BEIRUT: High-tech security equipment, arms and military vehicles were on display at the Beirut International Exhibition and Leisure center Monday as 173 global companies brought their products and expertise to Lebanon.
The exhibition, which will be open to the public Tuesday and Wednesday, was organized by the Dubai-based Institute for Near East & Gulf Military Analysis, a leading organizer of specialized defense and security events in the Middle East.
The Security Middle East Show 2011, the second event of its kind in the country, is being held under the patronage of Prime Minister Najib Mikati, the Lebanese Army and the Internal Security Forces.
Unlike SMES 2009, which attracted a large number of military and weaponry firms, several key companies specializing in the manufacturing of heavy arms are not at this year’s exhibition.
Nader Haddad, an organizer of the event, said the presence of more private security than military companies might be a result of low-profile political decisions made by some Western countries to stop selling arms to Lebanon.
“The change in government in Lebanon is probably the reason for the below average showing at this year’s event in Beirut,” Haddad told The Daily Star.
SMES 2011 is hosting, however, a Chinese company that specializes in manufacturing military vehicles.
Representatives of Xiaolong Automotive Technology Company, which has already sold some of their products to the Lebanese Army, told The Daily Star that the Chinese government has no objections to trading with Lebanon’s security institutions.
The Lebanese Army has purchased a 3-meter long 6 x 6 Hummer-shaped vehicle called the XLW-TB from the firm.
“We do not sell weapons but vehicles such these that are capable of acting as a platform for any kind of weapon,” said Maty, Xiaolong’s sales manager, who preferred to be identified only by his first name. The vehicle can carry arms that weight as much as 3.6 tons.
According to an officer in the Lebanese Army, the vehicle has already proven useful. “Now we have one XLW-TB and we have tested long range artillery during our drills,” said the officer, who refused to be identified because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
But most of the focus of the exhibition is on private security companies, both local and foreign, that specialize in state-of-the-art surveillance cameras, facial recognition systems and modern thermal security systems.
Speaking at a news conference before the opening of the exhibition, retired Brig. Gen. Pierre Georgio, who also founded the security company Prosec Holding, praised the role of private security companies.
“These companies have helped maintain security in the country in many instances, and have thwarted some terrorist attacks by arresting criminals and handing them over to the security forces,” said Georgio.
But Georgio said that security companies in the country operate without a clear mandate from state authorities. “There is no clear law that defines the rights and responsibilities of security companies and the proper means to have a license,” explained Georgio who called on the ISF and the government to support the private firms in their work.
According to Georgio, hiring guards from security companies could help reduce government expenditures on security.
“Instead of assigning 10 ISF personnel to protect an institution, the government could assign only two and hire eight others from private companies,” said Georgio.
Georgio also said that political instability in the country in the past decade has caused a surge in the demand for private security companies and their personnel. This demand is set to increase further as the government relocates more ISF personnel from MPs and ministers to securing public safety.
Last month, Interior Minister Marwan Charbel issued an order to reduce the number of state security guards assigned to accompany members of Lebanon’s Parliament.
ISF commander Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi and the Lebanese Army Brig. Gen. Doureid Zahereddine also spoke at Monday’s news conference.
Zahereddine said that the country’s security institutions need to actively cooperate to confront local and foreign threats of terrorism. “Efficiency in counter-terrorism is not only by identifying the terrorist but through coordination among the security organs to have effective pre-emptive action,” Zahereddine explained.
“The armed forces are not the only means to be used in counter-terrorism, there must be new laws, intelligence and diplomacy as well,” added Zahereddine, who lectured the audience on “Lebanon and the geo-strategic reality facing threats of terrorism.”
When asked by The Daily Star whether the army would take any measures to protect Lebanese living on the Lebanese-Syrian border, an area that has seen instability during the past several months, Zahereddine denied that any violent incidents were taking place along the border.
“The country’s sovereignty and safety is enforced in cooperation with the ISF. But Syria is a friendly country and there are no violent acts in Lebanese territory being carried out by friendly countries.”