Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 06BEIRUT2652, LEBANON: WHEAT SHIPMENT NEEDED TO KEEP BREAD ON

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06BEIRUT2652.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06BEIRUT2652 2006-08-16 06:19 2011-08-24 16:30 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Beirut
VZCZCXRO1423
OO RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHKUK RUEHLZ
DE RUEHLB #2652/01 2280619
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 160619Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5091
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0095
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 002652 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE ALSO PASS TO USAID 
CAIRO FOR AGRICULTURE COUNSELOR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID ECON IS LE PREL SY
SUBJECT: LEBANON:  WHEAT SHIPMENT NEEDED TO KEEP BREAD ON 
THE TABLE 
 
1.  This message contains an action message for the 
Department -- please see para 6. 
 
2.  Embassy meetings with GOL and agrifood industry leaders 
have confirmed that current stocks of wheat in Lebanon are at 
a critically low level.  President of Dora Flour Mills and 
Chair of the Agrifood Traders Syndicate Arslan Sinno told 
emboffs that perhaps only a 10-15 day reserve supply of wheat 
remains in Lebanon.  Sinno added that commercial mills have 
been taking steps to stretch remaining grain stocks by 
rationing their output, closing for portions of the day, and 
only partially filling orders from industrial bakers.  Sinno 
explained that the milling/flour industry in Lebanon is very 
much dependent on maintaining stocks of wheat to be milled on 
demand.  Lebanon's climate and the high overhead cost of 
maintaining storage facilities preclude most consumers from 
storing large quantities of flour. 
 
3.  Sinno and other mill owners confirm that they currently 
have no means of getting stocks of wheat delivered to 
Lebanon.  Normally, Lebanese millers import wheat from Russia 
using small capacity ships, holding less than 10,000 tons. 
The millers prefer Russian wheat as it trades at 
approximately 165 USD per ton CNF (including freight costs), 
while U.S. wheat costs over $240 per ton including freight. 
Orders placed prior to July 12, 2006 that were inbound to 
Lebanon have had to be canceled or resold on the market, 
often at a loss to the miller in Lebanon.  Ship owners 
operating grain transports have refused to cross the sea 
blockade to port in Lebanon.  Several mill owners report 
frustrating and unusual demands from their shippers, 
including one ship owner requesting a letter signed by 
President Bush and Prime Minister Olmert of Israel 
guaranteeing the ship's safety.  Sinno stressed the urgency 
of getting a shipment of grain en route to Lebanon, as 
turn-around times for U.S.-originating grain shipments 
average 30 days. 
 
4.  The Agrifood Syndicate has approached the GOL and the US 
Embassy with a proposal asking for help to alleviate the 
wheat shortage.  In a letter to Lebanese PM Siniora and 
Minister of the Economy Sami Haddad, the syndicate proposes 
that the GOL request from the USG a humanitarian shipment of 
wheat. The transit and delivery of the shipment would be 
guaranteed by the USG, who could make the proper assurances 
to the IDF to allow the shipment to cross the blockade.  The 
30,000-ton shipment (approximately 6 million USD in value), 
enough for approximately 1 month of normal flour consumption 
in Lebanon, would then be sold to Lebanese commercial 
millers.  If the wheat were sold at a "replacement rate" 
(i.e. the previously negotiated rate for Russian wheat), 
bread and flour prices would remain more or less constant in 
Lebanon.  The Syndicate has also approached the Embassy of 
France with a similar proposal, but Sinno and others prefer 
U.S. wheat as "more suitable" for Lebanese flour products. 
Proceeds from the sale could then be used by the GOL for 
reconstruction or humanitarian concerns. 
 
5.  Previously, Lebanon has benefited from USAID/USDA 
humanitarian wheat programs, such as "Food for Education." 
In the most recent wheat shipment, the International Orthodox 
Christian Charities (IOCC) NGO received 50,000 tons of wheat, 
which was then sold at auction to local Lebanese mills.  The 
IOCC used the proceeds to support its local education 
initiatives.  There is no current PL-480 program for Lebanon, 
as its per-capita income is too high.  Under current USDA and 
USAID rules, request for a similar grain shipment would need 
to originate from a U.S.-based NGO and be coupled with 
Embassy Beirut's endorsement. 
 
6.  ACTION REQUEST:  Based on suggestions from the agrifood 
sector and the GOL on grain shipments, post recommends that 
the Department engage with USDA and USAID to: 
 
--Investigate the possibility of donating 25,000 to 30,000 
tons of "#2 U.S. Hard Red Winter Wheat" to the GOL for 
re-sale and distribution as described above. 
 
--Arrange for shipment of the wheat by U.S.-flag transport 
vessels 
 
--Liaise with the Government of Israel to clear the shipment 
through the sea blockade 
 
7.  Comment:  Maintaining bread and flour proces at current 
 
BEIRUT 00002652  002 OF 002 
 
 
levels and insuring the supply of wheat in the short-run will 
alleviate domestic economic pressure on the Siniora 
government.  The visibility of USG efforts to stave off a 
potentially crippling crisis of a bread and flour shortage 
would go far to demonstrate USG support for the GOL and the 
Lebanese people.  While there are several NGOs who could 
handle such an operation under normal circumstances (Mercy 
Corps, IOCC, World Vision, YMCA), most of their operations 
have turned to meeting the immediate humanitarian needs of 
Lebanon's inernally displaced persons (IDPs).  Allowing the 
GOL to be the receiver of such a shipment would secure 
immediate and efficient distribution of the grain upon 
arrival and bolster the private sector's confidence in the 
GOL. 
 
8.  Comment continued:  Given the time needed to get a ship 
of wheat loaded and to Lebanon, we hope that this request can 
be approved and acted upon as promptly as possible.  As in 
fuel, wheat shortages are likely to benefit Syrian 
blackmarketeers while hurting the average Lebanese consumer 
-- and damaging the credibility of the Siniora government. 
We should not underestimate the impact, political and 
otherwise, bread shortages and/or hikes in bread prices would 
have, especially during this critical period.  End Comment. 
FELTMAN