VZCZCXRO0345
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 
 
¶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