Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09DAMASCUS202
2009-03-16 09:20:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Damascus
Cable title:
NEW LEBANESE EMBASSY PERCHED ABOVE OUR COMPOUND
how-toVZCZCXRO0345 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV DE RUEHDM #0202 0750920 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 160920Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6129 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 5105
UNCLAS DAMASCUS 000202
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA; NSC FOR SHAPIRO; PARIS FOR WALLER;
LONDON FOR TSOU
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC LE SY
SUBJECT: NEW LEBANESE EMBASSY PERCHED ABOVE OUR COMPOUND
UNCLAS DAMASCUS 000202
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA; NSC FOR SHAPIRO; PARIS FOR WALLER;
LONDON FOR TSOU
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC LE SY
SUBJECT: NEW LEBANESE EMBASSY PERCHED ABOVE OUR COMPOUND
1. (SBU) The March 15 placement of a sign embossed with a
cedar tree and Arabic lettering denoting the "Embassy of the
Republic of Lebanon" paved the way for the official opening
of Lebanon's "temporary" embassy on Monday, March 16. RSO
locally employed staff (LES) learned the Lebanese Charg
d,Affaires will be participating in a brief press event at
an noon outside the Lebanese Embassy's temporary chancery.
This office space, formerly held by the Lebanon/Syria liaison
office, is housed in a building that essentially sits on our
compound, directly above our GSO offices on Ata al-Ayoubi
Street. We understand a permanent embassy will be built in
the neighborhood but have no information on a specific
location.
2. (SBU) According to local security contacts, pending
security enhancements to the temporary embassy include
permanent installation of a Police booth (currently, there is
a working-hours police post established at our request) and
possible construction of an entrance gate to the building's
street entrance. Both features will serve to enhance the
security of our own compound. Though it is to early to say
whether those enhancements will offset the addition of a new
potential yet separate target to our cramped and inadequate
facility. Syria's Political Security service is reportedly
providing a temporary protective detail to the Lebanese
Charg. Needless to say, we look forward to welcoming the
Lebanese diplomatic corps to the neighborhood.
CONNELLY
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA; NSC FOR SHAPIRO; PARIS FOR WALLER;
LONDON FOR TSOU
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC LE SY
SUBJECT: NEW LEBANESE EMBASSY PERCHED ABOVE OUR COMPOUND
1. (SBU) The March 15 placement of a sign embossed with a
cedar tree and Arabic lettering denoting the "Embassy of the
Republic of Lebanon" paved the way for the official opening
of Lebanon's "temporary" embassy on Monday, March 16. RSO
locally employed staff (LES) learned the Lebanese Charg
d,Affaires will be participating in a brief press event at
an noon outside the Lebanese Embassy's temporary chancery.
This office space, formerly held by the Lebanon/Syria liaison
office, is housed in a building that essentially sits on our
compound, directly above our GSO offices on Ata al-Ayoubi
Street. We understand a permanent embassy will be built in
the neighborhood but have no information on a specific
location.
2. (SBU) According to local security contacts, pending
security enhancements to the temporary embassy include
permanent installation of a Police booth (currently, there is
a working-hours police post established at our request) and
possible construction of an entrance gate to the building's
street entrance. Both features will serve to enhance the
security of our own compound. Though it is to early to say
whether those enhancements will offset the addition of a new
potential yet separate target to our cramped and inadequate
facility. Syria's Political Security service is reportedly
providing a temporary protective detail to the Lebanese
Charg. Needless to say, we look forward to welcoming the
Lebanese diplomatic corps to the neighborhood.
CONNELLY