LEBANON CRISIS EAC, MAY 15 0845 HRS

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