US embassy cable - 85BEIRUT4123

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 04123 
 
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR 
TAGS: PTER, EAIR, LE, US 
SUBJECT: TWA 847 HIJACKING: DIPLOMATIC NOTE TO GOL 
 
REF: STATE 209885 
 
1.  C-ENTIRE TEXT. 
 
2.  DCM 11 JULY DELIVERED DIPLOMATIC NOTE CONTAINED 
REFTEL ON TWA 847 HIJACKING TO MINISTRY OF FOREIGN 
AFFAIRS SECRETARY GENERAL FUAD TURK. 
 
3.  TURK RESPONDED THAT THE GOL WAS ALREADY TAKING STEPS 
TO BRING TO JUSTICE THESE INDIVIDUALS RESPONSIBLE FOR 
HIJACKING AND TO PROVIDE EFFECTIVE SECURITY AT BEIRUT 
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (BIA).  TURK SAID THAT THOSE TWO 
ISSUES HAD BEEN THE KEY THEMES IN HIS JULY 9 REPORT 
TO PRESIDENT GEMAYEL AT THE PALACE ON BIA SITUATION; HE 
REFERRED TC THEM AS "INDISPENSABLE MEASURES". 
 
4.  HE SAID THAT    AFTER PRESENTATION OF HIS REPORT 
PRESIDENT GEMAYEL HAS INSTRUCTED THE CHIEF JUSTICE TO 
INSTRUCT THE PROCUREUR GENERAL TO BEGIN IMMEDIATELY 
LEGAL ACTIONS TO BRING THE HIJACKERS TO JUSTICE.  TURK 
STRESSED THAT THE PRESIDENT AND THE ENTIRE GOL IS TAKING 
THIS ISSUE SERIOUSLY AND THAT THE PRESIDENT'S 
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CHIEF JUSTICE  HAD BEEN"VERY FIRM". 
 
5.  TURK THEN TURNED TO SECURITY MEASURES AT BIA.  HE 
STRESSED GOL AGREED WITH USG THAT IT WAS ABSOLUTELY 
NECESSARY TO TAKE STEPS TO INSURE THAT EVENTS SUCH AS 
THE HIJACKING DO NOT AND CANNOT HAPPEN AGAIN. 
 
6.  TURK SAID THAT IN THE AREA OF "TECHNICAL MEASURES," 
SUCH AS THE INTRODUCTION OF IMPROVED RADAR, REORGANIZED 
CONTROL TOWER, AND IMPROVED AND INCREASED SECURITY 
DEVICES AND LUGGAGE INSPECTION, GEMAYEL HAS PUT THE 
HEAD OF THE COUNCIL FOR DEVELOPMENT AND RECONSTRUCTION 
(CDR) MALEK SALEM IN CHARGE OF COORDINATING THE GOL 
EFFORT. 
 
7.  IN THE AREA OF BROADER SECURITY MEASURES, TURK SAID 
THAT ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF GENERAL DARGHAM HAS BEEN CHARGED 
BY GEMAYEL AND PRIME MINISTER/FOREIGN MINISTER KARAMI 
TO CONTACT THE MILITIAS CONCERNED TO ENSURE THAT BIA 
IS SEPARATED FROM OTHER MILITARY/POLITICAL PROBLEMS AND 
IS BROUGHT UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE LEGAL AUTHORITIES, 
I.E., THE ARMY AND THE ISF.  HE NOTED THAT DARGHAM HAD 
TO AWAIT THE RETURN OF BARRI FROM DAMASCUS TO BEGIN 
SECURITY CONVERSATION WITH AMAL. 
 
8.  AS FOR THE SECURITY PLAN FOR THE ROAD TO THE AIRPORT, 
TURK SAID LAF CHIEF OF STAFF GENERAL AOUN HAS BEEN PUT 
IN CHARGE OF SECURING THE ROAD AND HAS PUT FORTH A PLAN 
TO DEPLOY THE ARMY ALONG THE THREE ROADS LEADING TO THE 
AIRPORT.  TURK SAID A'OUN IS PURSUING THE NECESSARY 
POLITICAL CONTACTS TO ENABLE HIM TO IMPLEMENT HIS PLAN. 
 
9.  TURK CONCLUDED BY ASSURING DCM THAT GOL IS TAKING 
THIS ISSUE VERY SERIOUSLY. 
 
10.  COMMENT:  TURK IS NOT IN INNER DECISION-MAKING 
CIRCLE, BUT IS TAKING A PROMINENT LEAD IN THE GOL'S 
DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS TO LINE UP SUPPORT TO KEEP BIA OPEN. 
TURK FIT DCM IN BETWEEN OTHER ALREADY SCHEDULED 
APPOINTMENTS AND THERE WAS NO TIME FOR DISCUSSION. 
TURK SUGGESTED THAT HE AND DCM MEET NEXT WEEK TO DISCUSS 
ISSUES FURTHER.  DCM AGREED. 
 
BARTHOLOMEW