VZCZCXRO8474
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHLB #0348 0671225
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 071225Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1233
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
INFO RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 3165
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 2512
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 3733
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 2029
RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA PRIORITY
UNCLAS BEIRUT 000348
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ELA - SOMERSET, NEA/PPD, R, INR/R/MR
INR-PARENT
PASS TO USAID
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA
LONDON/POL
PARIS/POL
WHITE HOUSE FOR NSC
USCENTCOM FOR CCPA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR OPRC KPAO PREF PREL KISL KPAL LE
SUBJECT: Lebanon: Media Coverage -- USAID Projects in the South
1. Summary: Under the title "Forbidden Assistance," a Lebanese
magazine "Southern Issues" (Shu'un Jannubiah) carried a ten-page
report on the United States Agency for International Development
(USAID)/Lebanon's assistance to southern Lebanon, the area where
Hizballah, a designated terrorist organization, holds sway. The
report included an interview with USAID/Lebanon director, Raouf
Youssef, in addition to a description of USAID projects being
implemented by various nongovernmental organization (NGO) partners.
The articles were accompanied by color photographs and a map showing
project locations. The cover photograph was taken in the USAID
director's office and showed the U.S. and Lebanese flags flanking
the USAID emblem. End Summary.
Description of the Magazine
---------------------------
2. The title for this issue, "Forbidden Assistance," is directed at
Hizballah, which has consistently forbidden its own Shi'a Muslim
community members to accept assistance from U.S. sources.
3. "Southern Issues" was established in January 2002 by USAID;
AMIDEAST was the implementing partner. At the time, AMIDEAST was
focusing on "Transparency and Accountability," which mirrored the
magazine's purpose to focus on southern Lebanese issues objectively
and transparently. Following USAID/AMIDEAST funding and assistance,
the magazine received a grant from the National Democratic Institute
(NDI), which is a NGO working to strengthen and expand democracy
worldwide. When the NDI grant ended, the magazine received funding
from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), which is also a NGO
working to strengthen democratic institutions around the world. The
magazine receives an annual grant from NED which covers about 60
percent of its expenses.
4. The "Southern Issues" magazine has approximately 700
subscribers, sells between 300 to 400 issues, and distributes about
500 issues for free per month; it has a total monthly circulation of
1500. Its thirty-five staff members receive symbolic wages, i.e.,
they are essentially volunteers. The magazine headquarters were
originally in Beirut's southern suburb and were totally destroyed in
the July 2006 war. The new headquarters are near the "Rafiq Hariri
International Airport" in Beirut. The two founders of the magazine,
Ali Al-Amin and Kassem Kassir, are considered moderate Shi'a, who
are credible, and are known for their open-mindedness and objective
criticism of Hizballah.
Articles on USAID Assistance
----------------------------
4. The issue started by noting that USAID assistance is from the
American to the Lebanese people. The many implementing NGOs and the
scope of the projects were discussed. The issue emphasized that
USAID's assistance is unconditional and immediate with no political
bias. Two hundred and twenty southern Lebanese municipalities have
benefited so far from USAID assistance; and, approximately forty
percent of USAID's assistance focuses on southern Lebanon. One
article noted that some southerners did not benefit from USAID
assistance as they refused it for political reasons. The issue
highlighted various projects and described them, for example, the
restoration of partially destroyed homes and Tyre's historic fort,
assistance to fishermen, and economic growth projects assisting the
victims and the families of victims of landmines.
5. Comment: This issue of "Southern Affairs" is one of the many
success stories Public Diplomacy (PD) Beirut is assisting in
generating through its efforts to promote U.S. activities throughout
Lebanon. USAID projects are a concrete manifestation of the U.S.
Government's support to Lebanon. End Comment.
Sison