some possibly Amcits," turned
out to be a privately-chartered yacht, the Blue Dawn. It
arrived early May 15 into Larnaca harbor carrying
approximately 50 individuals, of whom 11 were AmCits. Port
officials told the Embassy that all were in good physical
condition and made their own onward travel arrangements. Two
articles appeared in the May 15 edition of the
English-language newspaper "Cyprus Mail," reporting that
Cypriot authorities will refuse to license private vessels
carrying passengers commercially. They cite safety issues
and price gouging as reasons. Maritime officials will allow
vessels inbound from Lebanon to discharge passengers, however
(the "Mail's" account confirms reports we received earlier
from Embassy contacts at the ports). A second article noted
that Cypriot authorities are preparing to receive "refugees"
from Lebanon at the Limassol port, where they will also
dispense medical attention, provide temporary shelter, and
assist with onward travel. To date, no vessels have arrived
in Limassol.
SCHLICHER
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR D, P, M, DS, S/CT, CA, EUR, A, IO, S/ES,
LEBANON MONITORING GROUP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/14/2018
TAGS: ASEC CASC PREL PGOV LE CY
SUBJECT: LEBANON CRISIS EAC, MAY 15 0845 HRS
REF: NICOSIA 300 AND OTHERS
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald Schlicher, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1 (SUB) Ambassador on May 15 convened Lebanon-related
Emergency Action Committee (EAC) meeting. He began by
providing a brief summary of the political/security situation
there and a readout of the day-earlier DVC with Embassy
Beirut, S/ES-CMS, and various U.S. military elements. He
next raised various elements of Embassy Nicosia's Beirut
support effort, detailed below.
2. (C) Beirut Logistical Support Mission (BLSM). Per EUCOM
request in most-recent DVC, Embassy is gathering procedural
information regarding the last time the support mission (then
called Beirut Airbridge -- BAB) transitioned from a U.S.
military- to a civilian-run operation. May 14 ops to
transport acting CENTCOM commander to Lebanon concluded
successfully; the next BLSM mission is scheduled for May 16.
The Embassy received manifest control-related guidance from
Washington and will incorporate it into its operations -- we
reiterate that all inbound USG travelers to Lebanon must have
country clearance from both Embassy Beirut AND Embassy
Nicosia. Two USAF C-130s arrived May 14 into RAF Akrotiri
with personnel and equipment to complete the deployment of a
Joint Mobile Ashore Support Team (JMAST). Preparations are
ongoing to replace USN helos carrying out the BLSM mission
with USAF air assets.
3. (SBU) Embassy Preparations for Possible NEO. The Embassy
continues to refine its information management routines to
ensure the widest possible distribution of key,
Lebanon-related messages. It has established additional
email collectives on both classified and unclass systems, and
added links on its Intellipedia and Intranet websites to key
information (such as "lessons learned" telegrams and
hotel/travel agent listings).
4. (SBU) Media Dealings. The Embassy has received guidance
from EUR/PPD to refer all Lebanon-related calls from
international journalists back to Washington. This procedure
will function fine as long as call volume remains light, but
must be revisited if a full-blown NEO commences and call
volume spikes.
5. (SBU) Consular Matters. The May 14 expected arrival of a
"ferry carrying 150 passengers, some possibly Amcits," turned
out to be a privately-chartered yacht, the Blue Dawn. It
arrived early May 15 into Larnaca harbor carrying
approximately 50 individuals, of whom 11 were AmCits. Port
officials told the Embassy that all were in good physical
condition and made their own onward travel arrangements. Two
articles appeared in the May 15 edition of the
English-language newspaper "Cyprus Mail," reporting that
Cypriot authorities will refuse to license private vessels
carrying passengers commercially. They cite safety issues
and price gouging as reasons. Maritime officials will allow
vessels inbound from Lebanon to discharge passengers, however
(the "Mail's" account confirms reports we received earlier
from Embassy contacts at the ports). A second article noted
that Cypriot authorities are preparing to receive "refugees"
from Lebanon at the Limassol port, where they will also
dispense medical attention, provide temporary shelter, and
assist with onward travel. To date, no vessels have arrived
in Limassol.
SCHLICHER