Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BEIRUT126
2009-01-30 09:42:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:  

LEBANON: BORDER SECURITY WORK STALLED, SAYS

Tags:  EAID PGOV PTER PINR KTIP PBTS MOPS LE IS SY 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO8952
PP RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHLB #0126/01 0300942
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 300942Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4110
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 3414
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 3619
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000126 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA
ALSO FOR INL/FO DJOHNSON AND INL/AAE
IO/PDAS WARLICK
G/TIP
PM FOR ACTING A/S RUGGIERO
P FOR DRUSSELL AND RRANGASWAMY
USUN FOR WOLFF/GERMAIN/SCHEDLBAUER
NSC FOR SHAPIRO, MCDERMOTT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2019
TAGS: EAID PGOV PTER PINR KTIP PBTS MOPS LE IS SY
SUBJECT: LEBANON: BORDER SECURITY WORK STALLED, SAYS
INTERIOR MINISTER

REF: BEIRUT 101

Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).

Summary
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000126

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA
ALSO FOR INL/FO DJOHNSON AND INL/AAE
IO/PDAS WARLICK
G/TIP
PM FOR ACTING A/S RUGGIERO
P FOR DRUSSELL AND RRANGASWAMY
USUN FOR WOLFF/GERMAIN/SCHEDLBAUER
NSC FOR SHAPIRO, MCDERMOTT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2019
TAGS: EAID PGOV PTER PINR KTIP PBTS MOPS LE IS SY
SUBJECT: LEBANON: BORDER SECURITY WORK STALLED, SAYS
INTERIOR MINISTER

REF: BEIRUT 101

Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).

Summary
--------------


1. (C) On January 29, Minister of Interior Ziad Baroud told
the Ambassador that internal Government of Lebanon (GOL)
discussions on border security had effectively stalled. The
Prime Minister had taken this on personally and is the only
who can move the complex issue forward. Turning to election
preparations, he said that he would be meeting with Defense
Minister Murr next week to review the security master plan
for election day. He continued to stress the political
delicacies of ensuring security, but did request help for a
modest $75,000) program to establish a secure fiber optics
communications network for key security personnel which would
be useful on Election Day and during other high-profile
events. He told the Ambassador that he hoped a final
decision on international election observation missions would
be approved before the end of February. Baroud also said
that he was open to programs that would improve Lebanon's
anti-trafficking in persons (TIP) efforts, which could
include joint efforts with the Ministry of Justice. End
Summary.

"Border Security Commission Has Never Met"
--------------


2. (C) Mentioning Defense Minister Murr's recent visit to
Damascus, the Ambassador asked if there had been progress on
border security coordination. Speaking frankly, Baroud said
that the entire process had stalled in the GOL. "They
created a commission and that is something you only do in
Beirut if you want to permanently stall an issue. The
commission has never met."


3. (C) After his own trip to Damascus in late 2008, Baroud
wrote a report for the Council of Ministers which included
short, medium, and long-term goals to move forward on border
security. "I had hoped this would serve as a road map for us
to continue the momentum of our discussions in Syria. Border
security must be approached from both sides, after all. The
biggest problem is Qusaya and the other base that straddles
the border." However, he said that the PM had personally
taken on the issue and Baroud feels he cannot interfere with
the Prime Minister's wishes. He told us, frankly, that he
objected to the acceptance of any additional donor assistance
until the GOL had produced its own comprehensive plan. "The
Lebanese side needs to get serious. It's just a waste of
money in the meantime (to look outside for donor assistance)."

4.(C) Finally, he mentioned the importance of engaging with
the parliament on this issue. He said that the creation of a
national border force required an act of parliament and that
MPs should now be studying both the intended role of such a
group and the cost.

"Election Security
Should Focus on Preventative Actions"
--------------


5. (C) On election security, Baroud said that he was still
haunted by the example of Madrid, where terrorists attacked
right before elections. He shared with us his thinking on
the best way to eliminate this threat:

-- After Doha, there were clear agreements reached on
security issues, such as an agreement that the weapons of
"the resistance" (Hizballah) would not be used internally.
It is important to remind parties that they made certain
commitments in Doha.

-- He continues to promote the Council of Ministers as the

BEIRUT 00000126 002 OF 002


venue to resolve disputes. "Everyone has a seat at the
table, so this is the place for dialogue."

-- Finally, he said that force should only be used as a last
resort to preserve security -- but he is moving ahead with
plans to ensure that resources are available if needed. He
is meeting with Defense Minister Murr next week to finalize
their master plan for the roles of each security agency on
election day.


6. (C) He thanked the Ambassador for the consideration of
expedited (pre-election day) delivery for USG-donated
Internal Security Forces (ISF) vehicles (via the State INL
program). Again, he stated that foreign assistance on
election security was a delicate matter for the GOL and the
presence of "outside advisors" would not be welcome. He
asked for assistance in organizing Election Day control
room(s). He raised a USD 75,000 request to provide a secure
fiber optics communications network for key members of the
Lebanese security services and the Ambassador agreed to
explore the proposal in greater detail. (Embassy INL
Director will follow up with Ministry of Interior staff next
week and forward details to INL/AAE).

Decree Allowing International Observers
Should be Completed in February
--------------


7. (C) Baroud assured the Ambassador that he continued to
welcome the presence of international election observers from
the National Democratic Institute (NDI),the Carter Center
and the European Union. However, he wants the Council of
Ministers to approve a decree which grants the Minister of
Interior the right to accept missions which meet certain
criteria. The draft has been formulated but not yet
circulated. "Don't worry, I've written the criteria in a way
to ensure that NDI and the Carter Center will pass muster",
he said.


8. (C) He stressed the importance of obtaining the Council of
Minister's approval for this decree. "It makes them all part
of the approval process. No matter the end results of the
elections, they will have all had a role in approving the
foreign observer missions." He believes the matter should be
settled by the end of February.

Willing to Cooperate on TIP
--------------


9. (C) Referring to her recent conversation with the Minister
of Justice (reftel),the Ambassador expressed interest in
collaborating with a variety of Lebanese government agencies
to implement measures to combat trafficking in persons. The
Minister of Justice is quite interested in moving ahead on
Lebanon's draft law, she noted. Baroud said that he was
willing to explore ways to assist after Ambassador noted the
need for additional awareness campaigns, a one-stop-shop with
the GOL for these issues, and a need to enforce laws against
illegally holding workers' passports. The Embassy was
already working with ISF on law enforcement training on how
to identify a TIP victim, she said, as well as on supporting
a safehouse for women. (Comment: Baroud, whose ministry has
18 directorates, seems overworked. His willingness to assist
is an excellent signal, but we may find the Minister of
Justice to be an interlocutor able to spend more time on the
issue. End Comment.)

SISON