VZCZCXRO6285
PP RUEHBC RUEHDH RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHLB #0113/01 0351522
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 041522Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6469
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000113 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2015 
TAGS: PBTS PREL PTER PGOV SY LE
SUBJECT: PM COMMITS TO UNSCR 1701/BORDER CONTROL 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Michele Sison for reasons 
1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (C) Summary: Prime Minister Hariri met with UNSCOL Michael 
Williams and ambassadors from key donor nations on February 2 
to assure them that border control remains a high priority 
for his government.  In order to address donor concerns, 
Hariri, who as chair of the Ministerial Border Committee 
(MBC) will continue to provide political leadership to the 
project, has established a technical team led by his senior 
advisor and former Finance Minister Mohammad Chatah.  The 
team is to develop within one month a comprehensive border 
control plan with security and socio-economic components. 
The plan will incorporate all border crossings and will 
require cooperation among the ministers of defense, interior, 
finance, foreign affairs and transportation -- all present at 
the meeting.  A senior-level coordinator of the project will 
be named soon, Hariri said.  While meeting the requirements 
of UNSCR 1701 remains a commitment, Hariri added that he must 
focus on the socio-economic aspects in order to "sell" the 
project to the cabinet.  Engagement with Syria is important, 
he said, not just for border delineation but also to address 
common socio-economic concerns in the border region.  End 
Summary. 
 
BORDER CONTROL A PRIORITY 
------------------------- 
 
¶2. (C) Prime Minister Saad Hariri met February 2 with UN 
Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams, the 
ambassadors from the U.S., UK, Denmark, Germany and EU, and 
the French DCM to outline his government's plans to address 
donor concerns about the lack of strategic direction and 
planning in border control.  Calling border control 
"important" and a "priority", he assigned responsibility for 
the project to the MBC and highlighted that the effort cannot 
succeed without a socio-economic component.  Addressing 
specific donor concerns, Hariri said that the border control 
project will include all land, sea and air border crossings 
and will require cooperation among the ministers of defense, 
interior, finance, foreign affairs and transportation - all 
present at the meeting. 
 
STRATEGY AND LEADERSHIP COMING SOON 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (C) The PM announced the formation a technical team led by 
his senior advisor (and former Finance Minister) Mohammad 
Chatah and tasked with developing a comprehensive strategic 
plan within one month.  The team, made up of experts from all 
of the key ministries, will delineate a specific plan of 
action for short-, mid- and long-term goals.  After review by 
the MBC, will be presented to the cabinet for endorsement. 
The PM also announced his intention to appoint a senior-level 
official after consultation with the cabinet and the 
president to coordinate the work of the MBC. 
 
DOWNPLAY 1701 FOR MARKETING PURPOSES 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶4. (C) While noting the importance of UNSCR 1701, PM Hariri 
repeatedly stressed the importance of the socio-economic 
development component rather than just the security aspects 
of the proposed border control plan.  Prefacing his remarks 
by commenting that Lebanon has had a difficult four years and 
the current government presents a real opportunity, Hariri 
said that in order to "sell" border control, there should be 
"less talk" about UNSCR 1701.  "Selling" it, he said, would 
require concentrating on the benefits of the project, such as 
effects on the smuggling of children and goods.  "While some 
are interested in weapons smuggling", he continued, "we are 
(also) looking at drugs, smuggling and dumping."  It will not 
be easy, Hariri concluded, as the project will involve 
extensive internal debate.  Lessons have been learned from 
the northern border pilot project, he said.  People are used 
to crossing the border freely to attend school, buy goods or 
get health care. 
 
ENGAGEMENT WITH SYRIA IMPORTANT 
------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (C) UNSCOL Williams and several of the donor ambassadors 
noted the importance of UNSCR 1701, praised the PM for 
efforts to improve relations with Syria, and highlighted the 
need for work on both sides of Lebanon's borders.  Hariri 
agreed that engagement was important and said he planned to 
pursue border delineation and demarcation, but at a later 
date.  He stressed that engagement with Syria must include a 
discussion of the social and economic issues.  Williams 
announced that he was planning to speak with the Syrians soon 
about border issues. 
 
¶6. (C) COMMENT:  PM Hariri's expressions of a strong 
 
BEIRUT 00000113  002 OF 002 
 
 
commitment to putting border control back on the front burner 
were welcome, as were his efforts to address key donor 
concerns about a lack of GOL coordination and the need for a 
clear strategy for border control.  While his support for a 
socio-economic approach is understandable, we believe the 
focus needs to remain on the requirements of UNSCR 1701.  The 
key for us will be to work with other donors to ensure that 
Lebanon develops the capacity to control its borders and stem 
the flow of illegal weapons as it works with Syria to resolve 
critical impediments such as border delineation and armed 
Palestinian military camps straddling the frontier. 
 
SISON