Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10BEIRUT21
2010-01-07 14:08:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:
DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON NEW AIR PASSENGER SCREENING
how-toVZCZCXYZ0026 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHLB #0021 0071408 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 071408Z JAN 10 FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6311 INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 4272 RHMFISS/TSA HQ WASHINGTON DC RUEANHA/FAA NATIONAL HQ WASHINGTON DC RHEFHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC RULSJGA/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 000021
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/06/2020
TAGS: EAIR PTER ASEC ECON LE
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON NEW AIR PASSENGER SCREENING
RULES
REF: STATE 1187
Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 000021
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/06/2020
TAGS: EAIR PTER ASEC ECON LE
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON NEW AIR PASSENGER SCREENING
RULES
REF: STATE 1187
Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) On January 7 the Ambassador delivered reftel points to
Minister of Transportation and Public Works Ghazi al-Aridi
and to Presidency Director General Naji Abi Assi. Aridi
responded that while he opposed the decision to impose
additional screening requirements on travelers from Lebanon,
he understood the conditions that drove the decision. Aridi
added that the issue of allowing Lebanese national airline
Middle East Airlines to fly directly the U.S. was a more
important question for Lebanon.
2. (C) Abi Assi emphasized to the Ambassador that the form of
the new guidelines' announcement was more important than
their content. The differentiation between state sponsors of
terrorism and other countries of concern was not properly
made, he complained, and the resulting sense of humiliation
and embarrassment would only benefit extremists, especially
in more traditional cultures. Abi Assi noted that Lebanese
Ambassador to the U.S. Antoine Chedid had already voiced
similar concerns about the method of announcing the new rules.
SISON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/06/2020
TAGS: EAIR PTER ASEC ECON LE
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON NEW AIR PASSENGER SCREENING
RULES
REF: STATE 1187
Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) On January 7 the Ambassador delivered reftel points to
Minister of Transportation and Public Works Ghazi al-Aridi
and to Presidency Director General Naji Abi Assi. Aridi
responded that while he opposed the decision to impose
additional screening requirements on travelers from Lebanon,
he understood the conditions that drove the decision. Aridi
added that the issue of allowing Lebanese national airline
Middle East Airlines to fly directly the U.S. was a more
important question for Lebanon.
2. (C) Abi Assi emphasized to the Ambassador that the form of
the new guidelines' announcement was more important than
their content. The differentiation between state sponsors of
terrorism and other countries of concern was not properly
made, he complained, and the resulting sense of humiliation
and embarrassment would only benefit extremists, especially
in more traditional cultures. Abi Assi noted that Lebanese
Ambassador to the U.S. Antoine Chedid had already voiced
similar concerns about the method of announcing the new rules.
SISON