A/S Hillen’s meeting with ISF general Rifi

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 001466 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/WERNER/SINGH 
PARIS FOR ZEYA 
LONDON FOR TSOU 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2016 
TAGS: PREL, MASS, ASEC, SNAR, PTER, CASC, LE 
SUBJECT: MGLE01: A/S HILLEN'S MEETING WITH ISF GENERAL RIFI 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Jeffrey D. Feltman for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d 
). 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
1.  (C) A/S Hillen met with ISF General Ashraf Rifi at the 
ISF headquarters in Beirut to discuss U.S. - Lebanese 
cooperation on security assistance programs.  Rifi thanked 
A/S Hillen and the U.S. for our assistance, and said he 
looked forward to a long partnership with the United States. 
Rifi said that Lebanon is working to improve coordination 
between its security services, and said that the Lebanese 
would benefit greatly from any training programs the U.S. 
could provide.  He emphasized Lebanese efforts to combat 
terrorism, including the ISF's January arrest of an al-Qaeda 
cell in Beirut.  Rifi said that all Lebanese are united 
behind the idea of disarming local militias, but that actual 
disarmament will take some time to ensure that the Lebanese 
can do it in a safe and secure manner.  End summary. 
 
Lebanese Participants: 
General Ashraf Rifi, Commander of the Internal Security Force 
General Joseph Hajjal, Chief of State 
 
U.S. Participants: 
A/S for Political Military Affairs Dr. John Hillen 
Major Reginald Robinson, US Air Force, Military Attach 
Matthew William Lehrfeld, Special Assistant 
RSO Art Balek 
Matt Pilcher (Embassy Notetaker) 
 
A STRONG U.S. - LEBANESE 
PARTNERSHIP 
------------------------ 
 
2.  (C) A/S Hillen opened the meeting by noting Lebanon's 
importance as a strategic partner and ally for the United 
States, and said that the United States hopes that to deepen 
this relationship by working with Lebanon on a coordinated 
security assistance package.  A/S Hillen said that the U.S. 
hopes to give Lebanon the tools it needs to build a 
sovereign, free and secure Lebanon, and that Washington is 
looking forward to General Rifi's visit in June.  Rifi said 
that he was looking forward to his Washington trip as well, 
and that he was thankful for American assistance, especially 
the FBI's USD 1.5 million forensic equipment donation kit 
which had arrived at ISF headquarters that very morning. 
Rifi said he knew the U.S. was working hard to quickly 
deliver concrete assets, and that he appreciated the effort. 
Rifi added that he appreciated the U.S. commitment at a time 
when Lebanon is striving to overcome internal divisions and 
build a strong, united country. 
 
COUNTERTERRORIST EFFORTS 
------------------------ 
 
3.  (C) Rifi said that one area of particular concern for the 
ISF is Lebanon's counter terrorist program.  He acknowledged 
that Lebanon has a problem with terrorism, but noted the 
ISF's success in a January raid on an al-Qaeda cell in 
Beirut, one member of which, he claimed, is a lieutenant to 
Abu Musab Zarqawi.  RSO added that the ISF and Embassy 
coordinate closely on counter-terror activities, and that the 
Embassy's upcoming ATA program assistance would give the ISF 
even more capabilities in this area. 
 
MILITIAS 
-------- 
 
4.  (C) A/S Hillen asked Rifi what his position was on 
Lebanese militias.  Rifi said it was a political issue and 
that it was something all Lebanese have an interest in 
resolving.  He said there is a debate about Hizballah's 
status as either a resistance or a militia, but said that the 
fact that Hizballah's arms are now on the negotiating table 
is itself a significant step forward.  In terms of 
Palestinian militias, Rifi said that all Lebanese are united 
on the need to disarm Palestinian militias, he said that 
doing so is only a matter of time.  Rifi said that the GOL 
will start with limiting Palestinian weapons outside the 
camps.  The next step, he said, it to remove the threat from 
inside the camps as well, but he admitted that this will be 
difficult because right now Lebanese security forces aren't 
even allowed to enter the camps.  Rifi worried about weapons 
 
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and possible terrorist organizations operating inside the 
camps, but said that it was an issue the Lebanese would have 
to approach slowly and carefully in order to resolve the 
problem and maintain stability and security at the same time. 
 
KELSEY KLOTZ 
------------ 
 
5.  (SBU) Finally, A/S Hillen mentioned USG interest in 
returning nine year old Kelsey Klotz to her custodial father 
in the United States.  A/S Hillen said that this is an 
important issue at high levels of the USG.  Rifi said that he 
was aware of the issue, and that they knew where Klotz is 
located.  But because she is currently in a part of Lebanon 
controlled by Hizballah forces, he said was concerned about 
their ability to secure her custody safely.  "We'll take care 
of it, but we want to do it in a way that is safe." 
FELTMAN