The European Union supports national capability for Integrated Border Management (IBM) in Lebanon In the framework of the project Developing National Capacity for Integrated Border Management (IBM) in Lebanon funded by the European Union (EU), equipment was officially handed over on 25 June to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), the Internal Security Forces (ISF), the Directorate General of the Security General (DGSG) and the Lebanese Customs Administration (LCA), at the headquarters of the LAF logistics bases. The IBM Lebanon project is implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD). The General Director of ISF, Major General Ibrahim Basbous, participated in the ceremony, representing the Minister of Interior and Municipalities, Nohad Machnouk. In his speech, Major General Basbous highlighted the importance of the existing coordination and cooperation between all security agencies in particular LAF, ISF, DGSG and LCA, as well as the need to plan and coordinate the border management policies for the strengthening of this domains capacities. Major General Basbous thanked the EU for its ongoing support for Lebanons security institutions. Lukas Gehrke, Director Southern Dimension for ICMPD drew attention in his statement to comments made by the Minister Machnouk, when the Minister acknowledged the high importance of the equipment that has been provided but also the associated training that would enable the recipients to work more effectively. Mr. Gehrke also stressed the willingness of ICMPD to continue to support the Lebanese border management agencies as they worked to establish a solid foundation to their activities. Brigadier General Manuel Kirejian, representing the Commander-in-Chief of the LAF, General Jean Kahwaji, thanked the EU for its support for the LAF, highlighting their need for support in the field of counterterrorism and border control. He presented an emblem to the Head of Cooperation of the Delegation of the European Union in Lebanon, Alexis Loeber, who, in turn, drew attention to the “great commitment” shown by the stakeholders “to improving border management, thus showing that IBM is a well-conceived strategy fit to respond to the current challenges that Lebanon is facing, not least those resulting from the massive influx of refugees”. The EU representative also commended the spirit of cooperation that prevails among the agencies involved in the work of the IBM Lebanon project, adding that the EU remains committed to supporting all the stakeholders in Lebanon to carry out necessary reforms for effective border management. The ceremony was attended by a number of ambassadors, diplomats and officers from the security agencies. It included demonstrations on the use of some of the equipment that was delivered, and the event was concluded by the signing of the Provisional Acceptance Certificates by Major General Ibrahim Basbous, Brigadier General Manuel Kirijian, Brigadier General Elias Baysari representing the DGSG, and Colonel Habib Bejjani representing the LCA.
Posted on: Mon, 30 Jun 2014 06:23:58 +0000
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