Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BEIRUT465
2009-04-23 18:49:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:
LEBANON: BORDER SECURITY PROGRESS REPORT
how-toVZCZCXRO7653 PP RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHKUK RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHLB #0465/01 1131849 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 231849Z APR 09 ZFR FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4741 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 3684 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 3884 RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000465
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA
ALSO FOR IO/ A A/S WARLICK
P FOR DRUSSELL AND RRANGASWAMY
USUN FOR WOLFF/GERMAIN/SCHEDLBAUER
DOD/OSD FOR FLOURNOY, KAHL, AND DALTON
NSC FOR SHAPIRO, MCDERMOTT
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PBTS PTER UNSC MARR MOPS SY LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: BORDER SECURITY PROGRESS REPORT
BEIRUT 00000465 001.2 OF 002
// ZFR / ZFR / ZFR / ZFR / ZFR / ZFR / ZFR //
Due to a mis-classification, please cancel and recall
all copies of this cable.
We regret the inconvenience.
BEIRUT 00000465 002 OF 002
of GOL officials and technical experts to guide
implementation and consult with donor countries on the
project's progress. Donors, including the EU, U.S., Denmark,
and Canada, believe that the involvement of and coordination
among all donors with GOL political and security officials is
a new organizational model for border security improvement.
(Note: Donors have agreed that the new effort will not give
Germany the lead, as it now has with the NBPP, in order to
avoid the managerial and structural problems that have
bedeviled the NBPP. End note.)
6. (C) The initial stage of the plan covers the first 70
kilometers of the northeaster border, with an implementation
period between April 2009 and June 2010. The LAF forecasted
the need for about 1200 personnel from the LAF, Internal
Security Forces, Customs, and General Security/Immigration in
the first stage with a total of about 3200 personnel to
control the entire eastern border from the northern Fisan
Valley to Shebba'. According to Zorrilla, the first stage
will have a rough estimate cost of about $50 million. A
month-long terrain survey is scheduled (start date TBD) by
security agencies and the LAF to bring more clarity to the
current plan.
UNSCOL WILLIAMS PESSIMISTIC
ABOUT PROGRESS
--------------
7. (C) UNSCOL Michael Williams, Zorilla's Chief of Mission,
told the Ambassador on April 23 that he believes progress on
the eastern border security plan was unlikely before
Lebanon's June 7 parliamentary election. Williams said that
during UN SYG Ban's January visit to Damascus, Syrian
President Bashar Asad said he was finishing border issues
with Jordan and then planned to tackle Syria's border issues
with Iraq. The Lebanon border was not Syria's priority,
Williams assessed. Prime Minister Siniora also expressed
skepticism about Syria-Lebanon border security in his April
23 meeting with Williams. Although the Syrians had been
helpful in cracking down on recent drug disputes in the
Bekaa, Siniora suggested to Williams that the Syrians still
maintained an open border policy.
COMMENT
--------------
7. (C) Past discussions on border matters indicated the issue
was one PM Siniora had taken on personally. All observations
indicate that whatever momentum the issue had gained since
Siniora's meeting with international donors in October
(reftel B) has dissipated. Nonetheless, UNSCOL and the
donors intend to continue to promote enhanced border security
and UNSCR 1701 with GOL interlocutors. End comment.
SISON
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA
ALSO FOR IO/ A A/S WARLICK
P FOR DRUSSELL AND RRANGASWAMY
USUN FOR WOLFF/GERMAIN/SCHEDLBAUER
DOD/OSD FOR FLOURNOY, KAHL, AND DALTON
NSC FOR SHAPIRO, MCDERMOTT
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PBTS PTER UNSC MARR MOPS SY LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: BORDER SECURITY PROGRESS REPORT
BEIRUT 00000465 001.2 OF 002
// ZFR / ZFR / ZFR / ZFR / ZFR / ZFR / ZFR //
Due to a mis-classification, please cancel and recall
all copies of this cable.
We regret the inconvenience.
BEIRUT 00000465 002 OF 002
of GOL officials and technical experts to guide
implementation and consult with donor countries on the
project's progress. Donors, including the EU, U.S., Denmark,
and Canada, believe that the involvement of and coordination
among all donors with GOL political and security officials is
a new organizational model for border security improvement.
(Note: Donors have agreed that the new effort will not give
Germany the lead, as it now has with the NBPP, in order to
avoid the managerial and structural problems that have
bedeviled the NBPP. End note.)
6. (C) The initial stage of the plan covers the first 70
kilometers of the northeaster border, with an implementation
period between April 2009 and June 2010. The LAF forecasted
the need for about 1200 personnel from the LAF, Internal
Security Forces, Customs, and General Security/Immigration in
the first stage with a total of about 3200 personnel to
control the entire eastern border from the northern Fisan
Valley to Shebba'. According to Zorrilla, the first stage
will have a rough estimate cost of about $50 million. A
month-long terrain survey is scheduled (start date TBD) by
security agencies and the LAF to bring more clarity to the
current plan.
UNSCOL WILLIAMS PESSIMISTIC
ABOUT PROGRESS
--------------
7. (C) UNSCOL Michael Williams, Zorilla's Chief of Mission,
told the Ambassador on April 23 that he believes progress on
the eastern border security plan was unlikely before
Lebanon's June 7 parliamentary election. Williams said that
during UN SYG Ban's January visit to Damascus, Syrian
President Bashar Asad said he was finishing border issues
with Jordan and then planned to tackle Syria's border issues
with Iraq. The Lebanon border was not Syria's priority,
Williams assessed. Prime Minister Siniora also expressed
skepticism about Syria-Lebanon border security in his April
23 meeting with Williams. Although the Syrians had been
helpful in cracking down on recent drug disputes in the
Bekaa, Siniora suggested to Williams that the Syrians still
maintained an open border policy.
COMMENT
--------------
7. (C) Past discussions on border matters indicated the issue
was one PM Siniora had taken on personally. All observations
indicate that whatever momentum the issue had gained since
Siniora's meeting with international donors in October
(reftel B) has dissipated. Nonetheless, UNSCOL and the
donors intend to continue to promote enhanced border security
and UNSCR 1701 with GOL interlocutors. End comment.
SISON