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AA AADP AALC ABDALLAH FETHI ABDULHADI ABDULRAHMEN ABER ABLD ABLDG ABLG ABMC ABT ABUD AC ACABQ ACAO ACBAQ ACCELERATED ACCOUNT ACDA ACEC ACKM ACOA ACOTA ACS ACTION ADANA ADB ADCO ADCP ADEL ADEP ADIP ADM ADMIRAL ADPM ADRC AE AEC AECL AEGR AEIR AEM AEMED AEMR AER AESC AF AFAF AL HOURANI AFARI AFDB AFDIN AFFAIRS AFGHAN AFGHANISTAN AFIN AFL AFLU AFOR AFR AFSA AFSI AFSN AFU AFZAL AG AGAO AGENCIES AGENDA AGENGA AGIT AGMT AGOA AGR AGRI AGRIC AGRICULTURE AGS AGUILAR AGUIRRE AHMED AI AIAG AID AIDAC AIDS AIEA AIHRC AIN AINF AINFCY AINR AINT AISG AIT AJ AK AL ALAB ALAMI ALANAZI ALBE ALEXANDER ALI ALIREZA ALJAZEERA ALL ALNEA ALOUNI ALOW ALOWAR ALVAREZ AM AMAT AMB AMBASSADOR AMCHAM AMCHAMS AMCT AME AMED AMEDI AMEMR AMER AMERICAS AMEX AMG AMGE AMGMT AMGT AMIA AMLB AMPR AMT AMTC AMTG AN ANARCHISTS ANC AND ANDREW LEE WATKINS ANET ANTITERRORISM ANTOINE GHONDA ANTONIO ANTXON AO AOCR AODE AOIC AOMS AOPR AORC AORD AOREC AORG AORL AOWC AP APCS APDC APEC APECO APER APR APRC APRM AQ AR ARAB ARABBL ARABL ARABLEAGUE ARAS ARC ARCH ARENA AREP ARF ARG ARM ARMITAGE ARMS ARNOLD FREDERICK MORRIS AROC ARR ARRMZY ARSO AS ASA ASAC ASC ASCC ASCE ASCEC ASCH ASE ASEAN ASEC ASECARP ASECE ASECM ASECSI ASECVE ASED ASEDC ASEG ASEK ASES ASEX ASFC ASIC ASIG ASIR ASJA ASO ASOC ASPA ASR ASSEMBLY ASSK ASSSEMBLY ASUP AT ATFN ATPDEA ATRA ATRD ATRN AU AU-1 AUC AUNR AUSGR AUSTRALIAGROUP AV AVERY AVIAN AVIANFLU AVIATION AW AX AY AZ AZE B. BA BAGHDAD BAIO BAKOYANNIS BALKANS BAPOL BARACK BASHAR BATA BAYS BB BBG BBSR BC BCW BCXP BD BE BEAN BELLVIEW BEN BERARDUCCI BESP BEXB BEXP BEXPC BEXPPLM BEXT BF BFIF BFIN BFIO BG BGD BGMT BH BHUM BI BIC BIDOON BIH BILAT BIMSTEC BINR BIO BIOS BIOTECH BIOTECHNOLOGY BIT BITO BK BL BLR BLUE BLUNT BM BMENA BMGT BMOT BN BNUC BO BOIKO BOL BOND BOQ BORDER BOSNIA BOU BOUCHAIB KAKA BOUTERSE BP BPIS BPTS BR BRIAN BRITNEY BRITNY BRPA BRUSSELS BS BSSR BT BTA BTC BTIO BTIU BTRA BTT BU BUD BULGARIA BURMA BURNS BUSH BUY AMERICA BV BW BWC BX BXEP BY BZ CA CAC CACM CACS CAFTA CAIO CAJC CAMBODIA CAN CAPC CARC CARE CARIB CARICOM CARSON CAS CASA CASC CASCC CASCR CASE CASTILLO CAVO CB CBC CBD CBE CBG CBIS CBM CBSA CBTH CBW CCSR CCY CD CDB CDC CDCC CDCE CDG CDI CE CEA CEC CEDAW CEN CENSUS CENTCOM CENTRIC CEUDA CF CFE CFED CFG CFIS CFSP CG CGEN CGOPRC CH CHAD CHALLENGE CHAO CHAVEZ CHELIDZE CHENEY CHERTOFF CHG CHIEF CHN CHR CHR-1 CHRISTIAN CHRISTOF CHRISTOPHER CI CIA CIAT CIC CICTE CIDA CIO CIP CIS CITEL CITES CITIBANK CITT CIVAIR CIVS CJ CJAN CJUS CK CKGR CKOR CL CLEARANCE CLINTON CLMT CLO CLOK CM CMAE CMFT CMGT CMP CMT CN CNAR CNARC CNC CNO CO CODEL COE COL COLIN COLLECTIVE COLOMBO COM COMESA COMMERCE CON CONAWAY CONDOLEEZZA CONDOLEEZZA RICE CONEAZ CONG CONGO CONGRINT CONS CONSULAR CONTROL CONTROLS CORRUPTION COSI COUNTER COUNTER TERRORISM COUNTERTERRORISM COUNTRY COUNTRYCLEARANCE CP CPA CPAS CPC CPCTC CPPT CPUOS CQ CR CRIM CRIME CRIMES CRISTINA CRM CROATIA CROS CRS CRUZ CS CSCE CSEP CSIS CSW CT CTBT CTER CTERR CTM CTR CTRYCLR CU CUCO CUIS CUL CUSTODIO CV CVIA CVIC CVIS CVISU CVPR CVR CW CWC CWCM CWG CX CY CYNTHIA CYP CYPRUSARMS CZ DA DAC DAFR DAN DANFUNG DANIEL DAO DARFR DARFUR DAVID DAVID LEE HOWES DAVID WELCH DAVID WILLIAM RAY DB DC DCDG DCG DCHA DCI DCM DCOM DCRM DE DEA DEAX DEFENSE DEFENSEREFORM DELTAVIOLENCE DEM DEMARCHE DEMARCHES DEMETRIOS DEMOCRATIC DENNIS DEOC DEPORTATION DEPT DEPT FOR DS COMMAND CENTER DESI DHA DHLAKAMA DHLS DHRF DHS DHSX DIEZ DIPLOMACY DISENGAGEMENT DJ DK DKEM DMIN DMINE DO DOC DOD DOE DOJ DOMC DOMESTIC DOMESTICPOLITICS DONALD RUMSFELD DOT DPAO DPKO DPM DPOL DPRK DR DRC DRIP DRL DS DSR DSS DTFN DTRA DTRO DU DUNCAN CAMERON DVC DY EAC EAD EADI EADM EAG EAGER EAGR EAI EAIC EAID EAIDB EAIDCIN EAIDEGZ EAIDMG EAIDNI EAIF EAIG EAIO EAIR EAIS EAIT EAOD EAP EAPC EAR EARI EASS EATO EAUD EAVI EB EBEXP EBRD EBUD EC ECA ECCP ECCT ECE ECHEVARRIA ECIN ECIP ECLAC ECN ECOIN ECOM ECON ECONCS ECONEGE ECONOMIC ECONOMICS ECONOMY ECONOMY AND FINANCE ECOR ECOS ECOSOC ECOWAS ECPC ECPN ECPO ECPS ECPSN ECRM ECTRD ECUN ED EDA EDEV EDRC EDU EDUARDO EDUC EE EEB EEC EENG EENV EEOC EET EETC EFI EFIC EFIM EFIN EFIS EFLU EFN EFND EFNI EFQ EFTA EG EGAD EGAR EGEN EGHG EGOV EGOVSY EH EI EIAD EIAID EIAR EIB EICN EID EIDE EIDN EIFN EIN EIND EINDIR EINF EING EINN EINO EINR EINT EINV EINZ EIPR EIQ EISL EISNLN EITC EITI EIVN EK EL ELA ELAB ELAD ELAINE ELAM ELAN ELAP ELB ELBA ELBR ELEC ELECTIONS ELF ELIN ELN ELND ELNT ELTD ELTM ELTN ELTRN EMAIL EMED EMI EMIN EMN EMS EMW EN END ENDURING ENEG ENER ENERG ENERGY ENFR ENG ENGR ENGRD ENGRG ENGY ENIV ENLT ENNP ENR ENRC ENRG ENRL ENTG ENV ENVI ENVIRONMENT ENVR ENVT EON EOXC EP EPA EPAT EPCS EPE EPEC EPECO EPET EPIN EPIT EPPD EPRT EPSC EPTE EPTED EPWR EQ EQRD ER ERA ERD EREL ERGR ERICKSON ERIN ERTD ES ESA ESCAP ESCI ESDP ESENV ESF ESLCO ESOC ESOCI ESPS ESS ESSO ESTH ESTN ESTRADA ET ETA ETAD ETC ETCC ETD ETDR ETEL ETER ETEX ETFN ETIC ETIO ETLN ETMIN ETR ETRA ETRAD ETRB ETRC ETRD ETRDECD ETRG ETRK ETRN ETRO ETRP ETT ETTC ETTD ETTF ETTN ETTR ETTRD ETTW ETZ EU EUC EUCOM EUE EUEAID EUFOR EUM EUMEM EUN EUR EUREM EURM EURN EV EVENTS EVN EWRG EWT EWTR EWWT EX EXBS EXEC EXIM EXO EXPORT EXTERNAL EZ FA FAA FAC FAGR FAO FARC FARM FAS FATAH FBI FCC FCS FCSC FCSCEG FCUL FDA FDIC FEDULOV FEMA FERNANDO FGM FI FIGUEROA FIN FINANCE FINE FINR FINREF FINV FIR FISO FJ FK FKFLO FKLU FLU FM FMC FMGT FMLN FMS FO FOI FOOKS FOR FORCE FORCES FOREIGN FORWHA FP FPC FR FRA FRANCIS FRANCISCO RODENAS RUIZ FRANCISCO VILLA URBALEJO FRAZER FRB FREDOM FREEDOM FRELIMO FRIED FRN FRU FSC FSI FT FTA FTAA FWS GA GAERC GAMES GANGS GAO GARCIA GASPAR GATES GATT GAZA GAZPROM GB GBSLE GC GCC GCCC GE GEF GEORGE GERARD GESKE GF GG GH GI GIPNC GIWI GJ GKGIC GL GLOBAL GM GN GO GOG GOI GOMEZ GON GOVPOI GPGOV GPI GPOI GPOV GR GREGG RENE WALTER GRQ GS GT GTIP GTMO GTREFTEL GU GUAM GUANTANAMO GUIDANCE GUILLERMO GUTIERREZ GV GWI GY GZ GZIS HA HAMID KARZAI HARRIET HARRY HAWZ HCOPIL HDP HE HEAVEN HEBRON HECTOR HELGERSON HERCEGOVINA HG HHS HI HIGHLIGHTS HIJAZI HILARY HILLARY HILLEN HIPC HIV HIZ HK HKSX HL HLSX HN HNCHR HO HOA HOSTAGES HPKO HR HRC HRCS HRICTY HRIGHTS HRKSTC HSI HSTC HSWG HT HTCG HTSC HU HUD HUM HUMAN HUMANITARIAN HUMANR HUMANRIGHTS HUMOR HUMRIT HUNRC HURI HURRICANE HYDE HYLAND HYMPSK HZ IA IACHR IACI IACO IACW IADB IAEA IAES IAHRC IAIE IAII IASA IATTC IAZ IBB IBD IBET IBPCA IBRB IBRD IC ICAC ICAO ICC ICCAT ICCROM ICES ICJ ICRC ICRS ICSCA ICTR ICTY ID IDA IDB IDLI IDLO IDP IDR IE IEA IEAB IEF IF IFAD IFC IFIN IFM IFO IFR IFRC IG IGAD IGF IHO IICA IINS IIP IK IL ILAB ILC ILEA ILO IMC IMET IMF IMMIGRATION IMO IMSO IMTS IN INAUGURATION INCB IND INDO INF INFLUENZA INL INMARSAT INNP INPFC INR INRA INRB INRD INRO INRPAZ INS INSC INT INTEL INTELLECTUAL INTELSAT INTERNAL INTERPOL INV INVI IO IOC IOM IP IPET IPGRI IPK IPPC IPR IPROP IQ IQNV IR IRAN IRAQ IRAQI IRAQI FREEDOM IRC IRCE IRDB IRE IRL IRLE IRM IRMO IRNB IRPE IRQEGION IRS IS ISA ISAAC ISAF ISCA ISCON ISLAMISTS ISLE ISN ISNV ISO ISPA ISPL ISRAEL ISRAEL RELATIONS ISRAELI ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS ISSUES ISTC IT ITA ITALIAN ITALY ITECIP ITEIND ITELTN ITER ITF ITIA ITRA ITRD ITU IUCN IV IVIANNA IWC IWI IX IZ IZAORC JA JABER JAM JAMES JAPAN JAT JAWAD JCIC JE JEAN-PIERRE BEMBA JEFFERY JEFFREY JENDAYI JHR JI JIMENEZ JIMENEZ CHILDREN JK JKUS JM JN JO JOHANNS JOHN JOHN BOEHNER JOHNNIE JONATHAN CHAMAN JOSE ANGEL ALZUGUREN PERURENA JOSE NEY MILA ESPINOSA JOSE RAMOS HORTA JOSEPH BIDEN JP JS JSRP JUAN JULIAN RENE KIRCHOFF JUS JY KA KACP KACT KACW KADM KAID KALM KALR KANSOU KAPO KARIM WADE KATRINA KAUST KAWC KAWK KAWL KAWS KAWX KAYLA KBCT KBDS KBEM KBIO KBNC KBTC KBTR KBTS KBWG KCCP KCEM KCERS KCFC KCFE KCGC KCHG KCIP KCIS KCM KCMA KCMR KCOG KCOM KCOR KCPS KCRCM KCRI KCRIM KCRM KCRN KCRO KCROM KCROR KCRP KCRS KCRT KCSA KCSI KCSY KCUL KCUM KCVM KCWI KDCM KDDEM KDDG KDE KDEM KDEN KDET KDEV KDGOV KDGR KDHS KDM KDMR KDP KDRG KDRL KDTB KDUM KE KEAI KEANE KEBG KECF KEDEM KEDM KEDU KEIM KEM KEMPI KEMR KEMS KEN KENV KERF KERG KESO KESP KESS KEVIN KFAM KFCE KFE KFEM KFGM KFIN KFIU KFLD KFLO KFLU KFOR KFPC KFRD KFRP KFSC KFTFN KFTN KG KGCC KGCN KGHA KGHG KGIC KGICKS KGIT KGIV KGKG KGLB KGOR KGOV KH KHDP KHGH KHIB KHIV KHJUS KHLS KHMN KHOURY KHPD KHSA KHSL KHUM KI KIBL KICA KICC KICCPUR KICR KICT KID KIDE KIF KIFR KIIC KIIP KIL KILS KIMMITT KIMT KIND KINF KINL KINP KINR KINT KIPR KIPT KIRC KIRD KIRF KIRL KIRP KIS KISC KISK KISL KISM KISR KITA KIVP KIVR KJAN KJRE KJU KJUS KJUST KJWC KK KKIV KKNP KKOR KKPO KLAB KLAP KLBO KLEG KLFLO KLFU KLHS KLIG KLIP KLPM KLSO KLTN KM KMAC KMAR KMCA KMCC KMCR KMDR KMEPI KMFO KMGT KMIG KMNP KMOC KMPF KMPI KMPIO KMPL KMPP KMPT KMRD KMRS KMSG KMVP KMWN KN KNAO KNAP KNAR KNDP KNEI KNEP KNET KNMP KNN KNNA KNNB KNNC KNNF KNNO KNNP KNNR KNOP KNP KNPP KNPPIS KNPR KNPT KNRG KNRV KNSD KNUC KNUP KO KOC KOCI KOCM KOEM KOGL KOLY KOM KOMC KOMCCO KOMCSG KOMH KOMO KOMS KOR KOSOVO KOUYATE KPA KPAD KPAI KPAK KPAL KPALAOIS KPAM KPAO KPAS KPBT KPDD KPEM KPEO KPER KPET KPIN KPIR KPKO KPKP KPLS KPMI KPMO KPO KPOA KPOKO KPOL KPOP KPOV KPOW KPPAO KPPD KPRD KPRM KPRO KPROG KPRP KPRV KPSC KPTD KPTS KPWG KPWR KQ KQM KQRDQ KR KRAD KRAL KRCIM KRCM KRCS KRD KRDP KREC KREF KREISLER KREL KRF KRFD KRFR KRG KRGY KRIC KRIF KRIM KRKO KRM KRMS KRV KRVC KS KSA KSAC KSAF KSCA KSCI KSCS KSCT KSEAO KSEC KSEI KSEO KSEP KSI KSIA KSKN KSLG KSMT KSOC KSOCI KSPA KSPR KSRE KSTC KSTCC KSTCPL KSTH KSTS KSTT KSUM KSUP KT KTAO KTBD KTBT KTCRE KTDB KTDD KTDM KTER KTEX KTFIN KTFM KTFN KTFR KTFS KTIA KTIP KTLA KTNBT KTNF KTPN KTRD KTRF KTSC KTSD KTTB KTTC KTTP KU KUAE KUIR KUM KUNA KUNC KUNH KUNP KUNR KUS KUWAIT KV KVBL KVIP KVIR KVIS KVPR KVRC KVRP KW KWAC KWAK KWAWC KWBC KWBG KWBW KWCI KWCR KWGB KWHG KWIC KWIM KWIR KWKN KWM KWMJN KWMM KWMN KWN KWNM KWNN KWOMN KWPA KWPB KWPG KWPR KWRC KWRF KWRG KWUN KWWT KWWW KX KY KZ LA LAB LABOR LANSANA LANTERN LARREA LARS LAS LAURA LAVIN LAW LB LBAR LBY LE LEAGUE LEB LEBIK LEGAT LEGATT LEIS LEON LEVINE LEW LG LGAT LH LI LIB LICC LIMA LINE LK LMS LN LO LOG LOPEZ LORAN LOTT LOVE LR LS LT LTG LTTE LU LV LVPR LY LZ MA MAAR MACEDONIA MACP MANUEL MANUEL SERGIO GONZALEZ MAP MAPP MAPS MAR MARAD MARANTIS MARIA MARIE MARINO MARITIME MARK MARQUEZ MARR MARS MARTIN MARV MAS MASC MASS MATT MAYA MB MBM MC MCA MCAP MCAPARR MCAPN MCAPP MCAPS MCAT MCC MCCAIN MCCONNELL MCCP MCGRAW MCRM MCTRE MD MDA MDC MDO ME MEA MED MEDIA MEETINGS MENDIETA MEP MEPI MEPN MEPP MERCOSUR MESUR MEX MF MFA MFO MG MGL MGMT MGOV MGT MGTA MH MHUC MI MIAH MIC MICHAEL MICHEL MIGUEL FELIPE CANAHUATI YACAMAN MIGUEL VARGAS MALDONADO MIK MIKE MIL MILI MILITANTS MILITARY MILLENNIUM MINURSO MINUSTAH MITCHELL MJ MK ML MLS MMAR MMED MN MNLF MNNC MNNUC MNU MNUC MNUCH MNUCWA MNUM MNUN MNUR MNUS MNVC MO MOHAMAD MOHAMED HESHAM ELDIN YOUSSEF MOHAMMAD MOLINA MONTENEGRO MONUC MONY MOOPS MOP MOPP MOPPS MOPS MORALES MORG MOROCCO MORS MOS MOTO MOTT MP MPOL MPOS MPP MPS MQADHAFI MR MRCRE MRRR MRS MRSEC MS MSG MSIG MT MTAA MTAG MTCAE MTCR MTCRA MTCRE MTRCE MTRE MTRRE MTS MU MUC MUCN MUKASEY MULLEN MUNC MURAD MURRAY MV MW MX MY MZ NA NAC NACB NADIA NAFTA NAM NAMSA NANCY NAR NARC NARCOTICS NARR NAS NASA NAT NATEU NATGAS NATIONAL NATO NATOAFGHAN NATOBALKANS NATOIRAQ NATOOPS NATOPOLICY NATSIOS NAVO NB NBTS NBU NC NCCC NCD NCT NCTC NDI NDP NE NEA NEC NEGROPONTE NEI NELSON NEPAD NERG NET NEW NFATC NFMS NFSO NG NGO NGUYEN NH NI NICHOLAS NICOLE NIH NIPP NK NKWG NL NLD NLIAEA NLO NMFS NMNUC NMUC NNPT NO NOAA NOI NOK NON NONE NORAD NOTAG NOVO NP NPA NPG NPT NR NRC NRG NRR NRRC NS NSC NSF NSFO NSG NSSP NT NTDB NTSB NTTC NU NUC NUIN NV NW NZ NZUS OA OAO OARC OAS OASC OASCC OASS OAU OBAMA OBS OBSP OCBD OCEA OCED OCHA OCII OCRA OCS OCSE ODAG ODC ODIP ODPC OECD OECS OECV OES OESC OEXC OEXP OF OFDA OFDC OFDP OFDPQIS OFFICIALS OFPD OFSO OGAC OGIV OHCHR OHI OHIP OI OIC OICCO OIE OIF OIG OIIP OIL OIM OLY OLYAIR OLYMPICS OM OMAR OMB OMIG OMS ON ONA OPAD OPBAT OPC OPCD OPCR OPCW OPDAT OPDC OPDP OPEC OPET OPIC OPID OPOC OPPC OPRC OPREC OPREP OPS OPSC OPVIP ORA ORC ORCA ORECD ORED OREG OREP ORGANIZED ORP ORTA ORUE OSAC OSCE OSCI OSD OSEC OSHA OSIC OSTA OSTRA OTA OTAR OTHER OTHERSASNEEDED OTP OTR OTRA OTRABL OTRAO OTRAZ OTRC OTRD OUALI OVIP OVP OXEC OXEM OZ PA PAARM PAC PACE PAGE PAGR PAHO PAIGH PAK PAL PALESTINIAN PAMQ PAN PANAM PAO PAR PARALYMPIC PARCA PAREL PARK PARLIAMENT PARM PARMS PARN PARP PARR PARTIES PARTM PARTY PAS PASS PATRICK WARREN MAHURIN PATTY PAUL PAUM PB PBGT PBIO PBK PBOV PBPTS PBS PBST PBT PBTS PCI PCON PCOR PCRM PCUL PD PDA PDD PDEM PDIP PDOV PDRG PE PEACE PEACEKEEPINGFORCES PEDRO PEL PELOSI PEMEX PENA PENV PEPFAR PEPR PER PEREZ PERL PERM PERSONS PET PETER PETERS PETR PETRAEUS PETROL PF PFIN PFLP PFOR PFOV PG PGGOC PGIC PGIV PGKV PGO PGOC PGOF PGOG PGON PGOR PGOT PGOV PGOVE PGOVQL PGPV PGREL PGREV PGV PH PHALANAGE PHARM PHAS PHEM PHIM PHM PHSA PHU PHUH PHUM PHUMHUPPS PHUN PHUS PHYTRP PI PIA PICES PIF PIN PINB PIND PINER PINF PING PINL PINO PINOCHET PINR PINS PINT PINV PIR PIRF PIRN PJUS PK PKAO PKBL PKFK PKISL PKK PKMN PKNP PKO PKPA PKPAL PKPO PKPRP PKST PL PLAB PLAN PLEC PLN PLO PLUM PM PMAR PMAT PMDL PMIG PMIL PMIN PMR PMUC PN PNAT PNET PNG PNIR PNNL PNR PNRG PNS PNUC PNUK PNUM PO PODC POG POGV POINS POL POLG POLI POLICY POLINT POLITICAL POLITICS POLM POLMIL POLS POLUN POREL PORG POSTS POTUS POUS POV POWELL PP PPA PPAO PPD PPEF PPEL PPKO PPOL PQL PQM PRC PRE PREC PRED PREF PREG PREJ PREK PREL PRELEVU PRELM PRELPLS PRELTBIOBA PREM PREO PREP PRER PRES PRESIDENT PRESL PREV PREZ PRF PRFE PRFL PRGO PRGOV PRIL PRIVATIZATION PRL PRLE PRM PRO PROB PROCESS PROG PROL PROLIFERATION PROP PROPERTY PROTECTION PROTESTS PROV PROVE PRT PRTER PRWL PS PSA PSCE PSEC PSEPC PSHA PSI PSNR PSO PSOC PSOCI PSOE PT PTBS PTE PTEL PTEP PTER PTGOV PTIA PTR PTRD PU PUAS PUBLIC PUNE PUNR PUOS PV PVIP PVOV PVPR PVTS PWBG PWMN PY QA QADRI QEL QI QIZ QM QT QU QUAN QUOC RA RAED RAFAEL RAID RAMON RAMONTEIJELO RAS RATIFICATION RAY GUEVARA MILTON RBI RCA RCMP RE REA REACTION REALTIONS RECIN REF REFORM REFPAN REFUGEE REFUGEES REGION REGIONAL REID REIN REINEMEYER REL RELAM RELATIONS RELFREE RELIGIOUS REMON RENAMO RENE PREVAL REO REPORT REUBEN RF RFE RFIN RFREEDOM RGOV RGY RHUM RI RICE RICHARD RIGHTS RIGHTSPOLMIL RIMC RIVERA RL RLA RM RMA RO ROBERT ROBERT JOSEPH RODHAM RODRIGUEZ ROK ROME ROOD ROSS ROW ROY RP RPEL RPTS RQ RR RRB RREL RS RSO RSOX RSP RSZ RTT RU RUEHZO RV RW RWANDA SA SAAD SAARC SABAH SACU SADC SAFE SAIR SAIS SALOPEK SAMA SAN SANC SANR SAO SARB SARGSIAN SARS SASC SASEC SASIAIN SB SBA SC SCA SCCC SCE SCENESETTER SCHUL SCI SCIENCE SCNV SCOI SCOL SCOM SCPR SCRM SCRS SCRSERD SCUL SCVL SD SE SEC SECDEF SECI SECRET SECRETARY SECSTATE SECTOR SECURITY SEMAAN GABY EID SEN SENC SENG SENS SENU SENV SENVQGR SENVSPL SENVSXE SEP SERBIA SERZH SETTLEMENTS SEVN SEXP SF SFNV SG SGNV SGWI SH SHANNON SHI SHUM SI SILVASANDE SIMS SIPDI SIPDIS SIPR SIPRNET SIPRS SIUK SK SKCA SKEP SKI SKSAF SL SLM SLOVAK SM SMAR SMI SMIG SMIL SMIT SMITH SMRT SN SNA SNAP SNAR SNUC SO SOC SOCI SOCIA SOCIETY SOCIO SOCIS SOCISZX SOCR SOCY SOE SOFA SOI SOIC SOLI SOLIC SOM SOMALIA SOPN SORT SOSI SOVIET SOWGC SP SPAS SPC SPCE SPCVIS SPECI SPECIALIST SPILL SPP SPSTATE SR SREF SRIT SRS SRYI SSA SSH ST STAG START STATE STC STEINBERG STEPHEN HADLEY STET STP STR STUDENT SU SUCCESSION SUFFRAGE SULLIVAN SUMMIT SUR SUSAN SV SW SWHO SWMN SX SXG SY SYAI SYMBOL SYR SYRIA SYSI SYTH SZ TA TAGS TALAL TAUSCHER TAX TB TBI TBID TBIO TBIOZK TBKIO TBO TC TCOR TCSENV TD TDA TE TECH TECHNOLOGY TER TERAA TERFIN TERR TERROR TERRORISM TF TFIN TG TGRY TH THANH THE THERESE THIRDTERM THKSJA THOMAS THOMAS THOMMA THPY TI TIA TIBO TIFA TINT TIO TIP TITI TIUZ TJ TK TL TM TN TNDG TNGD TO TOPEC TORRIJOS TOURISM TP TPHY TPKO TPP TPSA TPSL TR TRAD TRADE TRAFFICKING TRBIO TRBY TRD TREAS TREASURY TREATY TREL TRG TRGV TRGY TRIO TRSY TRT TRV TRY TRYG TRYS TS TSA TSLP TSPA TSPL TSRL TSRY TSY TT TTFN TU TURKEY TV TVBIO TW TWRO TX TY TZ TZBY UA UAE UAID UAM UB UDEM UE UEU UG UGA UK UKR UKRAINE UM UMIK UN UNA UNAF UNAIDS UNAMA UNAMSIL UNAORC UNAUS UNBRO UNC UNCC UNCDF UNCDN UNCHC UNCHR UNCHS UNCITRAL UNCND UNCOPUOS UNCRED UNCRIME UNCSD UNCSW UNCTAD UNDC UNDEF UNDOF UNDP UNECE UNEF UNEP UNESCO UNFA UNFC UNFCYP UNFF UNFICYP UNFIYCP UNFPA UNGA UNGAPL UNGO UNHCR UNHRC UNICEF UNIDCP UNIDO UNIDROIT UNIFEM UNIFIL UNION UNKIK UNM UNMEE UNMIC UNMIK UNMIKI UNMIKV UNMIL UNMIN UNMOVIC UNO UNODC UNOMIG UNOPS UNP UNPAR UNPUOS UNRCCA UNRCR UNREST UNRWA UNSC UNSCAPU UNSCD UNSCE UNSCER UNSCR UNSCS UNSD UNSE UNTAC UNTERR UNTZ UNUS UNVIE UNYI UP UPU UPUO UR US USAID USAU USCC USCG USDA USDELFESTTWO USEU USG USGS USMS USNC USOAS USOP USPS USPTO USSC USTA USTDA USTR USTRD USTRIT USTRPS USTRUWR USUN UUNR UV UX UY UZ VA VANESSA VANG VAT VC VE VELS VEN VENZ VETTING VI VINICIO VIP VIS VISAS VISIT VM VN VO VOA VT VTEG VTFR VTIS VTPREL VTTBIO VTWCAR VXY VY VZ WA WAEMU WAKI WAR WARD WB WBEG WBG WCAR WCI WCL WCO WE WEBG WEBZ WEET WEF WEOG WET WEU WFA WFP WFPAORC WFPO WGC WGG WHA WHITMER WHO WHTI WI WILCOX WILLIAM WIPO WIR WITH WJRO WM WMD WMDT WMN WMO WOMEN WPO WRTO WS WSIS WTO WTRD WTRO WTRQ WW WWARD WWBG WWT WZ XA XAAF XB XC XD XE XF XFNEA XG XH XI XJ XK XL XLUM XM XO XP XQ XR XS XT XTAG XU XV XW XX XXX XY XZ YE YEH YI YL YM YMCS YS YU YURIY ZA ZANU ZB ZC ZCTU ZEALAND ZF ZFR ZH ZI ZIM ZJ ZK ZKGM ZL ZM ZN ZO ZOELLICK ZP ZR ZS ZT ZU ZW ZXA
AA AADP AALC ABDALLAH FETHI ABDULHADI ABDULRAHMEN ABER ABLD ABLDG ABLG ABMC ABT ABUD AC ACABQ ACAO ACBAQ ACCELERATED ACCOUNT ACDA ACEC ACKM ACOA ACOTA ACS ACTION ADANA ADB ADCO ADCP ADEL ADEP ADIP ADM ADMIRAL ADPM ADRC AE AEC AECL AEGR AEIR AEM AEMED AEMR AER AESC AF AFAF AL HOURANI AFARI AFDB AFDIN AFFAIRS AFGHAN AFGHANISTAN AFIN AFL AFLU AFOR AFR AFSA AFSI AFSN AFU AFZAL AG AGAO AGENCIES AGENDA AGENGA AGIT AGMT AGOA AGR AGRI AGRIC AGRICULTURE AGS AGUILAR AGUIRRE AHMED AI AIAG AID AIDAC AIDS AIEA AIHRC AIN AINF AINFCY AINR AINT AISG AIT AJ AK AL ALAB ALAMI ALANAZI ALBE ALEXANDER ALI ALIREZA ALJAZEERA ALL ALNEA ALOUNI ALOW ALOWAR ALVAREZ AM AMAT AMB AMBASSADOR AMCHAM AMCHAMS AMCT AME AMED AMEDI AMEMR AMER AMERICAS AMEX AMG AMGE AMGMT AMGT AMIA AMLB AMPR AMT AMTC AMTG AN ANARCHISTS ANC AND ANDREW LEE WATKINS ANET ANTITERRORISM ANTOINE GHONDA ANTONIO ANTXON AO AOCR AODE AOIC AOMS AOPR AORC AORD AOREC AORG AORL AOWC AP APCS APDC APEC APECO APER APR APRC APRM AQ AR ARAB ARABBL ARABL ARABLEAGUE ARAS ARC ARCH ARENA AREP ARF ARG ARM ARMITAGE ARMS ARNOLD FREDERICK MORRIS AROC ARR ARRMZY ARSO AS ASA ASAC ASC ASCC ASCE ASCEC ASCH ASE ASEAN ASEC ASECARP ASECE ASECM ASECSI ASECVE ASED ASEDC ASEG ASEK ASES ASEX ASFC ASIC ASIG ASIR ASJA ASO ASOC ASPA ASR ASSEMBLY ASSK ASSSEMBLY ASUP AT ATFN ATPDEA ATRA ATRD ATRN AU AU-1 AUC AUNR AUSGR AUSTRALIAGROUP AV AVERY AVIAN AVIANFLU AVIATION AW AX AY AZ AZE B. BA BAGHDAD BAIO BAKOYANNIS BALKANS BAPOL BARACK BASHAR BATA BAYS BB BBG BBSR BC BCW BCXP BD BE BEAN BELLVIEW BEN BERARDUCCI BESP BEXB BEXP BEXPC BEXPPLM BEXT BF BFIF BFIN BFIO BG BGD BGMT BH BHUM BI BIC BIDOON BIH BILAT BIMSTEC BINR BIO BIOS BIOTECH BIOTECHNOLOGY BIT BITO BK BL BLR BLUE BLUNT BM BMENA BMGT BMOT BN BNUC BO BOIKO BOL BOND BOQ BORDER BOSNIA BOU BOUCHAIB KAKA BOUTERSE BP BPIS BPTS BR BRIAN BRITNEY BRITNY BRPA BRUSSELS BS BSSR BT BTA BTC BTIO BTIU BTRA BTT BU BUD BULGARIA BURMA BURNS BUSH BUY AMERICA BV BW BWC BX BXEP BY BZ CA CAC CACM CACS CAFTA CAIO CAJC CAMBODIA CAN CAPC CARC CARE CARIB CARICOM CARSON CAS CASA CASC CASCC CASCR CASE CASTILLO CAVO CB CBC CBD CBE CBG CBIS CBM CBSA CBTH CBW CCSR CCY CD CDB CDC CDCC CDCE CDG CDI CE CEA CEC CEDAW CEN CENSUS CENTCOM CENTRIC CEUDA CF CFE CFED CFG CFIS CFSP CG CGEN CGOPRC CH CHAD CHALLENGE CHAO CHAVEZ CHELIDZE CHENEY CHERTOFF CHG CHIEF CHN CHR CHR-1 CHRISTIAN CHRISTOF CHRISTOPHER CI CIA CIAT CIC CICTE CIDA CIO CIP CIS CITEL CITES CITIBANK CITT CIVAIR CIVS CJ CJAN CJUS CK CKGR CKOR CL CLEARANCE CLINTON CLMT CLO CLOK CM CMAE CMFT CMGT CMP CMT CN CNAR CNARC CNC CNO CO CODEL COE COL COLIN COLLECTIVE COLOMBO COM COMESA COMMERCE CON CONAWAY CONDOLEEZZA CONDOLEEZZA RICE CONEAZ CONG CONGO CONGRINT CONS CONSULAR CONTROL CONTROLS CORRUPTION COSI COUNTER COUNTER TERRORISM COUNTERTERRORISM COUNTRY COUNTRYCLEARANCE CP CPA CPAS CPC CPCTC CPPT CPUOS CQ CR CRIM CRIME CRIMES CRISTINA CRM CROATIA CROS CRS CRUZ CS CSCE CSEP CSIS CSW CT CTBT CTER CTERR CTM CTR CTRYCLR CU CUCO CUIS CUL CUSTODIO CV CVIA CVIC CVIS CVISU CVPR CVR CW CWC CWCM CWG CX CY CYNTHIA CYP CYPRUSARMS CZ DA DAC DAFR DAN DANFUNG DANIEL DAO DARFR DARFUR DAVID DAVID LEE HOWES DAVID WELCH DAVID WILLIAM RAY DB DC DCDG DCG DCHA DCI DCM DCOM DCRM DE DEA DEAX DEFENSE DEFENSEREFORM DELTAVIOLENCE DEM DEMARCHE DEMARCHES DEMETRIOS DEMOCRATIC DENNIS DEOC DEPORTATION DEPT DEPT FOR DS COMMAND CENTER DESI DHA DHLAKAMA DHLS DHRF DHS DHSX DIEZ DIPLOMACY DISENGAGEMENT DJ DK DKEM DMIN DMINE DO DOC DOD DOE DOJ DOMC DOMESTIC DOMESTICPOLITICS DONALD RUMSFELD DOT DPAO DPKO DPM DPOL DPRK DR DRC DRIP DRL DS DSR DSS DTFN DTRA DTRO DU DUNCAN CAMERON DVC DY EAC EAD EADI EADM EAG EAGER EAGR EAI EAIC EAID EAIDB EAIDCIN EAIDEGZ EAIDMG EAIDNI EAIF EAIG EAIO EAIR EAIS EAIT EAOD EAP EAPC EAR EARI EASS EATO EAUD EAVI EB EBEXP EBRD EBUD EC ECA ECCP ECCT ECE ECHEVARRIA ECIN ECIP ECLAC ECN ECOIN ECOM ECON ECONCS ECONEGE ECONOMIC ECONOMICS ECONOMY ECONOMY AND FINANCE ECOR ECOS ECOSOC ECOWAS ECPC ECPN ECPO ECPS ECPSN ECRM ECTRD ECUN ED EDA EDEV EDRC EDU EDUARDO EDUC EE EEB EEC EENG EENV EEOC EET EETC EFI EFIC EFIM EFIN EFIS EFLU EFN EFND EFNI EFQ EFTA EG EGAD EGAR EGEN EGHG EGOV EGOVSY EH EI EIAD EIAID EIAR EIB EICN EID EIDE EIDN EIFN EIN EIND EINDIR EINF EING EINN EINO EINR EINT EINV EINZ EIPR EIQ EISL EISNLN EITC EITI EIVN EK EL ELA ELAB ELAD ELAINE ELAM ELAN ELAP ELB ELBA ELBR ELEC ELECTIONS ELF ELIN ELN ELND ELNT ELTD ELTM ELTN ELTRN EMAIL EMED EMI EMIN EMN EMS EMW EN END ENDURING ENEG ENER ENERG ENERGY ENFR ENG ENGR ENGRD ENGRG ENGY ENIV ENLT ENNP ENR ENRC ENRG ENRL ENTG ENV ENVI ENVIRONMENT ENVR ENVT EON EOXC EP EPA EPAT EPCS EPE EPEC EPECO EPET EPIN EPIT EPPD EPRT EPSC EPTE EPTED EPWR EQ EQRD ER ERA ERD EREL ERGR ERICKSON ERIN ERTD ES ESA ESCAP ESCI ESDP ESENV ESF ESLCO ESOC ESOCI ESPS ESS ESSO ESTH ESTN ESTRADA ET ETA ETAD ETC ETCC ETD ETDR ETEL ETER ETEX ETFN ETIC ETIO ETLN ETMIN ETR ETRA ETRAD ETRB ETRC ETRD ETRDECD ETRG ETRK ETRN ETRO ETRP ETT ETTC ETTD ETTF ETTN ETTR ETTRD ETTW ETZ EU EUC EUCOM EUE EUEAID EUFOR EUM EUMEM EUN EUR EUREM EURM EURN EV EVENTS EVN EWRG EWT EWTR EWWT EX EXBS EXEC EXIM EXO EXPORT EXTERNAL EZ FA FAA FAC FAGR FAO FARC FARM FAS FATAH FBI FCC FCS FCSC FCSCEG FCUL FDA FDIC FEDULOV FEMA FERNANDO FGM FI FIGUEROA FIN FINANCE FINE FINR FINREF FINV FIR FISO FJ FK FKFLO FKLU FLU FM FMC FMGT FMLN FMS FO FOI FOOKS FOR FORCE FORCES FOREIGN FORWHA FP FPC FR FRA FRANCIS FRANCISCO RODENAS RUIZ FRANCISCO VILLA URBALEJO FRAZER FRB FREDOM FREEDOM FRELIMO FRIED FRN FRU FSC FSI FT FTA FTAA FWS GA GAERC GAMES GANGS GAO GARCIA GASPAR GATES GATT GAZA GAZPROM GB GBSLE GC GCC GCCC GE GEF GEORGE GERARD GESKE GF GG GH GI GIPNC GIWI GJ GKGIC GL GLOBAL GM GN GO GOG GOI GOMEZ GON GOVPOI GPGOV GPI GPOI GPOV GR GREGG RENE WALTER GRQ GS GT GTIP GTMO GTREFTEL GU GUAM GUANTANAMO GUIDANCE GUILLERMO GUTIERREZ GV GWI GY GZ GZIS HA HAMID KARZAI HARRIET HARRY HAWZ HCOPIL HDP HE HEAVEN HEBRON HECTOR HELGERSON HERCEGOVINA HG HHS HI HIGHLIGHTS HIJAZI HILARY HILLARY HILLEN HIPC HIV HIZ HK HKSX HL HLSX HN HNCHR HO HOA HOSTAGES HPKO HR HRC HRCS HRICTY HRIGHTS HRKSTC HSI HSTC HSWG HT HTCG HTSC HU HUD HUM HUMAN HUMANITARIAN HUMANR HUMANRIGHTS HUMOR HUMRIT HUNRC HURI HURRICANE HYDE HYLAND HYMPSK HZ IA IACHR IACI IACO IACW IADB IAEA IAES IAHRC IAIE IAII IASA IATTC IAZ IBB IBD IBET IBPCA IBRB IBRD IC ICAC ICAO ICC ICCAT ICCROM ICES ICJ ICRC ICRS ICSCA ICTR ICTY ID IDA IDB IDLI IDLO IDP IDR IE IEA IEAB IEF IF IFAD IFC IFIN IFM IFO IFR IFRC IG IGAD IGF IHO IICA IINS IIP IK IL ILAB ILC ILEA ILO IMC IMET IMF IMMIGRATION IMO IMSO IMTS IN INAUGURATION INCB IND INDO INF INFLUENZA INL INMARSAT INNP INPFC INR INRA INRB INRD INRO INRPAZ INS INSC INT INTEL INTELLECTUAL INTELSAT INTERNAL INTERPOL INV INVI IO IOC IOM IP IPET IPGRI IPK IPPC IPR IPROP IQ IQNV IR IRAN IRAQ IRAQI IRAQI FREEDOM IRC IRCE IRDB IRE IRL IRLE IRM IRMO IRNB IRPE IRQEGION IRS IS ISA ISAAC ISAF ISCA ISCON ISLAMISTS ISLE ISN ISNV ISO ISPA ISPL ISRAEL ISRAEL RELATIONS ISRAELI ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS ISSUES ISTC IT ITA ITALIAN ITALY ITECIP ITEIND ITELTN ITER ITF ITIA ITRA ITRD ITU IUCN IV IVIANNA IWC IWI IX IZ IZAORC JA JABER JAM JAMES JAPAN JAT JAWAD JCIC JE JEAN-PIERRE BEMBA JEFFERY JEFFREY JENDAYI JHR JI JIMENEZ JIMENEZ CHILDREN JK JKUS JM JN JO JOHANNS JOHN JOHN BOEHNER JOHNNIE JONATHAN CHAMAN JOSE ANGEL ALZUGUREN PERURENA JOSE NEY MILA ESPINOSA JOSE RAMOS HORTA JOSEPH BIDEN JP JS JSRP JUAN JULIAN RENE KIRCHOFF JUS JY KA KACP KACT KACW KADM KAID KALM KALR KANSOU KAPO KARIM WADE KATRINA KAUST KAWC KAWK KAWL KAWS KAWX KAYLA KBCT KBDS KBEM KBIO KBNC KBTC KBTR KBTS KBWG KCCP KCEM KCERS KCFC KCFE KCGC KCHG KCIP KCIS KCM KCMA KCMR KCOG KCOM KCOR KCPS KCRCM KCRI KCRIM KCRM KCRN KCRO KCROM KCROR KCRP KCRS KCRT KCSA KCSI KCSY KCUL KCUM KCVM KCWI KDCM KDDEM KDDG KDE KDEM KDEN KDET KDEV KDGOV KDGR KDHS KDM KDMR KDP KDRG KDRL KDTB KDUM KE KEAI KEANE KEBG KECF KEDEM KEDM KEDU KEIM KEM KEMPI KEMR KEMS KEN KENV KERF KERG KESO KESP KESS KEVIN KFAM KFCE KFE KFEM KFGM KFIN KFIU KFLD KFLO KFLU KFOR KFPC KFRD KFRP KFSC KFTFN KFTN KG KGCC KGCN KGHA KGHG KGIC KGICKS KGIT KGIV KGKG KGLB KGOR KGOV KH KHDP KHGH KHIB KHIV KHJUS KHLS KHMN KHOURY KHPD KHSA KHSL KHUM KI KIBL KICA KICC KICCPUR KICR KICT KID KIDE KIF KIFR KIIC KIIP KIL KILS KIMMITT KIMT KIND KINF KINL KINP KINR KINT KIPR KIPT KIRC KIRD KIRF KIRL KIRP KIS KISC KISK KISL KISM KISR KITA KIVP KIVR KJAN KJRE KJU KJUS KJUST KJWC KK KKIV KKNP KKOR KKPO KLAB KLAP KLBO KLEG KLFLO KLFU KLHS KLIG KLIP KLPM KLSO KLTN KM KMAC KMAR KMCA KMCC KMCR KMDR KMEPI KMFO KMGT KMIG KMNP KMOC KMPF KMPI KMPIO KMPL KMPP KMPT KMRD KMRS KMSG KMVP KMWN KN KNAO KNAP KNAR KNDP KNEI KNEP KNET KNMP KNN KNNA KNNB KNNC KNNF KNNO KNNP KNNR KNOP KNP KNPP KNPPIS KNPR KNPT KNRG KNRV KNSD KNUC KNUP KO KOC KOCI KOCM KOEM KOGL KOLY KOM KOMC KOMCCO KOMCSG KOMH KOMO KOMS KOR KOSOVO KOUYATE KPA KPAD KPAI KPAK KPAL KPALAOIS KPAM KPAO KPAS KPBT KPDD KPEM KPEO KPER KPET KPIN KPIR KPKO KPKP KPLS KPMI KPMO KPO KPOA KPOKO KPOL KPOP KPOV KPOW KPPAO KPPD KPRD KPRM KPRO KPROG KPRP KPRV KPSC KPTD KPTS KPWG KPWR KQ KQM KQRDQ KR KRAD KRAL KRCIM KRCM KRCS KRD KRDP KREC KREF KREISLER KREL KRF KRFD KRFR KRG KRGY KRIC KRIF KRIM KRKO KRM KRMS KRV KRVC KS KSA KSAC KSAF KSCA KSCI KSCS KSCT KSEAO KSEC KSEI KSEO KSEP KSI KSIA KSKN KSLG KSMT KSOC KSOCI KSPA KSPR KSRE KSTC KSTCC KSTCPL KSTH KSTS KSTT KSUM KSUP KT KTAO KTBD KTBT KTCRE KTDB KTDD KTDM KTER KTEX KTFIN KTFM KTFN KTFR KTFS KTIA KTIP KTLA KTNBT KTNF KTPN KTRD KTRF KTSC KTSD KTTB KTTC KTTP KU KUAE KUIR KUM KUNA KUNC KUNH KUNP KUNR KUS KUWAIT KV KVBL KVIP KVIR KVIS KVPR KVRC KVRP KW KWAC KWAK KWAWC KWBC KWBG KWBW KWCI KWCR KWGB KWHG KWIC KWIM KWIR KWKN KWM KWMJN KWMM KWMN KWN KWNM KWNN KWOMN KWPA KWPB KWPG KWPR KWRC KWRF KWRG KWUN KWWT KWWW KX KY KZ LA LAB LABOR LANSANA LANTERN LARREA LARS LAS LAURA LAVIN LAW LB LBAR LBY LE LEAGUE LEB LEBIK LEGAT LEGATT LEIS LEON LEVINE LEW LG LGAT LH LI LIB LICC LIMA LINE LK LMS LN LO LOG LOPEZ LORAN LOTT LOVE LR LS LT LTG LTTE LU LV LVPR LY LZ MA MAAR MACEDONIA MACP MANUEL MANUEL SERGIO GONZALEZ MAP MAPP MAPS MAR MARAD MARANTIS MARIA MARIE MARINO MARITIME MARK MARQUEZ MARR MARS MARTIN MARV MAS MASC MASS MATT MAYA MB MBM MC MCA MCAP MCAPARR MCAPN MCAPP MCAPS MCAT MCC MCCAIN MCCONNELL MCCP MCGRAW MCRM MCTRE MD MDA MDC MDO ME MEA MED MEDIA MEETINGS MENDIETA MEP MEPI MEPN MEPP MERCOSUR MESUR MEX MF MFA MFO MG MGL MGMT MGOV MGT MGTA MH MHUC MI MIAH MIC MICHAEL MICHEL MIGUEL FELIPE CANAHUATI YACAMAN MIGUEL VARGAS MALDONADO MIK MIKE MIL MILI MILITANTS MILITARY MILLENNIUM MINURSO MINUSTAH MITCHELL MJ MK ML MLS MMAR MMED MN MNLF MNNC MNNUC MNU MNUC MNUCH MNUCWA MNUM MNUN MNUR MNUS MNVC MO MOHAMAD MOHAMED HESHAM ELDIN YOUSSEF MOHAMMAD MOLINA MONTENEGRO MONUC MONY MOOPS MOP MOPP MOPPS MOPS MORALES MORG MOROCCO MORS MOS MOTO MOTT MP MPOL MPOS MPP MPS MQADHAFI MR MRCRE MRRR MRS MRSEC MS MSG MSIG MT MTAA MTAG MTCAE MTCR MTCRA MTCRE MTRCE MTRE MTRRE MTS MU MUC MUCN MUKASEY MULLEN MUNC MURAD MURRAY MV MW MX MY MZ NA NAC NACB NADIA NAFTA NAM NAMSA NANCY NAR NARC NARCOTICS NARR NAS NASA NAT NATEU NATGAS NATIONAL NATO NATOAFGHAN NATOBALKANS NATOIRAQ NATOOPS NATOPOLICY NATSIOS NAVO NB NBTS NBU NC NCCC NCD NCT NCTC NDI NDP NE NEA NEC NEGROPONTE NEI NELSON NEPAD NERG NET NEW NFATC NFMS NFSO NG NGO NGUYEN NH NI NICHOLAS NICOLE NIH NIPP NK NKWG NL NLD NLIAEA NLO NMFS NMNUC NMUC NNPT NO NOAA NOI NOK NON NONE NORAD NOTAG NOVO NP NPA NPG NPT NR NRC NRG NRR NRRC NS NSC NSF NSFO NSG NSSP NT NTDB NTSB NTTC NU NUC NUIN NV NW NZ NZUS OA OAO OARC OAS OASC OASCC OASS OAU OBAMA OBS OBSP OCBD OCEA OCED OCHA OCII OCRA OCS OCSE ODAG ODC ODIP ODPC OECD OECS OECV OES OESC OEXC OEXP OF OFDA OFDC OFDP OFDPQIS OFFICIALS OFPD OFSO OGAC OGIV OHCHR OHI OHIP OI OIC OICCO OIE OIF OIG OIIP OIL OIM OLY OLYAIR OLYMPICS OM OMAR OMB OMIG OMS ON ONA OPAD OPBAT OPC OPCD OPCR OPCW OPDAT OPDC OPDP OPEC OPET OPIC OPID OPOC OPPC OPRC OPREC OPREP OPS OPSC OPVIP ORA ORC ORCA ORECD ORED OREG OREP ORGANIZED ORP ORTA ORUE OSAC OSCE OSCI OSD OSEC OSHA OSIC OSTA OSTRA OTA OTAR OTHER OTHERSASNEEDED OTP OTR OTRA OTRABL OTRAO OTRAZ OTRC OTRD OUALI OVIP OVP OXEC OXEM OZ PA PAARM PAC PACE PAGE PAGR PAHO PAIGH PAK PAL PALESTINIAN PAMQ PAN PANAM PAO PAR PARALYMPIC PARCA PAREL PARK PARLIAMENT PARM PARMS PARN PARP PARR PARTIES PARTM PARTY PAS PASS PATRICK WARREN MAHURIN PATTY PAUL PAUM PB PBGT PBIO PBK PBOV PBPTS PBS PBST PBT PBTS PCI PCON PCOR PCRM PCUL PD PDA PDD PDEM PDIP PDOV PDRG PE PEACE PEACEKEEPINGFORCES PEDRO PEL PELOSI PEMEX PENA PENV PEPFAR PEPR PER PEREZ PERL PERM PERSONS PET PETER PETERS PETR PETRAEUS PETROL PF PFIN PFLP PFOR PFOV PG PGGOC PGIC PGIV PGKV PGO PGOC PGOF PGOG PGON PGOR PGOT PGOV PGOVE PGOVQL PGPV PGREL PGREV PGV PH PHALANAGE PHARM PHAS PHEM PHIM PHM PHSA PHU PHUH PHUM PHUMHUPPS PHUN PHUS PHYTRP PI PIA PICES PIF PIN PINB PIND PINER PINF PING PINL PINO PINOCHET PINR PINS PINT PINV PIR PIRF PIRN PJUS PK PKAO PKBL PKFK PKISL PKK PKMN PKNP PKO PKPA PKPAL PKPO PKPRP PKST PL PLAB PLAN PLEC PLN PLO PLUM PM PMAR PMAT PMDL PMIG PMIL PMIN PMR PMUC PN PNAT PNET PNG PNIR PNNL PNR PNRG PNS PNUC PNUK PNUM PO PODC POG POGV POINS POL POLG POLI POLICY POLINT POLITICAL POLITICS POLM POLMIL POLS POLUN POREL PORG POSTS POTUS POUS POV POWELL PP PPA PPAO PPD PPEF PPEL PPKO PPOL PQL PQM PRC PRE PREC PRED PREF PREG PREJ PREK PREL PRELEVU PRELM PRELPLS PRELTBIOBA PREM PREO PREP PRER PRES PRESIDENT PRESL PREV PREZ PRF PRFE PRFL PRGO PRGOV PRIL PRIVATIZATION PRL PRLE PRM PRO PROB PROCESS PROG PROL PROLIFERATION PROP PROPERTY PROTECTION PROTESTS PROV PROVE PRT PRTER PRWL PS PSA PSCE PSEC PSEPC PSHA PSI PSNR PSO PSOC PSOCI PSOE PT PTBS PTE PTEL PTEP PTER PTGOV PTIA PTR PTRD PU PUAS PUBLIC PUNE PUNR PUOS PV PVIP PVOV PVPR PVTS PWBG PWMN PY QA QADRI QEL QI QIZ QM QT QU QUAN QUOC RA RAED RAFAEL RAID RAMON RAMONTEIJELO RAS RATIFICATION RAY GUEVARA MILTON RBI RCA RCMP RE REA REACTION REALTIONS RECIN REF REFORM REFPAN REFUGEE REFUGEES REGION REGIONAL REID REIN REINEMEYER REL RELAM RELATIONS RELFREE RELIGIOUS REMON RENAMO RENE PREVAL REO REPORT REUBEN RF RFE RFIN RFREEDOM RGOV RGY RHUM RI RICE RICHARD RIGHTS RIGHTSPOLMIL RIMC RIVERA RL RLA RM RMA RO ROBERT ROBERT JOSEPH RODHAM RODRIGUEZ ROK ROME ROOD ROSS ROW ROY RP RPEL RPTS RQ RR RRB RREL RS RSO RSOX RSP RSZ RTT RU RUEHZO RV RW RWANDA SA SAAD SAARC SABAH SACU SADC SAFE SAIR SAIS SALOPEK SAMA SAN SANC SANR SAO SARB SARGSIAN SARS SASC SASEC SASIAIN SB SBA SC SCA SCCC SCE SCENESETTER SCHUL SCI SCIENCE SCNV SCOI SCOL SCOM SCPR SCRM SCRS SCRSERD SCUL SCVL SD SE SEC SECDEF SECI SECRET SECRETARY 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Identifier | Subject | Date | Office | Classification | Tags |
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07BEIRUT382 | IN ROUND THREE, HARIRI PITCHES BERRI ON 24-MEMBER [...] (S) Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and MP Saad Hariri met for the third time late on 3/12 in an attempt to forge a political compromise between the March 8 and March 14 movements. Hariri advisor Ghattas Khoury, who attended the talks, told us that, with no breakthrough on either the Special [...] | 2007-03-13 16:51:00 | Embassy Beirut | SECRET | PREL PGOV KDEM LE SY |
07BEIRUT384 | LEBANON: SAMIR GEAGEA HOLDS SCANT HOPE FOR [...] (C) In a 3/12 meeting, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea supported the current Berri-Hariri talks aimed at solving Lebanon's political crisis as a "useful" endeavor, but was also certain they would ultimately fail. No matter how reasonable or constructive Berri appears, he cannot compromi [...] | 2007-03-13 16:58:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER LE IS SY |
07BEIRUT387 | LEBANON: CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR DESCRIBES [...] (C) Negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for an Emergency Post Conflict Agreement (EPCA) are proceeding, but some of the IMF's conditions are unacceptable, Banque du Liban (BDL) Governor Salameh told the Ambassador and Econoff in mid-March. Several of the IMF's conditions [...] | 2007-03-14 14:57:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN PGOV PREL SY LE |
07BEIRUT39 | UPDATE ON TRIBUNAL: DOCUMENTS SIGNED, GOL [...] (C) At a meeting with the Ambassador on 1/6, Minister of Justice Charles Rizk confirmed that MOJ Omar Natour signed the two English-language documents related to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon: the tribunal's statute and the agreement on its establishment between the UN and GOL. MOJ deli [...] | 2007-01-08 12:36:00 | Embassy Beirut | SECRET | PREL KCRM PTER LE SY |
07BEIRUT395 | LEBANON: SENIOR MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT CAUTIONS [...] (C) Senior MP Robert Ghanem, a moderate Maronite member of the March 14 movement and chairman of parliament's influential Judiciary Committee, told emboff on 3/14 that for the first time in months, he sees tentativeness in the actions of March 8th opposition forces. He said that Hizballah m [...] | 2007-03-15 15:39:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | IS LE PGOV PREL PTER SY |
07BEIRUT397 | UN ENVOY PEDERSEN DEFENDS 1701 REPORT [...] (C) On March 15, the Ambassador met with UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Geir Pedersen to review the Secretary General's report on the implementation of UNSCR 1701. The Ambassador noted changes made in the report subsequent to the widely circulated March 8 draft. Objecting to areas where [...] | 2007-03-16 09:17:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER LE SY |
07BEIRUT414 | LEBANON: UNIIIC SENIOR INVESTIGATOR SAYS STEADY [...] (C) In a 3/19 meeting, UNIIIC chief investigator Peter Nicholson and senior investigator Rosemary Nidiry informed emboff that the Commission is now proceeding on the assumption that their mandate will be extended by the Security Council. Nicholson stated that the investigation has considera [...] | 2007-03-21 09:28:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER KCRM LE SY IS |
07BEIRUT423 | SAUDI AMBASSADOR BLAMES JUMBLATT FOR IMPASSE, AS [...] (C) Saudi Ambassador Abdulaziz Khoja used a 3/21 meeting with Ambassador Feltman to blast Walid Jumblatt. Had it not been for Jumblatt's objections, Khoja said, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and MP Saad Hariri would be able to conclude a "declaration of intent" of how to end Lebanon's poli [...] | 2007-03-22 13:28:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM LE SY SA |
07BEIRUT426 | FRENCH AMBASSADOR ON LEBANON DEVELOPMENTS [...] (C) In a 3/22 meeting with the Ambassador, French Ambassador Bernard Emie expressed concern that, with the departure of French President Jacques Chirac, France will lose its only strong advocate for Chapter VII approval of the Special Tribunal. The "entire French bureaucracy" is against pro [...] | 2007-03-22 16:03:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER PGOV LE SY SA FR |
07BEIRUT430 | LEBANON: SINIORA DETAILS TRIBUNAL STRATEGY [...] (C) In a 3/23 meeting, PM Siniora explained that he intends to take advantage of a flurry of diplomatic activity -- the upcoming visits to Beirut of Chancellor Angela Merkel, UNSYG Ban Ki-Moon, and U.S. Speaker Nancy Pelosi, as well as next week's Arab Summit -- to try to force the opposition [...] | 2007-03-23 16:58:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER KCRM LE SY IS |
07BEIRUT44 | LEBANON: TASHNAQ MPS DISTANCE SELVES FROM [...] (C) Ambassador Feltman and Emboff met with Tashnaq Secretary General Hovig Mukhtarian and Members of Parliament SIPDIS Hagop Pakradunian and George Kassarji in early January. Tashnaq politicians distanced their party from the rest of the opposition, emphasizing their relative neutrality, ma [...] | 2007-01-08 18:06:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KCRM SY LE |
07BEIRUT446 | NON-PAPER ON UNSCR 1747 DELIVERED [...] (C) On 3/26, the Ambassador met Mohamed Chatah, Senior Advisor to PM Fouad Siniora, to discuss UNSCR 1747 and deliver reftel's non-paper on the importance of the resolution. Chatah, who acknowledged that neither he nor Siniora had as yet read the resolution's text, was intrigued by the lang [...] | 2007-03-27 12:41:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER PARM LE IR SY |
07BEIRUT450 | LEBANON: MARONITE PATRIARCH ADOPTS SOME [...] (C) In a 3/26 meeting with the Ambassador, the Maronite Patriarch conveyed some surprisingly unhelpful positions regarding Lebanon's political impasse. Patriarch Sfeir, perhaps in an effort to appear strictly neutral to Lebanon's warring political factions, has apparently adopted some convi [...] | 2007-03-27 13:25:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER LE IS SY |
07BEIRUT472 | LEBANON: BERRI SAYS OFFER IS STILL ON THE [...] No summary [...] | 2007-03-30 15:38:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER LE IS SY |
07BEIRUT473 | LEBANON: BERRI SAYS OFFER IS STILL ON THE [...] (C) In a 3/30 meeting, Speaker Berri conveyed to the Ambassador his conviction that time is running out for a solution to Lebanon's crisis. If the current stalemate persists into the autumn, the Speaker predicts the emergence of competing national governments and serious instability. He urg [...] | 2007-03-30 15:40:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER LE IS SY |
07BEIRUT483 | LEBANON: CODEL PELOSI MEETS WITH PM SINIORA [...] (U) April 2, 2007 meeting in Beirut between CODEL Pelosi and Prime Minister Siniora. Lebanese Attendees: Prime Minister Fouad Siniora Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Elias Murr Ambassador Mohamed Chatah, Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister Ambassador Antoine Chedid, Lebano [...] | 2007-04-03 15:00:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | IS LE PGOV PREL PTER SY |
07BEIRUT524 | LEBANON: MODERATE REFORM MP BELIEVES CHAPTER VII [...] (C) In a 4/12 meeting with emboff, pro-reform MP Robert Ghanem suggested that Hizballah's Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah, acting under Syrian/Iranian orders, has altered his strategy following the collapse of the erratic Berri-Hariri talks. Ghanem maintained that once it became clear th [...] | 2007-04-16 12:45:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER LE IS SY |
07BEIRUT528 | LEBANON: NORTHERN BORDER PILOT PROJECT [...] (C) On April 11, German Federal Police (GFP) representatives in Beirut released the draft concept paper for Lebanon's Northern Border Pilot Project, which is being developed and implemented by the GFP in coordination with senior leadership of the LAF, ISF, and Lebanon's Customs Police. The [...] | 2007-04-16 14:24:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER LE IS SY |
07BEIRUT536 | LEBANON: SPEAKER BERRI INSISTS THAT A CHAPTER VII [...] (C) In a 4/17 meeting notable for Nabih Berri's casual attitude toward the Special Tribunal, Berri contended that even if the Security Council establishes the court under Chapter VII, the crisis in Lebanon would persist. Berri gave the impression that the tribunal was almost a side issue in [...] | 2007-04-18 10:43:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER LE SY IS |
07BEIRUT558 | PEDERSEN ON UN/OLA NICOLAS MICHEL VISIT: [...] (C) Summary: Over lunch with the Ambassador on 4/23, UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Geir Pedersen reported that, in his final meetings in Lebanon before departing 4/21, UN/OLA chief Nicolas Michel failed in his last attempts to get the Lebanese to agree to approve the Special Tribunal t [...] | 2007-04-23 12:34:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC KCRM PGOV LE SY |
07BEIRUT569 | ELIAS MURR CLAIMS LAHOUD PREPARED TO APPOINT ISSAM [...] (S) In a 4/23 meeting with the Ambassador, Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Elias Murr added his voice to the rumors that Lebanese President Emile Lahoud plans to appoint a competing cabinet to reinforce the position that the Siniora cabinet is null and void. In Murr's version (wh [...] | 2007-04-24 13:26:00 | Embassy Beirut | SECRET | PREL KDEM PGOV LE SY |
07BEIRUT57 | FORMER PM KARAMI SEEMINGLY UNCOMFORTABLE WITH [...] (C) Responding to messages passed by the Karami family, the Ambassador called on former Prime Minister Omar Karami in his Beirut home on 1/9. The Sunni politician (and former MP) from Tripoli stated that the situation in Lebanon was deteriorating rapidly, and he questioned the tactics of the [...] | 2007-01-10 16:27:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM LE SY |
07BEIRUT58 | SENIOR STATESMAN YEARNS FOR "LOCKERBIE" SOLUTION [...] (C) Octogenarian senior statesman Fouad Boutros hosted the Ambassador to a one-on-one lunch on 1/9. Boutros (who has held public positions from the 1940s until his recent stint as head of the electoral reform commission) expressed deep concern that Lebanon is being destroyed because of the [...] | 2007-01-10 17:07:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KDEM KCRM PTER LE SY |
07BEIRUT587 | PEDERSEN BRIEFS ON UNSYG BAN'S TRIP TO DAMASCUS [...] (C) In a 4/25 meeting with the Ambassador, UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Geir Pedersen said that, in terms of the Lebanon agenda, the Syrians -- as could have been predicted, he acknowledged -- offered "nothing" in UNSYG Ban Ki-Moon's meetings in Damascus the previous day. While adopti [...] | 2007-04-25 15:22:00 | Embassy Beirut | SECRET | PREL PGOV PTER LE SY |
07BEIRUT591 | LEBANON: BRAMMERTZ SEES FEW COMPLICATIONS FROM A [...] (C) In a 4/25 meeting, UNIIIC Commissioner Brammertz informed the Ambassador that his sizable investigative team is moving steadily forward in all areas of inquiry: forensics, interviews, evidence prioritization and archiving, correlation of findings, and laying the groundwork for prosecutio [...] | 2007-04-26 05:50:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | IS LE PGOV PREL PTER SY |
07BEIRUT603 | LEBANON: MODERATE LEADERS ON CHAPTER VII: ONLY [...] (C) Influential Maronite leaders Nassib Lahoud and Sheikh Michel Khoury acknowledged that Chapter VII is now the only realistic means to establish the Special Tribunal, and has to be introduced soon. But both moderate leaders strongly cautioned that only one chance exists: if the Security [...] | 2007-04-30 06:13:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | IS LE PGOV PREL PTER SY |
07BEIRUT607 | LEBANON: ARCHBISHOP AUDI FEARS TRIBUNAL WILL [...] (C) In a 4/27 meeting with the Ambassador, Archbishop Elias Audi, the Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Beirut, had no additional information on the attacks of the two murdered youths found last evening south of Beirut, but hoped it was not politically motivated because this could further escala [...] | 2007-04-30 12:36:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | IS LE PGOV PREL PTER SY |
07BEIRUT611 | SINIORA ON CABINET INITIATIVE, TRIBUNAL [...] (C) In a 5/1 meeting with the Ambassador, PM Siniora underscored his belief that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon must be established by the UNSC, as Lebanon's constitutional process is blocked. But he resisted sending a stronger, specific message requesting Chapter VII now. In what quickly [...] | 2007-05-01 15:04:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC PTER LE SY |
07BEIRUT618 | LEBANON: MINISTRY OF FINANCE STAFF REVIEWS [...] (SBU) In separate meetings with Ministry of Finance staff, the common view of their recent meetings in Washington was positive. While MOF Director General Alain Bifani gave a sharp, insightful readout of the meetings, his working level finance team were already focused on the next event, a E [...] | 2007-05-02 13:59:00 | Embassy Beirut | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN LE PGOV PREL SY |
07BEIRUT622 | LEBANON: THROUGH AOUN'S LOOKING GLASS: ARGUES FOR [...] (C) The Ambassador and Poloff visited General Michel Aoun and his chief advisor Gebran Bassil on May 2. Aoun's perceptions continue to be radically different from U.S. views despite similar stated goals of a free and democratic Lebanon. Aoun argued that appeasing and building trust with Syr [...] | 2007-05-03 08:33:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | IS LE PGOV PREL PTER SY |
07BEIRUT623 | LEBANON: MARCH 14 ATTEMPTS TO COUNTER AOUN'S NEW [...] (C) Two founding members of the pro-reform March 14th movement expressed genuine concern that FPM leader Michel Aoun's shewd proposal to select Lebanon's next president by direct elections has to be effectively countered -- and soon. MP Samir Franjieh and former MP Fares Souaid argued that t [...] | 2007-05-03 09:09:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | IS LE PGOV PREL PTER SY |
07BEIRUT624 | LEBANON: HIGHER COUNCIL FOR PRIVATIZATION SYG [...] (SBU) SYG Ziad Hayek does not believe early progress will be made in the privatization of Lebanon's mobile sector. There are "technical" solutions, but according to Hayek, PM Siniora has said he would prefer a new law. Privatization of the telecommunications fixed sector is also delayed, pri [...] | 2007-05-03 09:13:00 | Embassy Beirut | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | BEXP ECON ECPS ENIV LE PGOV PREL SY |
07BEIRUT633 | LEBANON: PRO-REFORM LEADERS URGE CHAPTER VII [...] (C) In a 5/3 meeting at the Embassy, a broad range of leaders from the March 14th movement, including Walid Jumblatt, Marwan Hamadeh, Ghattas Khoury and Nassib Lahoud, discussed the chances for a successful vote on a Chapter VII resolution, likely Syrian and opposition reaction to such a dev [...] | 2007-05-04 15:47:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | IS LE PGOV PREL PTER SY |
07BEIRUT635 | LEBANON: FORMER AMBASSADOR FEARS IRANIAN [...] (C) Former Lebanese Ambassador to the U.S. Simon Karam expressed concerned that an allegedly Iranian-funded and Jihad al-Bina-managed highway linking Shia populations in the south and the Biqa' Valley could raise sectarian tensions and increase Hizballah's area of control. Meanwhile, the coun [...] | 2007-05-04 16:08:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | IS LE PGOV PREL PTER SY |
07BEIRUT638 | LEBANON TRIBUNAL: CHATAH AND HAMADEH REVIEW DAYS [...] (C) Mohamad Chatah, Senior Advisor to PM Siniora, told the Ambassador in a 5/5 meeting that, based on his consultations in New York (reftel),he was awaiting receipt of a draft UNSCR regarding the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. Siniora's letter to the UN will be finalized according to the for [...] | 2007-05-07 07:47:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER UNSC SY LE |
07BEIRUT645 | FRENCH AMBASSADOR ON TRIBUNAL, BRAMMERTZ, [...] (C) In a 5/7 meeting with Ambassador Feltman, French Ambassador Bernard Emie, just back from Paris, reported that France wants to move quickly toward a simple UNSCR establishing the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. Emie agreed that it appears that the pro-Syrians already recognize the inevita [...] | 2007-05-07 14:46:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PREL UNSC LE SY |
07BEIRUT650 | LEBANON: INDEPENDENT SHIA POLITICIAN SUGGESTS [...] (SBU) Independent Shia political leader Mohammad Baydoun in early May expressed frustration that the March 14 movement continues to approach the Shia community exclusively through Nabih Berri, whom Baydoun considers an unreliable partner. The main impediment to progress in Lebanon is Hizballah [...] | 2007-05-08 16:06:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER SY IS LE |
07BEIRUT651 | LEBANON: HARIRI PROMISES SINIORA WILL SEND SECOND [...] (C) Indicative of increasing momentum toward Chapter VII, March 14 parliamentary majority leader Saad Hariri told the Ambassador in a 5/8 meeting that PM Siniora is about to send a second, more emphatic letter to UNSYG Ban Ki-moon. Although Chapter VII was not explicitly referred to in the d [...] | 2007-05-08 16:38:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | IS LE PGOV PREL PTER SY |
07BEIRUT655 | NABIH BERRI SEEKS USG HELP TO DERAIL LAHOUD-SYRIAN [...] (S) Describing President Emile Lahoud as a "bastard," Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri used a 5/9 meeting with the Ambassador to seek USG help in derailing what Berri suspects is a diabolical Syrian-inspired plot Lahoud plans to implement to destroy Lebanon's parliament. (Yes, gentle reader, [...] | 2007-05-09 17:27:00 | Embassy Beirut | SECRET | PREL PGOV KDEM LE SY |
07BEIRUT66 | WHERE ARE THE DEMONSTRATORS? [...] (S) Curiously, the much ballyhooed "anti-Paris III" labor protests that the March 8-Aoun opposition promised -- from Michel Aoun's front yard -- would shake the foundations of the Siniora government this week have fizzled. After two days of lackluster turn-out, the General Labor Confederatio [...] | 2007-01-12 16:29:00 | Embassy Beirut | SECRET | PREL PTER PGOV KDEM LE SY |
07BEIRUT665 | PATRIARCH SFEIR UNENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT VATICAN [...] (C) In a 5/10 meeting with the Ambassador, Maronite Patriarch Sfeir downplayed the possibility of a special Vatican envoy helping to solve Lebanon's political crisis. A Vatican envoy, Sfeir said, would be perceived as coming to unite the Christians in advance of presidential elections. As t [...] | 2007-05-11 17:20:00 | Embassy Beirut | SECRET | PREL KDEM PGOV LE SY |
07BEIRUT673 | SCENESETTER FOR A/S WELCH'S 5/15-17/07 VISIT TO [...] (S) David: You last visited Lebanon in August 2006. Then, as now, Lebanon was in deep crisis. Yet the impact of today's crisis -- when Syria's allies seek to paralyze and make irrelevant the cabinet of Fouad Siniora and then install a pro-Syrian president in autumn -- stands in sharp contras [...] | 2007-05-15 08:25:00 | Embassy Beirut | SECRET | PREL PGOV KDEM LE SY |
07BEIRUT692 | LEBANON: A/S WELCH AND PM SINIORA COORDINATE [...] (C) In a 5/16 meeting, PM Siniora informed the visiting NEA A/S Welch that he is ready to initiate an all-out final diplomatic push to garner support for Chapter VII to establish the Special Tribunal. Once the P-3 draft resolution text has been agreed upon, Siniora will concentrate on winni [...] | 2007-05-17 13:17:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | IS LE PGOV PREL PTER SY |
07BEIRUT696 | LEBANON: A/S WELCH DISCUSSES DEVELOPMENTS WITH [...] (C) In a 5/15 meeting with Walid Jumblatt, Marwan Hamadeh, Ghazi Aridi and other March 14th figures, NEA A/S Welch assured them that U.S. support is non-negotiable and the pro-reform movement in Lebanon enjoys strong bi-partisan support in Congress. The state of play in the UN Security Coun [...] | 2007-05-17 16:19:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER LE IS SY |
07BEIRUT699 | LEBANON: A/S WELCH VISITS FORMER PRESIDENT [...] (C) In a May 16 meeting with visiting NEA A/S Welch and the Ambassador, former President Amine Gemayel stressed the need for a successful UN Security Council vote to establish the tribunal to try suspects in the death of former Prime Minister Hariri. Gemayel also hopes for a strongly-worded r [...] | 2007-05-17 16:59:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | KCRM PGOV PREL LE SY |
07BEIRUT704 | LEBANON: HARIRI FEELS GOOD ABOUT FRENCH AND BAD [...] (C) In a 5/15 meeting with A/S Welch, MP Saad Hariri reported with satisfaction about the start of his relationship with French President Sarkozy, which Hariri interpreted as a promising sign of continued French support. The Syrians, however, continue to worry Hariri. Having blocked the gover [...] | 2007-05-18 15:48:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER SY LE |
07BEIRUT707 | THE SEDUCTION OF THE WIDOW HARIRI: HOPES FOR [...] (C) Further to something we first mentioned in the 4/23/07 daily sitrep, beach resort owner and political gadfly Roger Edde has pursued a far-fetched plan to achieve his long-shot goal of becoming Lebanon's next president: he has dangled before the eyes of Rafiq Hariri's Paris-based widow N [...] | 2007-05-21 07:51:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM LE SY SA |
07BEIRUT708 | LAHOUD'S LEGAL ADVISOR CLAIMS TWO-CABINET SCENARIO [...] (C) Judge Selim Jeressaiti has a tough job: to persuade otherwise intelligent people that President Emile Lahoud's views have constitutional weight. Lahoud's recent rambling, ridiculous, but damaging letter to the UNSYG Ban regarding the Special Tribunal for Lebanon was a Jeressaiti product [...] | 2007-05-21 09:31:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER KDEM LE SY |
07BEIRUT712 | HAMADEH, MURR ON TRIPOLI FIGHTS; SEEKING [...] (C) In a 5/21 meeting with the Ambassador, Minister of Communications Marwan Hamadeh and Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Elias Murr (who joined the conversation by speaker phone from Switzerland) previewed what they predicted wouuld be the conclusions of the cabinet meeting being h [...] | 2007-05-21 15:18:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PARM MOPS PGOV PTER LE SY |
07BEIRUT727 | LEBANON: SINIORA STRESSES TRIBUNAL, AMMUNITION [...] (C) In a May 22 meeting with the Ambassador, Prime Minister Siniora urged a quick UN Security Council resolution establishing the Special Tribunal and expressed confidence that Indonesia, as a UNSC member, supports the tribunal. Siniora was convinced of Syrian involvement in the recent violenc [...] | 2007-05-23 09:51:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PARM MOPS LE SY |
07BEIRUT732 | ELIAS MURR, APPRECIATIVE OF USG HELP, PUSHES FOR [...] (C) Back in Beirut after another medical procedure in Switzerland, Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Elias Murr called the Ambassador today (5/23) with two messages. First, Murr noted that he had been fully briefed by LAF Commander Michel Sleiman and other officers on the planned US [...] | 2007-05-23 14:21:00 | Embassy Beirut | SECRET | PREL PARM MOPS PGOV PTER LE SY |
07BEIRUT733 | LEBANON: ISF'S GENERAL RIFI SEES SYRIA BEHIND [...] (C) In a meeting with the Ambassador on May 23, Director General of the Lebanese Internal Security Forces (ISF) General Ashraf Rifi added his voice to the chorus of those who assume a Syrian role in the recent violence in Lebanon. Rifi supports immediate action to eliminate Fatah al-Islam from [...] | 2007-05-23 15:28:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER LE SY |
07BEIRUT743 | DEFMIN MURR SAYS DECISIVE BATTLE WITH FATAH [...] (S) Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Elias Murr told the Ambassador in a 5/24 meeting that the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) will initiate a major assault on Nahr al-Barid camp in about 4-5 days, the time needed to assemble troops and ammunition and clear the camp of as many civilians [...] | 2007-05-25 11:30:00 | Embassy Beirut | SECRET | PREL PARM MOPS PTER PREF LE SY |
07BEIRUT746 | MURR ON NASRALLAH SPEECH: HARMFUL, BUT GOL/LAF [...] (S) In a 5/26 meeting with the Ambassador, Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Elias Murr attacked as "unacceptable" Hizballah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah's televised speech the previous evening. While according to Murr Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) Commander Michel Sleiman also [...] | 2007-05-28 05:23:00 | Embassy Beirut | SECRET | PTER PREL MOPS PREF MASS LE SY |
07BEIRUT747 | PM SINIORA RESOLUTE ON NAHR AL-BARID, MAKES FINAL [...] (S) In a one-on-one 5/28 meeting with the Ambassador, Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora speculated that the political will to "finish" Fatah al-Islam (FAI) had increased, not decreased, in the aftermath of Hizballah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah's 5/25 televised address. SIPDIS He [...] | 2007-05-28 17:12:00 | Embassy Beirut | SECRET | PTER PREL PARM MASS MOPS LE SY |
07BEIRUT769 | BERRI CLAIMS ONLY SINIORA'S RESIGNATION CAN SAVE [...] (C) Conveying a message to the Ambassador on 5/30 via an aide, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri warned that President Emile Lahoud plans to announce the dissolution of parliament in the coming weeks, using a dubious constitutional interpretation (described reftel). Hinting at fears of Syrian [...] | 2007-05-31 15:42:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM LE SY |
07BEIRUT773 | LEBANON: CODEL LEAHY MEETS WITH PM SINIORA [...] (C) On 5/31, PM Siniora conveyed to CODEL Leahy his sincere gratitude for U.S. leadership in yesterday's UN Security Council vote for resolution 1757, which will establish the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. He said the June 10 sunset clause was almost irrelevant because Speaker Berri will co [...] | 2007-05-31 16:29:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | IS LE PGOV PREL PTER SY |
07BEIRUT784 | POST-TRIBUNAL POLITICAL INITIATIVES: WHICH IS THE [...] (S) With the passage of UNSCR 1757 on the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, the international community handed a significant victory to the March 14 and GOL leaders. While figures such as Saad Hariri have strained to project a spirit of magnanimity toward Hizballah and its allies in the afterma [...] | 2007-06-02 13:39:00 | Embassy Beirut | SECRET | PREL PGOV KDEM LE SY |
07BEIRUT785 | DEFMIN MURR ON NAHR AL-BARID FIGHT [...] (S) In a one-on-one meeting with the Ambassador on the evening of June 2, Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Elias Murr, while describing that day's house-to-house combat in Nahr al-Barid as "tough," forcefully rejected the worry of some Lebanese politicians that the LAF had, on the s [...] | 2007-06-03 07:39:00 | Embassy Beirut | SECRET | PTER PREL MASS MOPS LE SY |
07BEIRUT794 | HADDAD, AZOUR CONVINCED SYRIA WANTS RIAD SALAMEH [...] (S) After shooing out their staff members and Embassy notetaker after a lengthy meeting on economic and financial matters (reftel),Minister of Finance Jihad Azour and Minister of Economy and Trade Sami Haddad told the Ambassador on 6/1 that they were deeply concerned about the "charm offens [...] | 2007-06-04 16:25:00 | Embassy Beirut | SECRET | PREL KDEM PGOV LE SY |
07BEIRUT805 | LEBANON: A/S SILVERBERG MEETS WITH PM SINIORA [...] (C) On 6/5, PM Siniora informed A/S Silverberg that LAF operations against Fatah al-Islam terrorists cornered in the Nahr al-Barid refugee camp were proceeding according to plan and that only two outcomes were acceptable: surrender to Lebanese justice, or elimination. Siniora agreed with the [...] | 2007-06-06 09:32:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | IS LE PGOV PREL PTER SY |
07BEIRUT813 | LEBANON: JUSTICE MINISTER RIZK LOOKS AHEAD ON [...] (C) Visiting Assistant Secretary for International Organizations Kristen Silverberg and the Ambassador on June 5 discussed upcoming issues regarding the Special Tribunal for Lebanon with Minister of Justice Charles Rizk. Fully supportive of A/S Silverberg's argument to make progress on making [...] | 2007-06-06 15:18:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL LE SY |
07BEIRUT830 | LEBANESE DEFMIN CONFIDENT ON NAHR AL-BARID FIGHT [...] (S) Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Elias Murr told Ambassador and DCM on 6/8 that GOL forces are committed to completing the operation at Nahar al-Barid against Fatah al-Islam insurgents; he estimated the LAF needs three to five more days. In recent fierce fighting, the LAF had ki [...] | 2007-06-10 08:33:00 | Embassy Beirut | SECRET | PREL MOPS PTER MASS LE SY |
07BEIRUT831 | LEBANON: FRENCH AMBASSADOR TRIES TO DOWNPLAY [...] (C/NF) In a 6/9 meeting with French Ambassador Bernard Emie, Ambassador Feltman registered strong concern about the proposal by French Foreign Minister Kouchner to host Lebanese political and civil society figures to a national dialogue in France in late June. Emie (please protect throughout [...] | 2007-06-10 10:36:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL PGOV KDEM LE SY FR |
07BEIRUT861 | LEBANON: BRAVO ZULU FOR U.S. MILITARY ASSISTANCE [...] Speed, professionalism, effectiveness: those qualities exemplified the extraordinary effort put forth by our EUCOM, CENTCOM and TRANSCOM military brethren and our State and DOD civilian colleagues in providing urgently needed military assistance to Lebanon's fledgling armed forces in their ti [...] | 2007-06-14 16:23:00 | Embassy Beirut | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | MASS MOPS PTER PREL LE SY |
07BEIRUT866 | LEBANON: UN ASSESSMENT TEAM IN AN UNCOMFORTABLE [...] (C) At a 6/14 meeting requested by the International Donors Border Security Sub-group, members of the UN border assessment team spoke in worrying tones of what their team had found in its two-week examination of the Lebanese-Syrian border. In contrast to his aloof address to the same group [...] | 2007-06-15 09:14:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | IS LE PGOV PREL PTER SY |
07BEIRUT870 | LEBANON: SAFADI SEES SYRIAN HAND BEHIND EIDO [...] (C) In a June 14 meeting with the Ambassador, Minister of Public Works and Transportation Mohammad Safadi blamed Syria for the June 13 assassination of March 14 MP Walid Eido. Eido and March 14 Youth and Sports Minister Ahmed Fatfat have both been targets for some time, he claimed, due to thei [...] | 2007-06-15 14:36:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER LE SY |
07BEIRUT872 | LEBANON: COUSSERAN READOUT: FRANCE REVISED ITS [...] (C) The reactions to the French initiative that Lebanese interlocutors gave envoy Jean-Claude Cousseron during his visit to Lebanon caused the French to modify their original plan for participation, French Embassy charge Joseph Silva told DCM on June 14. Interlocutors from both political camps [...] | 2007-06-15 14:49:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | KDEM PREL PGOV LE SY |
07BEIRUT874 | LEBANON: PREVENTING IRAN-SYRIA ARMS SHIPMENTS [...] (S) The Ambassador on June 13 and 14 delivered Ref B demarche to Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Tariq Mitri, Minister of Defense Elias Murr, and Minister of Transportation Mohammed Safadi. In addition, the DATT demarched Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) Commander General Michel Sleiman on June [...] | 2007-06-15 15:09:00 | Embassy Beirut | SECRET//NOFORN | PARM PREL MOPS ETTC PGOV SY IR LE |
07BEIRUT875 | LEBANON: DO BY-ELECTIONS INCREASE THE CHANCES OF [...] (C) In a June 16 session, the Lebanese cabinet rushed through a decree to hold by-elections for the two March 14 parliamentary seats made vacant through assassination; by-elections will be scheduled for August 5. Former President Amine Gemayel told us that he hesitates to run for his son's [...] | 2007-06-18 06:11:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER KDEM LE SY |
07BEIRUT876 | UN ENVOY PEDERSEN, MOHAMAD CHATAH ON 1701 REPORT [...] (C) In a July 16 meeting with the Ambassador that focused largely on Lebanon's internal politics, UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Geir Pedersen also talked of the next UNSCR 1701 report. On Sheba' Farms, Pedersen, showing a map, said that the cartographer's work revealed that the area of [...] | 2007-06-18 06:11:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER UNSC LE SY |
07BEIRUT898 | LEBANON: SCENESETTER FOR FBI DIRECTOR MUELLER [...] (SBU) As you visit Lebanon, the much-buffeted democratic government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora is fully engaged on a number of critical issues. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) are now locked in close combat with Sunni extremists who profess affiliation with Al Qaida, but who many believ [...] | 2007-06-20 12:30:00 | Embassy Beirut | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | IS LE PGOV PREL PTER SY |
07BEIRUT90 | LEBANON: UNIIIC BRAMMERTZ APPLIES SCISSORS TO [...] (S/NF) UNIIIC Commissioner Brammertz told the Ambassador that neither any of the P-5 counties, nor Israel, were among the ten countries cited for non-compliance in last month's interim report to the UN Security Council. Indicating some surprise that this has developed into such an issue, Br [...] | 2007-01-17 16:49:00 | Embassy Beirut | SECRET//NOFORN | IS LE PGOV PREL PTER SY |
07BEIRUT913 | LEBANON: UNIFIL COMMANDER WARNS ISRAEL WILL [...] (C) UNIFIL Force Commander Graziano, calling the June 17 rocket attack against Israel a "severe violation" of UNSCR 1701, credited excellent UNIFIL communication with the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) and Israeli restraint for Israel's decision not to retaliate. However, he warned that Israel [...] | 2007-06-21 14:44:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | IS LE PGOV PREL PTER SY |
07BEIRUT917 | LEBANON: SINIORA INTENDS TO USE NAHR AL-BARID TO [...] (C) In a 6/21 meeting, PM Siniora conveyed to the Ambassador his conviction that the fight at Nahr al-Barid was a watershed event -- one which will enable his government to take the offensive against the numerous concentrations of militants located in the 12 Palestinian refugee camps and in [...] | 2007-06-22 14:08:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | IS LE PGOV PREL PTER SY |
07BEIRUT922 | LEBANON: JUMBLATT: SECOND GOVERNMENT WOULD [...] (C) In a June 21 meeting with the Ambassador, Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) and Druse leader Walid Jumblatt expressed his support for the Arab League's initiative to hold a national dialogue at the deputy level the following week (an initiative that crumbled shortly thereafter). Jumblatt [...] | 2007-06-25 04:03:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER SY IS LE |
07BEIRUT933 | LEBANON: SINIORA REQUESTS INCREASED MILITARY [...] (C) In a 6/25 meeting with CODEL Issa, PM Siniora requested continued U.S. security assistance so that Lebanon's army could carry on its fight against Palestinian militants and other extremists. Siniora said that once the Nahr al-Barid operation is completed, he wants to "turn his attention [...] | 2007-06-25 14:38:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | IS LE PGOV PREL PTER SY |
07BEIRUT94 | WAITING FOR HIZBALLAH: SAUDI AMBASSADOR CLAIMS [...] (S) Summary: In a 1/18 meeting with the Ambassador, Saudi Ambassador Abdulaziz Khoja said that he has received approvals from Parliament Speaker Berri and MP Saad Hariri for the broad outlines of a political deal to resolve Lebanon's political crisis. Hizballah has not yet responded to his [...] | 2007-01-18 14:20:00 | Embassy Beirut | SECRET | PREL PGOV PTER LE SY |
07BEIRUT944 | LEBANON: CONGRESSMAN ISSA VISITS BEIRUT [...] (C) Congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA) visited Beirut June 24-25, where he held meetings with PM Siniora (reftel),Free Patriotic Movement General Michel Aoun, Parliament Speaker Nabil Berri, Future Movement leader Saad Hariri, and March 14 MP Samir Franjieh. The visit occurred in the wake of A [...] | 2007-06-26 13:59:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | IS LE PGOV PREL PTER SY |
07BEIRUT945 | LEBANON: BRAMMERTZ PREVIEWS NEXT REPORT ON HARIRI [...] (C) In a June 20 meeting with the Ambassador, UNIIIC Commissioner Serge Brammertz said he was in the process of finalizing his next report to the UN Security Council (which he expects to present on July 19). While the report will not include the names of those believed responsible for the 200 [...] | 2007-06-26 14:37:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER SY IS LE |
07BEIRUT952 | LAHOUD'S SECOND CABINET SCENARIO: EVEN IF HE'S [...] (C) Rumors about if and when President Emile Lahoud will unilaterally form a second cabinet continue to dominate political talk in Lebanon. There are some indications that Lahoud might move far more quickly than expected to take this step to undermine Siniora's cabinet. Elias Murr, citing h [...] | 2007-06-27 16:19:00 | Embassy Beirut | SECRET | PREL PGOV KDEM LE SY |
07BEIRUT963 | LEBANON: GOL CLOSE TO SUBMITTING TRIBUNAL JUDGE [...] (C) Justice Minister Charles Rizk provided Ambassador on June 28, 2007 with a list of names of twelve Lebanese judges the GOL intends to nominate to the UN for selection for the four seats on Special Tribunal. He said all twelve have agreed to have their names put forward. The GOL has its p [...] | 2007-06-28 15:09:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER SY IS LE |
07BEIRUT967 | LEBANON: FBI DIRECTOR EXPLORES COUNTERTERRORISM [...] (S) FBI Director Mueller on June 26 met with Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Elias Murr, Minister of Interior Hassan Sabaa, Head of the Internal Security Forces Ashraf Rifi, Minister of Justice Charles Rizk, and Chief Prosecutor Jean Fahd to offer FBI assistance to Lebanon's securit [...] | 2007-06-29 09:01:00 | Embassy Beirut | SECRET | PGOV PREL PTER KCRM LE SY |
07BEIRUT972 | LEBANON: UNIFIL DISCUSSES TRIPARTITE TALKS, VBIED [...] (C) On June 27, UNIFIL's Chief of Planning and Coordination described the June 24 attack on the UNIFIL patrol near the village of El Khaim as a "specific terrorist attack" directed against UNIFIL, but he refrained from saying it had deliberately targeted the forward-leaning Spanish contingen [...] | 2007-06-29 14:35:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | IS LE PGOV PREL PTER SY |
07BEIRUT974 | LAHOUD'S LEGAL ADVISOR: SECOND CABINET (OR [...] (C) Lebanese President Emile Lahoud's amiable legal advisor, Selim Jeressaiti, told the Ambassador on 6/29 that -- based on Jeressaiti's advice -- Lahoud has begrudgingly delayed the appointment of a second cabinet from July until September. If no consensus presidential candidate emerges by [...] | 2007-07-02 05:09:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KDEM PGOV LE SY |
07BEIRUT977 | LEBANON: ARE MODERATE SHIA THE ANSWER TO MARCH [...] (C) Recent discussions with two political figures from opposite sides of the confessional spectrum revealed a common thread in terms of broadening March 14's political alliances -- the need to secure the support of moderate Shia. While one advocated an alliance with Amal as a means for March [...] | 2007-07-02 06:15:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER SY IS LE |
07BEIRUT984 | LEBANON: SINIORA CONFIDENT DESPITE CONCERTED [...] (C) Coming off a pivotal trip to Paris, Rome, Madrid, Cairo and Jeddah, PM Siniora spoke confidently of the pro-democracy movement's successful facing down of Syria's focused campaign to destabilize the country. Siniora believes the pro-Syrian opposition just might be becoming frustrated. [...] | 2007-07-03 10:12:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER SY LE FR |
07BEIRUT993 | LEBANON: DEFENSE MINISTER SUGGESTS NEW TWIST ON [...] (C) Defense Minister Elias Murr believes Syria ultimately will scuttle the most recent compromise idea (promoted by his father Michel) for solving Lebanon's political impasse -- appointing Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) Commander General Michel Sleiman for a two-year term to replace President Emil [...] | 2007-07-05 15:19:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER SY IS LE |
07BELGRADE1451 | FOLLOW UP ON SERBIAN FIRM'S POSSIBLE BID TO SUPPLY [...] (S) Serbia's Director of Arms Control at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told poloff, October 5, that, since April, the Government of Serbia had discovered no information regarding a potential sale of multispectral camouflage netting to Syria by a Serbian firm. Separate discussions with Mile [...] | 2007-10-24 21:04:00 | Embassy Belgrade | SECRET | PARM PREL ETTC MASS SY SR CG |
07BERLIN1770 | (S) GERMANY ALERTED TO SHIPMENT OF GERMAN-ORIGIN [...] (S) Global Affairs officer delivered reftel demarche and accompanying photos September 19 to MFA Deputy Office Director for Export Controls on Non-Conventional Dual Use Goods Markus Klinger and MFA Desk Officer Wiebke Wacker. Klinger said he recognized the time-sensitive nature of our request [...] | 2007-09-19 13:03:00 | Embassy Berlin | SECRET | PARM MTCRE PREL ETTC KNNP GM SY |
07BERLIN2218 | (S) SHIELD S15A-06 - SYRIAN EFFORTS TO PROCURE [...] No summary [...] | 2007-12-18 15:14:00 | Embassy Berlin | SECRET | PREL PARM ETTC SY GM |
07BERLIN58 | DESIGNATION OF ADDITIONAL SYRIAN ENTITIES UNDER [...] (S) Global Affairs officer delivered ref demarche January 9 to Ursina Krumpholz, office director of the Economic Ministry's Foreign Trade Law Division, and her deputy, Ernst Roeder-Messell, and, in a separate meeting, to Andreas Kauke in the MFA's Export Control Division. Krumpholz thanked us [...] | 2007-01-10 16:38:00 | Embassy Berlin | SECRET | PREL KNNP PARM SY ETTC GM |
07BERLIN602 | GERMAN PLANS TO HELP SECURE THE LEBANON-SYRIA [...] (C) Summary. Germany plans a four-step process to help Lebanon secure its border with Syria by 01/01/2008, beginning with a pilot project in the north. Equipment deliveries and training have begun. The 2006 German government team examining the prospects found, according to a recently releas [...] | 2007-03-23 16:18:00 | Embassy Berlin | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER MARR PGOV PBTS PREL GM LE SY |
07BRATISLAVA314 | SLOVAKIA WILL JOIN ANY EU STATEMENT ON SYRIA [...] No summary [...] | 2007-05-25 14:42:00 | Embassy Bratislava | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KDEM PHUM PGOV SY LO |
07BRATISLAVA518 | SLOVAKIA CAUTIOUS ON LEBANON BORDER MISSION [...] (C) PolEcon chief discussed reftel with Deputy Director of the Department of Africa, Middle East and Asia, Klara Novotna, on September 13. Novotna was very appreciative of the timing of the demarche, and pledged to convey our points to the Slovak Mission in Brussels prior to the September 14 [...] | 2007-09-14 15:59:00 | Embassy Bratislava | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SY IS LE EUN |
07BRATISLAVA663 | SLOVAKIA: UPCOMING VISIT OF PRESIDENT GASPAROVIC [...] (C) Summary. President Gasparovic and Defense Minister Kasicky will make a one-day visit to Syria on December 18 to meet with Slovak peacekeepers deployed to the UNDOF Mission in the Golan Heights. Gasparovic also will meet briefly with President Asad. In his first meeting with President Gas [...] | 2007-12-14 10:58:00 | Embassy Bratislava | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL LO SY |
07BRUSSELS1561 | BELGIAN SUPPORT FOR UNSC ACTION ON SPECIAL [...] (C) The head of Belgium's UNSC cell Rudi Brieven assured us on May 9 that Belgium (GOB) is "fully supportive" of a UNSC resolution to establish a Special Tribunal for Lebanon and will vote in favor in any event. The principles behind Belgium's position are: (1) that the authority of UNSC "de [...] | 2007-05-10 14:07:00 | Embassy Brussels | CONFIDENTIAL | UNSC LE SY PREL PTER BE |
07BRUSSELS1734 | EU ON SYRIA'S PRESIDENTIAL REFERENDUM [...] (C) In response to reftel points, Council officials emphasized that the EU shares U.S. objectives and assessments regarding the conduct of Syria's upcoming presidential referendum. There are no plans, however, to issue an EU or Presidency statement ahead of the vote. Citing constraints of time [...] | 2007-05-25 13:57:00 | USEU Brussels | CONFIDENTIAL | KDEM PREL PHUM SY EUN |
07BRUSSELS2475 | EU CONTACTS DISCUSS THE MIDDLE EAST [...] SUMMARY. (C) Contacts in Brussels confirmed that while many member states question the practicality of isolating Hamas, the EU is firmly committed to the Quartet principles and will not waver in its support for them. Despite a recent flurry of press articles and think tank analyses calling for [...] | 2007-08-02 16:07:00 | USEU Brussels | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL XF LE SY EUN EAID |
07BRUSSELS2776 | BELGIANS AGREE WITH DISCREET EU APPROACH ON SYRIAN [...] (C) In response to Ref B. demarche and in line with his initial, Aug. 29 response to demarche Ref B, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Syria desk officer Hendrik Van der Velde gave us a readout on Sept. 5 of the EU-coordinated demarche to Syria concerning the case of Syrian MP Riyad Seif. Van der V [...] | 2007-09-05 14:38:00 | Embassy Brussels | CONFIDENTIAL | EUN KDEM PHUM PREL SY BE |
07BRUSSELS2808 | EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTARIANS TO SEE RIAD SEIF, [...] (C) Nine deputies of the European Parliament (EP) are to meet with Syrian dissident MP Riad Seif in Damascus on September 12, 2007, Belgian MFA desk officer for the Levant Hendrik Van der Velde informed post on September 6. Seif will be part of a party of representatives of the eight organiz [...] | 2007-09-07 05:47:00 | Embassy Brussels | CONFIDENTIAL | EUN KDEM PHUM PREL SY BE |
07BRUSSELS2888 | EU BORDER MISSION FOR LEBANON - STRONG BELGIAN [...] No summary [...] | 2007-09-14 15:37:00 | Embassy Brussels | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SY IS LE EUN BE |
07BRUSSELS2969 | EU QUARTET ENVOY MARC OTTE DISCUSSES MIDDLE EAST [...] (C) European Union (EU) Special Representative on the Middle East Peace Process (MEPP) Mark Otte discussed Lebanon and the MEPP in an introductory meeting with USEU DCM on September 18. Otte said the Arab states may not participate in an international meeting on the Israeli-Palestinian issue u [...] | 2007-09-21 14:50:00 | USEU Brussels | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV IS LE SY XF EUN |
07BRUSSELS3081 | ESDP OFFICIALS SHOW LITTLE ENTHUSIASM FOR LEBANON [...] (C/NF) Summary: European Union member states have agreed to send a small, political exploratory team to the region later this month to determine Lebanese and Syrian willingness to accept an EU border mission. However, HR Solana remains opposed to the EU deploying an ESDP mission and has inst [...] | 2007-10-04 15:37:00 | USEU Brussels | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL PGOV SY LE EUN |
07BRUSSELS3093 | EU CONTACTS DISCUSS MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS [...] (C/NF) EU Council Middle East Unit Chief Christian Jouret characterized the Quartet and other meetings in New York as good, but expressed his personal concern from side meetings with Arab officials that "the Arabs" are not privately as optimistic or constructive as they appeared to be. Jouret [...] | 2007-10-05 14:47:00 | USEU Brussels | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL PGOV IS SY LE XF EUN |
07BRUSSELS3121 | (C/NF) COUNCIL CONTACT DOUBTS EU BORDER MISSION [...] (C) SUMMARY. The EU Council is currently working on a concept paper and road map for an "exploratory" mission to Damascus at end-October to discuss the proposed EU border monitoring mission on the Syrian-Lebanese border. Council contacts are skeptical that such a mission will go beyond the e [...] | 2007-10-10 15:59:00 | USEU Brussels | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL PGOV SY IS LE XF EUN |
07BRUSSELS3354 | SOLANA FINDS PESSIMISM, BUT ALSO DETERMINATION TO [...] (C) SUMMARY: According to Council Secretariat Director for the Middle East, Christian Jouret, EU HR Javier Solana detected a great deal of pessimism regarding the Annapolis meeting, but also a determination to avoid failure, during his November 11-14 talks in Egypt, Israel, and the Palestini [...] | 2007-11-16 17:51:00 | USEU Brussels | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EUN IS XF SY |
07BUCHAREST779 | ROMANIA: ON SEEKING REGIONAL SUPPORT TO STOP FLOW [...] (S) Post delivered reftel demarche on July 3 to MFA Director for Middle East and Africa Affairs, Daniel Tanase. Tanase was receptive and eager to work with U.S. and other allies to approach Damascus directly. Tanase would like Romania to send a small delegation from Bucharest to Damascus in [...] | 2007-07-05 15:26:00 | Embassy Bucharest | SECRET | PREL PTER SY IZ RO |
07CAIRO2242 | AMRE MOUSSA REVIEWS SITUATION IN LEBANON [...] (C) Arab League Secretary General Amre Moussa told the Ambassador in a July 17 meeting (reftel) that "time is running out," and that there is a lot of groundwork to be done before the Lebanese presidential election (required to be held by mid-November). At the same time, he expressed the hope [...] | 2007-07-19 16:32:00 | Embassy Cairo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL LE SY IS |
07CAIRO2731 | EGYPT'S MFA DELIVERS NON-PAPER ON PEACE SUMMIT [...] (C) During a meeting with Economic and Political Minister Counselor on September 6, foreign ministry spokesman Ambassador Hossam Zaki delivered a non-paper (see para two) reflecting Egypt's views on the peace summit proposed by President Bush, and asked the Embassy to forward it to the Secret [...] | 2007-09-06 14:26:00 | Embassy Cairo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KPAL IS EG SY LE |
07CAIRO3391 | ARAB LEAGUE SYG MOUSSA ON ANNAPOLIS FOLLOW-UP, [...] (C) Summary: Freshly returned from Annapolis, Arab League Secretary General Amre Moussa spoke with us December 1. The SIPDIS conversation focused on next steps in the Israeli-Arab engagement, Iraq, Lebanon, and Iran. He conceded that fear is the real reason the Arab League has not returne [...] | 2007-12-03 15:38:00 | Embassy Cairo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER IZ LE SY IS EG |
07CAIRO3518 | MFA ON LEBANON AND EGYPTIAN DELEGATION TO TEHRAN [...] (C) MFA Cabinet Advisor for Iran Mahmoud Afifi told us December 17 that the December 11 visit of Assistant Minister for Asian Affairs Hussein Derar was to reciprocate the September 18 visit to Egypt of an Iranian delegation (led by Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs A [...] | 2007-12-17 17:10:00 | Embassy Cairo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV LE SY EG IR |
07CAIRO3562 | MUBARAK SPEAKS OUT AGAINST SYRIA IN LEBANON [...] (C) Egyptian FM Aboul Gheit emphasized to Ambassador and a visiting Congressional delegation led by Senator Voinovich December 31 that Egypt was taking a firm public stance supporting election of a Lebanese president. Aboul Gheit cited Mubarak's December 30 joint press conference with French [...] | 2007-12-31 16:13:00 | Embassy Cairo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV SY LE EG |
07DAMASCUS1012 | RAMADAN SHAMMY: LATE NIGHT GOSSIP ON THE ECONOMY, [...] (C) Summary: While attending to our day jobs, Embassy staff tried (in vain) to keep up with a rigorous late night Syrian Ramadan social calendar. Despite SARG efforts to scare Syrians away from our events and to deter others from inviting us to theirs, we held three successful Embassy Ramad [...] | 2007-10-11 10:12:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SY IZ |
07DAMASCUS1016 | UPDATE ON SYRIA'S TEXTILE AND APPAREL INDUSTRY [...] (U) Summary. As Syria's oil exports decline, its textile/apparel industry is assuming a larger share of total Syrian exports at 17 percent. Relatively, however, Syria's textile/apparel industry remains a small player in the international arena. Combining subsidized raw materials and product [...] | 2007-10-11 13:33:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | EIND ETRD KTEX SY |
07DAMASCUS102 | Syria/Spain, Russia, Syria/Turkey, Palestinian Territories, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Jan. 31 reported that President Asad received, on Jan. 30, a phone call from Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero in which they discussed the Palestinian situation and current efforts to stop intra-Palestinian fighting. Premier Zapatero underscored Syr [...] | 2007-01-31 12:36:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS1073 | RARE PUBLIC EXECUTION TAKES PLACE IN SYRIA [...] (C) Summary. A rare public execution was carried out by a military field court on October 25 in Aleppo. According to press reports, the five convicts were common criminals accused of serious crimes including homicide in the course of robbery. Human rights activists took the opportunity to d [...] | 2007-11-01 14:05:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS1075 | SYRIANS WAKE UP TO GASOLINE PRICE HIKE [...] (SBU) Syrians awoke on November 1 to find that the SARG had increased the price of gasoline by 20 percent overnight, from 30 to 36 SP/liter (USD 2.27 to 2.72/gal). The increase was less than the 40 SP/liter price many economists had predicted during a heated public debate over the need to eli [...] | 2007-11-01 15:11:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG EPET SY |
07DAMASCUS108 | NEW TACTICS FOR APPLYING PRESSURE TO SARG REGIME [...] (C) Summary. As the USG continues to consider strategies for increasing the pressure on SARG regime members and supporters, post solicits Washington's feedback on our below suggestions for expanding the use of sanctions against the Syrian regime. Targeted sanctions can help to delegitimize co [...] | 2007-02-01 14:43:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN ECON ETTC SY SANC |
07DAMASCUS109 | Syria/Turkey, Syria/Iraq, Palestinian Territories, Lebanon [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Feb. 1 reported FM Walid Mouallem's visit to Turkey on Jan. 31 and his meetings with President Sezer and PM Erdogan to convey two messages from President Asad on the latest developments in the region. Mouallem also held talks with Turkish FM Abdullah Gul on bilatera [...] | 2007-02-01 14:46:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS1094 | SYRIAN GOVERNMENT REPRESSES PRO-PKK RALLIES [...] (SBU) Summary. Pro-PKK protests by Syrian Kurds in Northeast Syrian city of Qamishli were met by heavy police repression. The ensuing crackdown caused multiple injuries and the death of at least one Syrian Kurd. There were also several arrests at a pro-PKK rally in the northern border town o [...] | 2007-11-08 09:42:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL PTER SY |
07DAMASCUS110 | DEMOGRAPHICS OF IRAQIS IN SYRIA [...] (SBU) Summary: There is little reliable data about the demographic makeup of Iraqis in Syria. There is growing evidence (and intensified SARG efforts to gather it),however, indicating the numbers may be significantly higher than previously estimated 800,000 Iraqis (perhaps more than 1 mill [...] | 2007-02-01 15:21:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREF PGOV SY IZ |
07DAMASCUS111 | SYRIA'S ECONOMY CONTINUES TO STRENGTHEN [...] (SBU) Summary. Syria,s economy is starting 2007 much stronger than it began 2006. Growth rates, which increased modestly the last two years, are generally expected to continue upwards if current trends continue. Still, the SARG faces a number of economic challenges in 2007, including incre [...] | 2007-02-01 16:03:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN EINV ENRG EPET ETRD PGOV SY |
07DAMASCUS1123 | ARAB LEAGUE BOYCOTT MEETING BLACKLISTS MERRILL [...] (U) Summary. The semi-annual meeting of the Arab League Boycott group was held November 5-7 in Damascus. Participation and results followed expectations and closely paralleled last April,s gathering (reftel). One U.S. company, Merrill Lynch, and three unnamed European companies were official [...] | 2007-11-20 14:47:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | AL ECON KBCT PHUM SY |
07DAMASCUS1132 | ANNAPOLIS CONFERENCE: SARG SAYS YES, SENDING VICE [...] (C) The Syrian MFA notified Charge at 1500 local that Vice Foreign Minister Fayssal Mekdad will be leading Syria's delegation to the Annapolis conference. Mekdad will be accompanied by his Chef du Cabinet (Office Director) Hussam Aala. Syrian Ambassador Imad Mustafa will join the Syrian de [...] | 2007-11-25 15:32:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | AMGT CVIS PGOV PREL KWBG KPAL IS SY |
07DAMASCUS1140 | CONGRESSWOMAN MCCOLLUM DISCUSSES REFUGEES AND [...] (C) Summary: In a 25-minute discussion with Congresswoman McCollum (D-MN) on November 28, President Asad criticized the lack of preparation for the Annapolis Conference but said the initiative represented an important first step. He stressed the need for determined U.S. engagement in the co [...] | 2007-11-29 14:13:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREF PREL SY IS |
07DAMASCUS1143 | SARG SECURITY COURT ACTIONS AGAINST JIHADISTS MORE [...] (C) Summary. On November 25, the Syrian Supreme State Security Court (SSSC) formally accused three alleged jihadists with attempting to join the insurgency against U.S. forces in Iraq. To date there has been no official SARG comment on the trial. Human rights activists speculate that the cou [...] | 2007-11-29 16:05:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS1144 | SEVERAL SYRIAN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS PREVENTED [...] (SBU) Summary. The Syrian government has prevented several human rights figures from traveling abroad in recent days. The regime,s actions appear to be an enforcement of existing travel bans to which there had previously been some loopholes. Many of the activists prevented from leaving were h [...] | 2007-11-29 16:34:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS1147 | IDENT DATA ENTRY ERRORS AT PORTS OF ENTRY [...] (SBU) Summary: CBP inspectors at US ports of entry are apparently entering the terms "recidivist," "frequent traveler" and "unknown" into IDENT in place of actual traveler names and bio-data. Clearing these entries causes extra work for consular officers and casts a negative light on legitim [...] | 2007-12-03 05:34:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | CVIS ASEC KFRD SY |
07DAMASCUS1155 | ACS IN SYRIA - DECEIVED, DETAINED AND DEPORTED [...] (SBU) Summary. American Citizen Services (ACS) staff at Embassy Damascus had twenty cases of detention and/or abandonment of US citizens in the fourth quarter FY-2007. Six cases involved women fleeing their families due to abuse or to avoid arranged marriages. Four cases, some still ongoing, [...] | 2007-12-06 15:18:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PREF CVIS ASEC KFRD KCRM KOCI KWMN SY |
07DAMASCUS1156 | DAMASCUS DECLARATION ANNOUNCES CREATION OF [...] (C) Summary: More than two years after signing the original Damascus Declaration in October 2005, 163 civil society, human rights, and opposition leaders gathered at the Damascus home of leader Riad Seif to vote on the creation of a new legislative body (the National Council) and elect its C [...] | 2007-12-06 16:05:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS1157 | REPATRIATION OF IRAQI REFUGEES - NO MASS RETURN [...] (C) Summary: Since early October, Embassy sources have confirmed press and other reports of increasing numbers of Iraqi refugees leaving Syria for Iraq. On November 27, PolOff observed hundreds of Iraqis, carrying personal belongings of every shape, size and kind, loaded onto rented buses bo [...] | 2007-12-06 16:52:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PHUM PREL SY IZ |
07DAMASCUS1160 | CONSULAR SECTION ACTIVITIES -- October/November 2007 [...] (SBU) Summary: Despite the restrictive environment created by the ubiquitous Syrian security services, we continue to run an active outreach program. Below is a list of events in October and November. End Summary. 2. (SBU) International Education week November 4-8: Consular Officers di [...] | 2007-12-10 07:39:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | CVIS CPAS SY |
07DAMASCUS1162 | THE SYRIAN-AMERICAN MEDICAL CONNECTION [...] (SBU) Summary: Doctors receive the vast majority of the H1-B visas and nearly half of the J-1 visas issued at Embassy Damascus. They are likewise responsible for a substantial portion of the B-1/B-2 visas issued at Post. Syrian doctors typically remain in the U.S. at least until they naturali [...] | 2007-12-10 10:10:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | CVIS CASC OEXC SCUL KFRD SY |
07DAMASCUS1164 | INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION WEEK IN DAMASCUS DEFYS THE ODDS [...] No summary [...] | 2007-12-11 12:44:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KPAO KIRC OEXC OIIP SCUL SENV SY XF |
07DAMASCUS1170 | SARG ROUND UP OF DAMASCUS DECLARATION MEMBERS [...] (C) Summary: Syrian security services detained some 36 Damascus Declaration National Council NC) members this week, eventually releasing all but three. Security services also disrupted an NC meeting at the home of National Council Secretariat Riad Seif on December 13, but there were no SI [...] | 2007-12-13 09:30:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS1171 | DAMASCUS FRAUD PREVENTION MANAGEMENT REPORT [...] No summary [...] | 2007-12-13 10:31:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | CVIS CPAS KFRD KCRM CMGT ASEC SY |
07DAMASCUS1177 | PRESIDENT ASAD DISMISSES TWO CABINET MINISTERS - [...] (C) On December 10, new Ministers of Communications and Technology, Imad Abdul-Ghani Sabouni, and of Awqaf, Islamic Trusts, Mohammed Abdul-Sattar al Sayied, were sworn in before President Asad. This came two days after President Asad removed Dr. Amro Nazir Salem, Minister of Communications and [...] | 2007-12-13 16:12:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PINS PHUM PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS1178 | UNHCR DONOR MISSION TO DAMASCUS: DONORS AIR [...] (C) Summary: On December 2-3, UNHCR hosted 18 donor country representatives and attempted to give an updated assessment on the Iraqi refugee situation. UNHCR filled two days with meetings, site visits and official meetings. While the donors appeared sympathetic to the needs of the Iraqi refug [...] | 2007-12-13 16:13:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREF PREL SY IZ |
07DAMASCUS1180 | SYRIA-CUBA: TITLE III OF THE LIBERTAD ACT, [...] (C) Per ref A, the most recent official information available from the Syrian Central Bureau of Statistics states that in 2006, Cuban imports to Syria totaled USD 27,000 and Syrian exports to Cuba reached USD 1.2 million. These totals represent over a tenfold increase in Syrian exports to Cuba [...] | 2007-12-13 16:26:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD ETTC PREL CU SY |
07DAMASCUS1181 | SARG-IRAQI CONSULTATIONS REFLECT SOME PROGRESS ON [...] (C) Summary: On the margins of a delegation headed by Iraqi Finance Minister Bayan Jabr al Zabaida, Iraqi border security officials met with their Syrian counterparts in Damascus November 28-29 to discuss enhanced cooperation. According to the Iraqi embassy here, al Zabaida handed over 15 mi [...] | 2007-12-14 11:46:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV SY IZ |
07DAMASCUS1184 | WHITE HOUSE STATEMENT ON NATIONAL COUNCIL RECEIVED [...] (S) Summary: A quick survey of human rights and opposition contacts yielded mostly positive reactions to the December 14 White House statement on the creation of the National Council. National Council Secretariat Riad Seif, who had earlier requested such support, warned the night before the [...] | 2007-12-16 16:07:00 | Embassy Damascus | SECRET | PGOV PHUM PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS1187 | MFA AGREES TO NEXT CIRCUIT RIDE; WILL CONSIDER [...] (C) Summary. A Syrian MFA official confirmed UNHCR's report that the SARG would allow a DHS circuit ride in January as long as the same conditions set for the November-December circuit ride were met (reftel). The Charge asked that the SARG grant visas for international trainers and a deputy [...] | 2007-12-18 20:26:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS1188 | MFA AGREES TO NEXT CIRCUIT RIDE; WILL CONSIDER [...] (C) Summary. A Syrian MFA official confirmed UNHCR's report that the SARG would allow a DHS circuit ride in January as long as the same conditions set for the November-December circuit ride were met (reftel). The Charge asked that the SARG grant visas for international trainers and a deputy [...] | 2007-12-18 20:26:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS119 | NEW UNANNOUNCED SYRIAN POLICY ON IRAQIS [...] (C) Summary: Following weeks of unconfirmed reports that the SARG has tightened its entry policy for Iraqis, UNHCR contacts and the issuance of an internal SARG immigration circular confirms the new and stricter measures. Syrian officials, however, continue to dismiss reports of the new pol [...] | 2007-02-05 15:12:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PGOV PREL SY IZ |
07DAMASCUS1193 | DEMOCRATIC REFORM STRATEGY SYRIA - 2007 [...] (C) Summary: Since the development of Post,s 2005 democratic reform strategy there has been a substantial and on-going government crackdown on what little democratic reform had been taking place. Many of the democratic reformers and human rights advocates who were key Embassy contacts in 20 [...] | 2007-12-23 13:52:00 | Embassy Damascus | SECRET | PGOV PHUM PREL SY IS |
07DAMASCUS120 | Syria/Lebanon, Syria/Iraq, Palestinian hostility (2/2-5) [...] Summary: Syrian papers reported Indonesian FM Hassan Wirajuda's visit to Syria on Feb. 3 and 4 and his meetings with President Bashar al Assad and FM Walid al Mouallem. Wirajuda delivered a letter to President Assad from the Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on means of enhancing [...] | 2007-02-07 07:08:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS121 | Syria/Qatar, Syria/Turkey, Mousa, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Feb. 6 reported a meeting between President Asad and Qatar's Crown Prince Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani on Feb. 5 which focused on current international and regional developments and bilateral relations between the two countries. On Syrian/Turkish relations, pap [...] | 2007-02-07 07:09:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS122 | Palestinian Territories, Syria/Netherlands, Lavrov/Mousa, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Feb. 7 quoted an official source at the Syrian Foreign Ministry expressing, on Feb. 6, deep concern over Israeli excavations in the area of the al-Aqsa Mosque that threaten the safety and sanctity of the mosque. "Syria, which strongly condemns this aggression, sees t [...] | 2007-02-07 13:44:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS126 | Asad, Syria/Tajikistan, Syria/Vatican, Palestinian [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Feb. 8 reported President Asad's Feb. 7 address at the start of a two-day conference of the Ba'ath Party Central Committee, in which he called for maintaining Syrian national unity, pointing out the complementary nature of Islamic thought and pan-Arabism. He called [...] | 2007-02-08 12:49:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS127 | SYRIA'S MOST IMPORTANT ECONOMIC REFORM: THE [...] (C) SUMMARY. The SARG continues to spotlight its efforts to modernize the financial sector and achieve economic equality with its Arab neighbors, but the banking sector as the SARG-proclaimed "model" of sectoral reform falls well short of the propaganda. The SARG continues to lack the poli [...] | 2007-02-08 14:50:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN EINV PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS128 | "SHIA-IZATION" IN SYRIA, REGIME'S ELECTION [...] (C) Summary: Dr. Samir al-Taqi, an advisor to the Syrian MFA, described for A/DCM February 7 growing unease in Syria about what he termed Iranian efforts at Shia-ization in the country. Most of this effort is concentrated in the northeast, with some of it linked to Iranian efforts to use i [...] | 2007-02-08 15:32:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SY IZ |
07DAMASCUS131 | Syria/ Tajikistan, Syria/Oman, Syria/Germany, Syria/Iraq, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Feb. 11 reported the visit to Damascus by Tajik President Imamoli Rakhmanov on Feb. 9, and his talks with President Asad, VP Shara and FM Mouallem. The Presidents called for scheduling a withdrawal of foreign troops from Iraq, reiterated the importance of a Palestin [...] | 2007-02-11 14:27:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS132 | IRAQI REFUGEE DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO THE SARG [...] No summary [...] | 2007-02-11 15:03:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREF ASEC SY IZ JO |
07DAMASCUS134 | UPDATE - LABWANI'S TREATMENT IN PRISON [...] (C) Summary. On February 10, Poloff met with the family of imprisoned political activist Kamal Labwani to check his status. Family members reported that Labwani had recently been returned to his normal cell, after having spent six days confined to a dark, dirty underground cell. Family membe [...] | 2007-02-12 09:41:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM SY |
07DAMASCUS137 | Syria/Lebanon, Palestinian Territories, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Feb. 12 reported VP Shara's meeting on Feb. 11 with Ali Qansoh, Chairman of the Syrian National Socialist Party in Lebanon, during which Shara confirmed that Syria supports all that the Lebanese agree upon to achieve civil stability, peace and national unity. They r [...] | 2007-02-12 14:13:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS139 | Mousa, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestinian Territories (2/13) [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Feb. 13 reported President Asad's meeting with Arab League Secretary General Amr Mousa on Feb. 12. Talks focused on Arab developments, particularly in Iraq, the Palestinian territories, and Lebanon. The President stressed that national accord is the only way to achi [...] | 2007-02-14 06:19:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS146 | Syria/Palestinians, Lebanon, Syria/Norway, Iraq (2/14) [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Feb. 14 reported a mass rally in Damascus on Feb. 13 condemning Israeli excavations near the al-Aqsa Mosque. Papers also reported that President Asad received a letter on Feb. 13 from Palestinian National Authority Chairman Mahmud Abbas. The letter was delivered to [...] | 2007-02-14 13:37:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS147 | SYRIAN ARAB AIRLINES SPEAKS TO CHARGE ON AIR SAFETY [...] (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 10. 2. (C) Summary. Responding to a request by the Syrian MFA and seeking to fill-in missing information on important safety of flight issues, Charge met, February 8, with the DG of Syrian Arab Airlines (SAA) to discuss concerns over the [...] | 2007-02-14 13:55:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | EAIR ETTC CASC PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS149 | BACKGROUND ON JANUARY PRISON RIOT IN SYRIA [...] (SBU) Summary: According to numerous Embassy sources, imprisoned members of President Asad,s extended family began an uprising in Adra'a prison January 25 over the fact they were not included in the Eid al-Adha Presidential amnesty (ref A). Eventually, the Army had to be called in to quell t [...] | 2007-02-14 15:13:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM SY |
07DAMASCUS15 | Syria/Europe, US/Syria, Bush's Iraq Strategy, Palestinian [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Jan. 8 reported the Jan. 7 visit to Damascus by a British-European parliamentary delegation headed by Former European Commission President Jacques Santier. The delegation met President Asad. Talks focused on developments in Iraq, Lebanon, and the occupied Palestinia [...] | 2007-01-08 13:06:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS151 | BA'ATH PARTY PROTESTS COMMEMORATE ISRAELI [...] (U) SUMMARY. TWO EVENTS OCCURRED ON THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF ISRAEL'S ANNEXATION OF THE GOLAN HEIGHTS FROM SYRIA. FIRST, LACKLUSTER ANNUAL PROTESTS ORGANIZED BY THE BA'ATH PARTY TOOK PLACE IN THE SYRIAN PROVINCE OF QUNNEITRA. IN ADDITION, AN AMORPHOUS GROUP KNOWN AS THE COMMITTEES FOR THE LIBE [...] | 2007-02-15 16:25:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM SY IS |
07DAMASCUS157 | Iran/Syria, Syria/Iraq, Lebanon, Palestinian Territories [...] Summary: The major topic in Syrian papers over the weekend was President Asad's state visit to Iran, which commenced on Feb. 17. All papers reported Asad's talks with Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinezhad; Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iranian Islamic Revolution; Ali Larij [...] | 2007-02-20 10:01:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS161 | Syria/Lebanon, Syria/Iraq, Abbas-Olmert-Rice Meeting, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Feb. 20 reported that President Asad received former Lebanese Prime Minister Dr. Salim al-Huss on Feb. 19. Talks touched upon regional and international developments, particularly in Lebanon, and the importance of strengthening national unity on the basis of Lebano [...] | 2007-02-20 13:42:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS162 | SUNNI RELIGIOUS LEADER INSISTS SARG TRYING TO [...] (C) SUMMARY: IN A MID-FEBRUARY CONVERSATION WITH A/DCM, DAYS BEFORE BASHAR AL-ASAD'S MOST RECENT TRIP TO TEHRAN, PROMINENT SUNNI SHEIKH SALAH KUFTARO CRITICIZED THE ASAD REGIME FOR TRYING TO SUPPRESS SUNNI CRITICISM OF IRANIAN-LED "SHIA-IZATION" ACTIVITIES IN SYRIA. WHILE PROVIDING FEW SPEC [...] | 2007-02-20 14:10:00 | Embassy Damascus | SECRET | PGOV KISL PREL SOCI SY IR |
07DAMASCUS165 | SYRIA COUNTRY CLEARANCE KENNETH CURTAIN AND [...] Embassy Damascus welcomes and grants country clearance for the proposed visit of Kenneth Curtain and Kristofer Doucette, Representatives of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, 23-27 February 2007. Travelers will be met and assisted at the airport, after clearing customs, by an embassy driver, [...] | 2007-02-20 15:40:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | AMGT ASEC AFIN PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS169 | Peace Process, Lebanon, Syria/Iran, Syria/Iraq, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Feb. 21 featured statements on the importance of achieving peace in the Middle East and boosting the peace process. The papers featured an article published by Spanish newspaper El-Pais on Feb.20 which said that Spanish PM Zapatero and Italian PM Prodi stressed the [...] | 2007-02-21 14:34:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS17 | TURKEY: THE SARG'S NEW BEST FRIEND [...] (C) SUMMARY: OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, WITH A SERIES OF HIGH-LEVEL TURKISH DIPLOMATIC VISITS AND TURKEY'S MUCH-DELAYED RATIFICATION OF THE SYRIAN-TURKISH FREE TRADE AGREEMENT (FTA),THE SARG HAS PUBLICLY HAILED THE BEGINNING OF A NEW ERA OF COOPERATION BETWEEN SYRIA AND TURKEY. THE SARG BELIE [...] | 2007-01-08 13:42:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL IR IZ SY TU |
07DAMASCUS173 | 311 SANCTIONS CASTING A SHADOW ON THE CBS'S FUTURE [...] (C) Summary. Financial sanctions under USAPATRIOT Act Section 311 continue to put pressure on the Commercial Bank of Syria (CBS) nearly a year after the final ruling was imposed. Nonetheless, the CBS, up till now, is managing to maintain its central role in Syria's banking sector. While some [...] | 2007-02-22 14:13:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN SANC ETTC PREL KTFN SY |
07DAMASCUS175 | RECENT SPIKE IN DISSIDENT ARRESTS; TRIALS UPDATE [...] (U) Summary. On February 17, Kurdish student activist Kamal Sheikho was a detained by the Syrian Military Intelligence (SMI). Sheikho's arrest followed the SARG's detention of two other prominent opposition figures, Mahmoud Sarem and Razak Eid. Then, after months of trial postponements Anwa [...] | 2007-02-22 15:24:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM SY |
07DAMASCUS185 | Syria/Spain, Lavrov, Palestinian Territories, Arab League, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Feb. 22 reported FM Walid al-Mouallem's visit to Madrid and his meeting with his Spanish FM Miguel Angel Moratinos on Feb. 21. Talks focused on bilateral relations, regional issues, most importantly the situation in the occupied territories following the Mecca Accord [...] | 2007-02-26 12:47:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS188 | Syria/Spain, OIC, Israeli Nukes, Palestinian Territories, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Feb. 25 reported that on Feb. 22 in Madrid King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain inaugurated Arab House and the Spanish Political Conference with the participation of Foreign Minister Walid Mouallem and the Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Tunisia, Yemen, [...] | 2007-02-27 12:42:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS190 | Arab Summit, Syria/Malaysia, Seymour Hersh's Article on US [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Feb. 26 reported that President Asad received a message from Saudi King Abdallah Bin-Abd-al-Aziz on Feb. 25 inviting him to attend the 19th Arab summit, which will be held in Saudi Arabia next month. The message was delivered to President Asad by Dr. Abdallah al-Zin [...] | 2007-02-27 15:04:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS192 | Syria/Egypt, Syria/Lebanon, Iraq, Palestinian Territories [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Feb. 28 reported that President Asad received a phone call on Feb. 27 from President Mubarak about preparations for the Arab Summit scheduled for March 28 in Riyadh. On Iraq, papers reported that FM Mouallem received a telephone call on Feb. 27 from Turkish FM Abdul [...] | 2007-02-28 13:41:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS193 | SYRIAN FOREIGN POLICY ANALYST ASSESSES SARG [...] (C) Summary: Pro-regime foreign policy analyst Imad Shueibi told A/DCM February 24 that the SARG did not view a dialogue with the U.S. restricted to the issue of Iraqi refugees without the return of an Ambassador as sufficiently broad-based or high-level to persuade the regime to re-engage. [...] | 2007-02-28 15:45:00 | Embassy Damascus | SECRET | PREL PGOV SY IZ IR LE |
07DAMASCUS194 | SYRIA CONTINUES WTO ACCESSION EFFORTS [...] (U) Summary. The SARG is agitating to advance its 2001 application to join the WTO. So far, the SARG's new effort on behalf of its stalled WTO application seems to have much more to do with its effort to break out of its political isolation than it does with any new commitment to economic li [...] | 2007-03-01 06:38:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFTA ETRD PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS196 | SYRIAN CONFIDENCE WAVERING? [...] (C) Summary: In the aftermath of a visit to Tehran clouded by growing differences over Iraq and Lebanon, Bashar al-Asad's self-confidence stemming from foreign policy positions he believed were paying dividends may now be eroding. Disappointments over the frictions with Iran, the apparent w [...] | 2007-03-01 13:06:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV SY IR IZ LE |
07DAMASCUS2 | CODEL SPECTER MEETS WITH SYRIAN PRESIDENT BASHAR [...] (C) SUMMARY: President Bashar Al-Asad said he was optimistic about restarting peace negotiations with Israel, claimed (erroneously it appears) the seven opposition activists recently jailed had been released, expressed pessimism on reaching a political resolution in Lebanon given what he desc [...] | 2007-12-31 13:35:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KPAL KDEM PGOV PHUM SY IS IZ LEB |
07DAMASCUS200 | Syria/Russia, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestinian Territories, Iran [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Mar. 1 quoted an official source from the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs , confirming, on Feb. 28, that Syria will attend the Iraq Neighboring Countries conference that will be held in Baghdad on March 10. Answering a question by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SAN [...] | 2007-03-01 14:42:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS201 | SYRIAN POLITICAL PRISONER KAMAL LABWANI APPEARS IN [...] (C) SUMMARY: Prominent Syrian political prisoner Kamal Labwani appeared in criminal court on February 27 when his lawyer presented as part of the defense's evidence a letter from the U.S. Embassy, which broadly outlines the U.S. International Visitor Program (IVP). The next court date was s [...] | 2007-03-01 15:29:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV SY |
07DAMASCUS202 | SYRIA ELECTIONS UPDATE: SIX WEEKS FROM NATIONAL [...] (S/NF) Summary: Less than two months from expected Syrian National Assembly Elections, the official election date has yet to be announced. Syrians seem largely uninterested in the process because they have little faith that representatives will take into account their interests, according [...] | 2007-03-01 15:42:00 | Embassy Damascus | SECRET//NOFORN | PGOV PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS208 | Shara's "Le Monde" Interview, Mouallem's Cairo Visit, [...] Summary: Syrian papers featured VP Shara's interview with French daily "Le Monde" published March 2 in which he expressed Syria's relative optimism on the success of an international meeting in Baghdad aimed at stabilizing Iraq, saying that "much depends on the attitude of the United States; [...] | 2007-03-04 14:27:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS21 | US/Russia, Syria/Israel, Syria/Iraq, Syria/EU, HAMAS, [...] Summary: Syrian papers over the weekend reported that the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has criticized the latest US sanctions against Russian arms firms for "selling arms to Syria," describing these sanctions as "groundless." The Ministry said in a statement that "yet once again, the [...] | 2007-01-09 05:18:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS213 | Syria/Venezuela, Syria/Norway, Syria/Italy, Syria/Iraq, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on March 5 reported the March 4 visit to Damascus of Venezuelan FM Nicolas Maduro and his meeting with Deputy FM Faisal Miqdad. The purpose of the visit was to boost bilateral relations and carry out agreements signed during the visit of Venezuelan President Hugo Chave [...] | 2007-03-05 13:13:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS214 | SYRIAN GOVERNMENT SAYS IT WOULD WELCOME PRM A/S [...] No summary [...] | 2007-03-05 13:38:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL OTRA AMGT SY |
07DAMASCUS22 | ADVISOR TO MFA SAYS SYRIANS REMAIN NERVOUS ABOUT [...] (C) SUMMARY: THE SYRIAN REGIME CONTINUES TO FEAR THE FORMATION OF A SPECIAL LEBANON TRIBUNAL, WORRYING THAT IT COULD FIND ITSELF UNDER SUSTAINED INTERNATIONAL OPPROBRIUM AND ISOLATION, EVEN IF SENIOR MEMBERS OF THE REGIME ARE NOT ACCUSED OF INVOLVEMENT IN THE ASSASSINATION OF LEBANESE PM RA [...] | 2007-01-09 09:54:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KCRM SY IR IS LE IZ |
07DAMASCUS224 | Syria/Iraq, Syria/US, Syria/EU, Lebanon, Palestinian [...] Summary: Syrian papers on March 6 and 7 reported the visit to Damascus of Iraqi VP Tarek al Hashimi and his meeting with President Assad, VP Sharaa and other Syrian officials. The purpose of the visit was to boost bilateral relations and reiterate support for national reconciliation in Iraq. [...] | 2007-03-07 15:19:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS229 | SCENESETTER FOR A/S SAUERBREY'S VISIT TO SYRIA [...] (C) Summary: Embassy Damascus warmly welcomes you to Syria. Your visit comes amidst heightened SARG sensitivity to the presence of up to 1.3 million Iraqi refugees here, especially given public grumbling about price hikes and increased crime and social woes. Additionally, the SARG has real [...] | 2007-03-08 14:09:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV IZ SY |
07DAMASCUS230 | IRAQ NEIGHBORS CONFERENCE DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO [...] (C) On March 8, Charge delivered appropriate Syria points from reftel demarche and ref B points to Dr. Amir Smadi, SARG MFA Chief of Protocol (the embassy MFA-designated interlocutor). He gave no substantive reply to the demarche, but promised to communicate the points to his superiors in the [...] | 2007-03-08 14:27:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL OIC ARABLEAGUE UN IZ SY |
07DAMASCUS232 | NEW EMBASSY TRAVEL PROCEDURES: VISIT TO HOMS [...] (U) SUMMARY. THE SARG HAS MOVED TO FURTHER RESTRICT EMBASSY DAMASCUS, ABILITY TO ENGAGE SYRIANS OUTSIDE OF THE CAPITAL. AS A RESULT, THE EMBASSY HAS ADAPTED ITS TRAVEL PROCEDURES TO ENSURE OFFICERS CONTINUE TO GET OUT OF THE CAPITAL AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE. OUR MOST RECENT TRIP USING OUR NEW T [...] | 2007-03-08 15:21:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EIND PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS236 | Baghdad Conference, Syria/Iran, Syria/EU, Lebanon, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Mar. 11 reported the inauguration of the Baghdad Conference of Iraq's Neighboring Countries on Mar. 10. The Syrian delegation was headed by Assistant Foreign Minister Ahmad Arnus, who delivered a statement in which he explained Syria's position toward the difficult s [...] | 2007-03-11 14:49:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS248 | Syria/US, Baghdad Conference, Syria/Iran, ICG, [...] Summary: Syrian independent al-Watan on Mar. 12 reported that Ellen Sauerbrey, US Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration, arrived to Damascus late Mar. 11 for talks on the issue of Iraqi refugees. Earlier, Washington noted that Sauerbrey would talk only about the [...] | 2007-03-12 15:00:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS249 | HIGH-LEVEL EXCHANGES BETWEEN SYRIA AND IRAN [...] (U) Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammed Najjar arrived in Damascus March 10 to meet with SARG counterpart MinDef General Hassan Turkmani. The primary topic of discussion, according to local media, was the transfer of Iranian arms manufacturing to Syria. An-Nahar, a Lebanese daily, quo [...] | 2007-03-12 15:57:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | PREF PREL PGOV IR SY |
07DAMASCUS25 | Syria/Germany, Syria/Nigeria, Syria/Spain, Iraq, Lebanon, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Jan. 9 reported that President Asad held talks on Jan. 8 with former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder focusing on current developments in Iraq, Lebanon and the occupied territories and prospects of economic cooperation between Syria and Germany, particularly on th [...] | 2007-01-09 13:27:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS250 | SARG USES BAGHDAD CONFERENCE TO CLAIM IT SUPPORTS [...] (SBU) Syrian Assistant FM Ahmad Arnous said after the Baghdad Conference on March 10 that the Iraqi government and the international community should shoulder their responsibility in alleviating the suffering of the displaced Iraqis, according to the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA). A [...] | 2007-03-12 16:00:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREF PREL PGOV IZ SY |
07DAMASCUS254 | ARRESTS AND POLITICAL TRIALS SURROUND THE [...] (SBU) Summary: On March 10, several prominent dissidents, including former MP and political prisoner Riad Seif, were detained when they attempted to protest the 44th anniversary of the imposition of Emergency Law in Syria. Meanwhile, the political trial of Michel Kilo formally commenced while [...] | 2007-03-13 12:26:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM SY |
07DAMASCUS255 | SARG ANTI-CORRUPTION PROPAGANDA GROWS IN RUN-UP TO [...] (C) SUMMARY: Over the past month, the SARG has publicly highlighted its purported efforts to crack down on corruption. This effort is the latest in a long line of sporadic SARG campaigns to manipulate the issue of combating corruption for internal political purposes. It is also part of a bro [...] | 2007-03-13 13:56:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | KCRM ECON PGOV SY |
07DAMASCUS257 | Syria/US, Syria/EU, Syria/Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestinian [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Mar. 13 reported Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Miqdad's meeting on Mar. 12 with Ellen Sauerbrey, US Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration. Talks focused on developments in Iraq and the suffering of Iraqis at home and abroad as a resul [...] | 2007-03-13 15:33:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS258 | VISITING A/S SAUERBREY MEETS WITH SYRIA'S DEPUTY FM [...] (C) SUMMARY: VISITING ASSISTANT SECRETARY SAUERBREY MET FOR AN HOUR MARCH 12 WITH SYRIAN DEPUTY FM FAISAL MIKDAD IN DAMASCUS, FOLLOWED BY A LUNCH HOSTED BY MIKDAD. DURING THE MEETING, THE DFM NOTED SYRIAN SATISFACTION WITH THE VISIT AND DISCUSSED HOW THE SYRIAN GOVERNMENT WAS ADDRESSING THE [...] | 2007-03-13 16:34:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PREL PGOV IZ SY |
07DAMASCUS26 | SYRIAN CIVIL SOCIETY ACTIVIST CALLS FOR NEW USG [...] (C) POLOFF MET WITH SYRIAN-CANADIAN CIVIL SOCIETY ACTIVIST AND IMMIGRATION LAWYER HIND KABAWAT ON JANUARY 8. KABAWAT SAID THAT THE SAME NIGHT AFTER ATTENDING A DECEMBER 19 RECEPTION AT THE AMBASSADOR'S RESIDENCE FOR CODEL KERRY AND DODD, POLITICAL SECURITY AGENTS CAME TO HER HOUSE TO ASK WHET [...] | 2007-01-09 14:50:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM SY |
07DAMASCUS266 | Syria/Italy, Solana's Visit, Syria/Egypt, Arab Summit, [...] Summary: Papers on Mar. 14 reported that President Asad received a telephone call on Mar. 13 from Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi. They discussed the visit of the European Union's High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana to Damascus and the recent confere [...] | 2007-03-14 12:21:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS269 | TREASURY TEAM’S DAMASCUS CONSULTATIONS ON [...] (S/NF) Summary: Treasury representatives recently visited Post to discuss options for using financial sanctions to apply pressure to the Syrian regime. We discussed: -- Treasury's requirements for finalizing the pending designations of Mohammad Sulayman and Ali Mamluk, and Treasury's information re [...] | 2007-03-15 15:41:00 | Embassy Damascus | SECRET | EFIN ECON ETTC SY SANC |
07DAMASCUS275 | Solana's Visit, Syria/Iran, Syria/Lebanon, Iraq, [...] Summary: Syrian papers reported the visit to Damascus by European Union Higher Representative for Common Foreign Policy and Security, Javier Solana on March 14. Ziyad Haydar, a journalist in independent Al-Watan said Solana and President Asad held a closed 50-minute meeting during which the [...] | 2007-03-18 15:10:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS280 | REACTION TO SOLANA'S DAMASCUS VISIT MIXED [...] (C) Summary: European diplomats, including German Ambassador Wenzel, stressed the frank and generally positive nature of EU Representative Solana,s talks with Syrian President Asad, especially with regard to Lebanon. In addition, Syrian state media put a mostly positive spin on the visit, ass [...] | 2007-03-19 15:45:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM SY |
07DAMASCUS284 | NEW IPR LAW DOES LITTLE TO PROTECT PROCTOR AND [...] (U) Summary. Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) are violated with impunity in Syria. If P&G,s experience is any guide, the new law signed last week by President Asad will do little to address the fundamental problems that confront the sector. End summary. 2. (SBU) On March 12, 2007, Pres [...] | 2007-03-20 15:07:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | ECIN ECON ETRD KIPR PGOV SY |
07DAMASCUS285 | VISITING A/S SAUERBREY MEETS WITH UN, NGOS IN [...] (U) SUMMARY: During her March 11-13 visit to Damascus, visiting Assistant Secretary Ellen Sauerbrey attended a UNHCR briefing on Iraqi refugees, a UNHCR-sponsored roundtable with its four implementing NGO partners in Syria, a briefing hosted by Charge for resident Ambassadors and visiting UNH [...] | 2007-03-22 07:03:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREF PREL PGOV IZ SY |
07DAMASCUS292 | Syria/Kuwait, Syria/Pakistan, Syria/Turkey, Lebanon, Iraq, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Mar. 25 reported VP Shara's visit to Kuwait on Mar. 24 to convey a message from President Asad to the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, on bilateral coordination prior to the upcoming Arab summit in Riyadh. During the meeting Shara reviewed the [...] | 2007-03-25 13:50:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS294 | NEW ISLAMIC BANKS POPULAR, BUT BOARDS REFLECT SAME [...] (C) SUMMARY. DURING A RECENT CONFERENCE ON ISLAMIC BANKING, THE SARG CONTINUED TO PROMOTE ITS ISLAMIC BANKING EFFORTS AS A SIGN OF ITS "ISLAMIC" CREDENTIALS AND TO CLAIM SOLIDARITY WITH OTHER ARAB STATES. THE FIRST TWO SYRIAN ISLAMIC BANKS, WITH FOREIGN INVESTMENT FROM QATAR, KUWAIT AND SAUD [...] | 2007-03-25 15:02:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN EINV SY |
07DAMASCUS295 | SYRIAN ARAB AIRWAYS CONTINUES TO PURSUE A WET LEASE [...] (SBU) Summary. Syria Arab Airways has reportedly signed an agreement to lease Boeing airplanes from a new company set up by Rami Makhlouf. End summary. 2. (C) As he has with nearly every other economic sector in Syria, we've heard from local contacts that Rami Makhlouf, President Asad,s [...] | 2007-03-26 07:49:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | EAIR ECON ETTC KCRM SY |
07DAMASCUS299 | Syria/PLO, Arab Summit, Peace Process, Iraq, Lebanon [...] Summary: Papers on Mar. 26 reported the visit to Damascus by Rouhi Fattouh, Special Envoy of Mahmoud Abbas, Chairman of the Palestinian National Authority, and his meeting with VP Shara on Mar. 25 conveying a message from President Abbas to President Asad on the latest Palestinian development [...] | 2007-03-26 12:44:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS3 | SYRIAN REFORMER TELLS CODEL SPECTER THE [...] (C) Summary. In a 45 minute meeting with Senator Specter and Representative Kennedy, Syrian opposition leader Riad Seif detailed the activities of the newly formed National Council, including the regime,s arrest of seven of the Council,s members; the types of coercion the SARG uses to silence [...] | 2007-12-31 14:38:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL SY IS |
07DAMASCUS304 | Syria/UK, Arab Summit, Rice/Ki-Moon, Iraq (3/27) [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Mar. 27 reported President Asad's meeting on Mar. 26 with a delegation representing the British House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee headed by Deputy Chairman of the committee, John Stanley. Talks focused on regional and international developments and the poli [...] | 2007-03-27 13:46:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS307 | VERDICTS EXPECTED SOON IN KEY SYRIAN POLITICAL [...] (U) SUMMARY: ON APRIL 10, THE SYRIAN GOVERNMENT IS EXPECTED TO DECIDE THE FATE OF JAILED POLITICAL REFORMER KAMAL LABWANI, NOW THAT HIS DEFENSE TEAM CONCLUDED THEIR DEFENSE. MEANWHILE, THE DEFENSE OF IMPRISONED HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER ANWAR AL-BUNNI IS ALSO EXPECTED TO CONCLUDE THE FIRST WEEK OF [...] | 2007-03-27 15:43:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM SY |
07DAMASCUS308 | SYRIAN ACTIVIST RIAD SEIF ON OPPOSITION GROUP, [...] (C) SUMMARY: SYRIAN OPPOSITION LEADER RIAD SEIF MET MARCH 22 WITH A/DCM, PROVIDING AN UPDATE ON THE DAMASCUS DECLARATION (DD) GROUP, AND HIS CURRENT ASSESSMENT OF THE ASAD REGIME. SEIF, WHO HEADS THE DD'S EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, SAID ITS MEMBERS WERE WORKING TO ENLARGE THE DD POSSIBLY AS EARLY [...] | 2007-03-27 15:51:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM SY |
07DAMASCUS309 | THE GOLAN: RESISTANCE RHETORIC, PEACE FEELERS, [...] (C) SUMMARY: IN THE PAST EIGHT MONTHS, PUBLIC MENTION OF THE GOLAN HEIGHTS ISSUE HAS RECURRED WITH MUCH GREATER FREQUENCY THAN IN PREVIOUS YEARS. THE ASAD REGIME HAS USED IT TACTICALLY IN DIFFERENT WAYS, FOR EXAMPLE, TO EXPRESS SHARED OBJECTIVES WITH HIZBALLAH LAST AUGUST, AND MORE RECENT [...] | 2007-03-27 16:16:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS312 | Arab Summit, Peace Process, Golan, Rice's Statements, Iraq [...] Summary: The Syrian press on Mar. 28 reported President Asad's summit meeting with Saudi King Abdullah on Mar. 27 on the eve of the Arab summit in Riyadh. Talks dealt with bilateral relations, horizons for consolidating and boosting such relations, and topics on the agenda of the Arab Summit [...] | 2007-03-28 12:18:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS315 | BLAST FROM THE SYRIAN PAST: A VISIT TO THE [...] (U) SUMMARY: EMBOFFS VISITED THE BORDER CITY OF DAR'A IN SOUTHERN SYRIA ON MARCH 26, OBSERVING THAT WHILE IT APPEARED TO BE A BUSTLING -- IF SOMEWHAT FORLORN -- REGIONAL CENTER, IT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY LESS DEVELOPED THAN THE MAJOR COMMERCIAL CENTERS OF DAMASCUS AND ALEPPO. THE CITY ALSO EXUDED [...] | 2007-03-29 14:53:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EIND PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS317 | SYRIAN ELECTIONS: JOCKEYING AND BACKSTABBING START [...] (C) SUMMARY: THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS CAMPAIGN IN DAMASCUS HAS GOTTEN MORE HEATED AND UGLY THAN EXPECTED THIS SPRING, WITH THE ELECTRONIC MEDIA BEING USED TO PUBLISH SCURRILOUS ATTACKS TO WEAKEN THE CANDIDACIES OF A KEY INDEPENDENTS LIST. ON MARCH 29, THE PRESSURE AGAINST THE LIST TOOK O [...] | 2007-03-29 15:12:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS318 | KURDS PEACEFULLY CELEBRATE NAH RUZ [...] (C) SUMMARY: KURDS IN SYRIA HELD PEACEFUL CELEBRATIONS OF THE ANCIENT PERSIAN HOLIDAY OF NAH RUZ, THE SOLAR NEW YEAR ON MARCH 21-22 IN VARIOUS AREAS OF THE COUNTRY. UNLIKE IN SOME PREVIOUS YEARS, THE SYRIAN PRESS WAS QUIET ON THE EVENT, AND THE CELEBRATIONS PASSED WITHOUT REPORTS OF VIOLENCE O [...] | 2007-03-29 16:08:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV SY |
07DAMASCUS319 | LABWANI HELD IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT SINCE LAST [...] (C) SUMMARY. DETAINED POLITICAL REFORMER KAMAL LABWANI HAS BEEN HELD IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT AT ADRA,A PRISON SINCE HIS LAST COURT APPEARANCE WHEN HE READ A STATEMENT HIGHLY CRITICAL OF THE REGIME. HIS SOLITARY CONFINEMENT CONTINUED UNTIL AT LEAST MARCH 27, WHICH IS THE DATE OF THE LAST FAMILY [...] | 2007-03-29 17:01:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM SY |
07DAMASCUS32 | Specter Codel, Syria/US, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestinian [...] Summary: Syrian press and TV on Dec. 27 expressed great joy about the press conference which Senator Arlen Specter gave at Damascus Airport, after meeting President Asad on December 27, 2006. The meeting with the President and the press conference were the lead story in all the radio and TV [...] | 2007-01-10 12:40:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS320 | EU DELIVERS LONG-AWAITED HUMAN RIGHTS DEMARCHE TO [...] (C) Summary. After the eight monts of refusals, the SARG allowed the EU troika to deliver its much-anticipated, confidential human rights demarche to an assistant minister SIPDIS at the Syrian MFA. The German Ambassador, who led the demarche, told Charge that the talks were a constructive [...] | 2007-03-29 17:20:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM SY |
07DAMASCUS323 | COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR CODEL ISSA, APRIL 5-6.2007 [...] (U) Embassy Damascus welcomes and grants country clearance for the visit of Congressman Darrel Issa, and the other members of the delegation: David Abruzzino and Jeremy Bash. 2. (U) Control officer and point of contact for this visit is Econ Officer Stacey Jones, who can be reached at work: [...] | 2007-04-01 15:01:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | OREP AMGT SY AFIN ASEC |
07DAMASCUS325 | The Arab Summit, Syria/US, Syria/Israel Syria/Cuba, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Mar. 30 featured the final communique and decisions issued by the Arab summit held in Riyadh on Mar. 28-29. Papers also featured two other statements, one issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry on Mar. 31 praising the results of the Arab Summit, and another by EU Fo [...] | 2007-04-02 09:09:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS33 | Syria/Iraq, Syria/US, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestinian [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Dec. 28 reported that President Asad received a message from Iraqi President Jalal Talabani. The message was handed by the Iraqi President's special envoy Fakhri Karim during a meeting with Asad. Talks dealt with developments in Iraq and bilateral relations. Pa [...] | 2007-01-10 12:49:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS330 | CODEL WOLF IN DAMASCUS: THE OPPOSITION AND THE [...] (C) Summary. Congressmen Wolf, Pitts and Aderholt met with members of Syrian civil society, political opposition figures, businessmen and religious leaders on their two-day visit to Damascus. All were eager to engage the Congressmen. Most expressed hope that the U.S. administration could be [...] | 2007-04-03 11:27:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER SY |
07DAMASCUS331 | CODEL WOLF DISCUSSES BAKER-HAMILTON WITH ASAD [...] (C) Summary. As the initiator of the Iraq Study Group, Congressman Wolf told Syrian President Asad and Foreign Minister Mu,allim that his delegation was interested in exploring the possibility of dialogue with Syria, but was not in Syria to negotiate. Congressmen Wolf, Pitts and Aderholt exp [...] | 2007-04-03 12:15:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | OVIP PGOV PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS332 | CODEL WOLF TELLS FM MU'ALLIM TO CHANGE DIRECTION [...] (C) Summary: In a 40 minute meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mu'allim, Congressmen Wolf, Pitts, and Aderholt commented that their visit was intended to explore the possibilities for dialogue in the framework of the Baker-Hamilton report but emphasized they were not in Syria to negoti [...] | 2007-04-03 12:29:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | IS PGOV PHUM PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS338 | Syria/US, UNRWA, Syria/Cuba, Syria/Lebanon Syria/Iraq, [...] Summary: The Syrian press on Apr. 2 reported President Asad's meeting on Apr. 1 with members of the US House of Representatives, Frank Wolf, Joe Pitts and Robert Aderholt. Discussion at the meeting dealt with Iraq and the region in general. The delegation also met with FM Mouallem on Apr. [...] | 2007-04-09 10:33:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL KPAO OPRC SY KMDR |
07DAMASCUS340 | Issa Codel, Specter, Pelosi's Visit [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Apr. 6 reported President Asad's meeting on Apr. 5 with Darrell Issa, member of the US House of Representatives. Talks dealt with developments in the region and means and mechanisms to start relations on a correct basis between Syria and the United States. Issa als [...] | 2007-04-09 13:29:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS341 | Syria/Macedonia, Pelosi's Visit, Prisoner-swap, Iraq, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Apr. 10 reported FM Mouallem's meeting on Apr. 9 with Macedonian FM Antonio Milososki. Talks focused on the latest developments in the Middle East and the Balkans and prospects of bilateral cooperation. During the meeting, FM Milososki expressed his country's desir [...] | 2007-04-11 04:36:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS347 | Syria/Macedonia, Syria/US, Terrorism, Iraq, Palestinian [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Apr. 11 reported President Asad's and VP Shara's meetings on Apr. 10 with Macedonian Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki. Talks dealt with bilateral relations and the latest developments in the Balkans and the Middle East. Papers also featured a statement by Tom La [...] | 2007-04-11 13:49:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS348 | Special Report: Wolf, Pelosi and Issa Codels (April 2-6) [...] Summary: Syrian papers welcomed the visit to Damascus by members of US House of Representatives Frank Wolf, Joe Pitts, and Robert Aderholt on March 30-31, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and six other Representatives on Apr. 3-4, and Representative Darrell Issa on Apr. 5. The three government-owned [...] | 2007-04-11 13:54:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS35 | Asad, Syria/US, Syria/OIC, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Palestinian [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Dec. 26 reported that President Asad on Dec. 25 participated in Christmas celebrations and exchanged congratulations with Christian clergymen and others at the Patriarchate of The Syriac Orthodox Church in old Damascus. Patriarch Ignatius IV Hazim of Antioch and All [...] | 2007-01-10 13:25:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS351 | Special Report: Wolf, Pelosi and Issa Codels (April 2-6) [...] Summary: Syrian papers welcomed the visit to Damascus by members of US House of Representatives Frank Wolf, Joe Pitts, and Robert Aderholt on March 30-31, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and six other Representatives on Apr. 3-4, and Representative Darrell Issa on Apr. 5. The three government-owned [...] | 2007-04-12 09:08:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS354 | Syria/Azerbaijan, Ki-Moon, Peace Process, Lebanon, Iraq, [...] Summary: Papers on Apr. 12 reported FM Mouallem's meeting on Apr. 11 with Azerbaijani FM Elmar Mohammad Yarov, focused on bilateral relations. During the meeting, FM Mouallem reviewed the latest developments in the region, including the situations in Iraq and the occupied Palestinian territor [...] | 2007-04-12 12:22:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS356 | SYRIAN OPPOSITION EXPRESS VIEWS TO CODEL ISSA [...] (C) Summary: Congressman Issa met with key opposition figures, including former MP Riad Seif and the wife of imprisoned political reformer Kamal Labwani to discuss the internal political situation in Syria. Both Seif and Samer Labwani asked that Congress put pressure on the SARG to allow more [...] | 2007-04-12 13:14:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | IS PGOV PHUM PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS359 | 2007 SYRIAN ELECTIONS (C-NE7-00184) [...] (S/NF) This cable is a response to INR tasker (C-NE7-00184) on Syrian elections. Our answers are keyed to ref A,s numbering: 2. (C) A/B. The Damascus Declaration (DD) group decided in the past two months to boycott the Syrian parliamentary elections. The group,s leader Riad Seif commented [...] | 2007-04-12 15:44:00 | Embassy Damascus | SECRET//NOFORN | PGOV PINR SY |
07DAMASCUS363 | Syria/Israel, Syria/Palestinian Authority, Lebanon, Iraq, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Apr. 15 featured a statement by the Syrian Foreign Ministry on Apr. 14 that statements by US national of Syrian origin, Ibrahim Suleiman, who visited Israel and met with the Israeli Knesset Foreign and Security Committee, do not reflect the Syrian viewpoint, adding [...] | 2007-04-16 09:41:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS364 | US/Syria, Syria/Lebanon, Syria/Israel, Iraq, Lebanon, [...] Summary: Independent al-Watan on Apr. 16 reported a meeting arranged by the State Department with Arab reporters in Washington with Alberto Fernandez, of the Near East Bureau at the State Department, who denied that there is any new dialogue between Syria and the US, but said that "there migh [...] | 2007-04-16 11:34:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS367 | UPDATES ON DISPLACED IRAQIS IN SYRIA [...] (C) IN THE RUN-UP TO THE APRIL 17-18 "INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ADDRESSING THE HUMANITARIAN NEEDS OF REFUGEES AND INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS IN IRAQ AND NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES" IN GENEVA, POST PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING UPDATES BASED ON AN APRIL 15 CONVERSATION WITH UNHCR'S DAMASCUS REPRESENTA [...] | 2007-04-16 11:58:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PGOV SY |
07DAMASCUS370 | SYRIAN REGIME BRINGS OUT DANCING ELECTION BEARS [...] (C) Summary: After six weeks of campaigning, voting in Syrian parliamentary elections will be held April 22-23. Although the People's Assembly is a powerless body, there is intense campaigning and heavy spending for many of the 83 seats set aside for independents, especially for the 13 inde [...] | 2007-04-18 13:54:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM SY |
07DAMASCUS371 | Syria/Iran, Syria/Palestinian Authority, Syria/Iraq, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Apr. 18 reported the Apr. 17 visit to Damascus of Iranian FM Manuchehr Mottaki, during which he held talks with Foreign Minister Mouallem and senior Foreign Ministry officials on bilateral relations and regional issues. Papers also reported VP Shara's meeting on Ap [...] | 2007-04-19 09:23:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS38 | Syria/Spain, Syria/Indonesia, German Aid to Iraqi [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Jan. 10 reported Vice President Farouq al-Shara's meeting with Mr. Miguel Lawrance, First Assistant Secretary of the Spanish Socialist Party of Catalonia, who SIPDIS emphasized Syria's right to restoration of the Golan and condemned the current policies based on s [...] | 2007-01-11 11:00:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS381 | LOW TURNOUT, APATHY IN SYRIAN PARLIAMENTARY [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: VISITS BY U.S. AND OTHER DIPLOMATIC OBSERVERS TO POLLING PLACES IN THE SYRIAN CAPITAL AND SMALL SURROUNDING CITIES SUGGESTED LOW VOTER TURNOUT DURING THE APRIL 22-23 ELECTIONS FOR SYRIA'S 250-MEMBER PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY. OFFICIAL SYRIAN NEWS OUTLETS, HOWEVER, CLAIMED THAT MORE T [...] | 2007-04-23 11:03:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KDEM SY |
07DAMASCUS383 | Arab Initiative, Syria/Iraq, Syria/ Russia, Syria/Israel, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Apr. 19 reported that an Arab League Ministerial Committee on the Arab peace initiative held a meeting in Cairo on Apr. 18 with the participation of FM Mouallem to review efforts to activate the peace initiative in light of the Riyadh Summit. The Committee called fo [...] | 2007-04-23 11:50:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS384 | Syria/Russia, Syria/Qatar, Syria/Indonesia, Iraq, Lebanon, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Apr. 20 reported President Asad's meeting on Apr. 19 with the Russian President Putin's Special Envoy, Alexander Sultanov, who conveyed a message from Putin about bilateral relations and the situation in the region. Talks focused on the situation in Iraq, and on the [...] | 2007-04-23 12:55:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS389 | CODEL PELOSI MEETS SYRIA'S PRESIDENT ASAD [...] No summary [...] | 2007-04-25 09:17:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS390 | CODEL PELOSI'S APRIL 3-4 VISIT TO DAMASCUS: [...] (C) Summary: Visiting U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her accompanying delegation met April 4 in Damascus with Syrian FM Walid Mu'allim. They discussed Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, and prospects for a renewed Middle East peace process. End Summary. 2. (C) Speaker Pelosi and 15 members of h [...] | 2007-04-25 09:20:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV SY |
07DAMASCUS391 | CODEL PELOSI'S APRIL 3-4 VISIT TO DAMASCUS: MEETS [...] (C) Summary: In a 40-minute meeting with Syrian Vice-President Farouk Shara'a, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and her delegation asked for Syria's cooperation in achieving stability in the region. They emphasized to Shara'a that Syria needed to stop interfering in Lebanon and expressed co [...] | 2007-04-25 09:27:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER SY |
07DAMASCUS392 | CODEL ISSA VISIT TO SYRIA APRIL 5: MEETING WITH [...] (C) Summary: Congressman Darrell Issa met with Syrian President Bashar al-Asad for 40 minutes on April 5. Asad stated he had no conflict of interest with the U.S. on Iraq and was not weaker because of U.S. attempts to isolate him. Asad expressed no willingness to reopen an intelligence channe [...] | 2007-04-25 09:31:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER SY |
07DAMASCUS393 | CODEL ISSA VISIT TO SYRIA APRIL 5: MEETING WITH FM [...] (C) Summary: Congressman Darrell Issa met with Foreign Minister Mu'allim for 45 minutes on April 5. They discussed Syria's desire for a new U.S. ambassador to Syria, intelligence cooperation, the SARG's November 2006 closing of Amideast - which Mu'allim linked to U.S. sanctions, Syria's relat [...] | 2007-04-25 09:34:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER SY |
07DAMASCUS394 | Ban Ki-Moon's Visit, Syria/Qatar, Syria/France, Pelosi, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Apr. 25 reported President Asad's meeting on Apr. 24 with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, which focused on Syria's relations with the UN and the necessity of building confidence and mutual respect between the two sides. Talks also dealt with the peace process and [...] | 2007-04-25 12:38:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS396 | CHARGE DISCUSSES NEW EMBASSY COMPOUND, DIPLOMATIC [...] (SBU) In an April 23 meeting MFA Director of Protocol, Amir Smadi, the Embassy's designated SARG interlocutor, Charge followed up on previous approaches on the issue of the proposed Diplomatic Zone (DZ) that President Bashar al-Asad, FM Walid al-Mu'allim, and other senior SARG officials had m [...] | 2007-04-25 14:29:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | AMGT ABLD ASEC PGOV SY |
07DAMASCUS397 | SYRIAN POLITICAL PRISONER BUNNI SENTENCED TO FIVE [...] (SBU) Summary. The Damascus Criminal Court on April 24 sentenced political dissident Anwar al-Bunni to five years in prison and a $2,000 fine. Nearly all of Bunni's supporters and foreign diplomats present expressed shock at the severity of the Court's decision. The regime's response to Bunni [...] | 2007-04-25 14:54:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS4 | CODEL SPECTER MEETS WITH SYRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER [...] (C) SUMMARY: Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem pleaded for the United States not to hold Syria "hostage" to events in Lebanon or to resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, while insisting to Senator Arlen Specter and Representative Patrick Kennedy that Syria itself was ready for p [...] | 2007-12-31 15:03:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KPAL KDEM PHUM SY IS IZ LEB |
07DAMASCUS400 | Ki-Moon Visit, Occupied Golan, Syria/Russia, Iraq, Lebanon, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Apr. 26 reported a televised interview by al-Jazeera TV on Apr. 25 of Information Minister Dr. Mohsen Bilal, who described President Asad's meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon as positive and fruitful. "Syria SIPDIS considers Ki-Moon's visit to Damascu [...] | 2007-04-26 12:51:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS401 | CHARGE RAISES SARG TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS WITH MFA [...] (C) Summary: In an April 23 meeting, Charge raised with our designated MFA contact, Director of Protocol Amir Smadi, the issue of recent SARG efforts to restrict the travel of diplomats in Syria, protesting in particular a recent MFA dipnote and citing SARG efforts aimed at DAO travel. Smadi [...] | 2007-04-26 13:59:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ODIP SY |
07DAMASCUS406 | Syria/Djibouti, Syria/Vietnam, Syria/Italy, Iraq, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Apr. 27 reported that President Asad received a letter from the President of Djibouti, Ismail Omar Ghaila, connected with bilateral relations, regional developments and developments in the Horn of African. The letter was conveyed by Djibouti Minister of Foreign Affa [...] | 2007-04-29 13:48:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS409 | ARAB LEAGUE BOYCOTT MEETING: SPIELBERG DESIGNATED [...] (U) Summary. The semi-annual meeting of the Arab League Boycott group was held April 23-26 in Damascus. Participation and results followed expectations and closely paralleled last November,s gathering (reftel). No companies were dropped; the one announced addition to the blacklist of entities is fi [...] | 2007-04-30 10:58:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON KBCT PHUM SY |
07DAMASCUS41 | Syria/Australia, Shara, President Bush's Iraq Strategy, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Jan 11 reported Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Abrash's meeting on Jan. 10 with an Australian Parliamentary delegation headed by the President of the Legislative Council of New South Wales, Meredith Burgmann, focusing on prospects for bilateral cooperation. Mrs. Burg [...] | 2007-01-11 14:04:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS410 | ARAB LEAGUE BOYCOTT MEETING: SPIELBERG DESIGNATED [...] (U) Summary. The semi-annual meeting of the Arab League Boycott group was held April 23-26 in Damascus. Participation and results followed expectations and closely paralleled last November,s gathering (reftel). No companies were dropped; the one announced addition to the blacklist of entitie [...] | 2007-04-30 10:59:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON KBCT PHUM SY |
07DAMASCUS412 | Syria/EU, Syria/South Africa, Syria/Germany, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Apr. 30 reported President Asad's meeting on Apr. 29 with Louis Michel, European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid. Talks focused on the situation of Iraqi refugees in Syria, and Michel praised Syria's role in accommodating and supporting them. Pres [...] | 2007-04-30 13:41:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS413 | SYRIAN REGIME EMERGES STRONGER FROM PARLIAMENTARY [...] (C) Summary: Winners in the April 22-23 elections for Syria's Peoples Assembly included all 170 members of the ruling National Progressive Front (NPF) coalition, which the Ba'ath Party leads, in addition to 80 "independents." In the NPF, the Ba'ath Party increased its seats by two to 134 se [...] | 2007-04-30 14:34:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM SY |
07DAMASCUS415 | SYRIAN PARLIAMENT EXPECTED TO MEET NEXT WEEK, [...] (U) Syrian President Bashar al-Asad issued a decree calling on the newly elected People's Assembly to meet in its first session on May 7. The Assembly is expected to elect a speaker, deputy speaker and other Assembly officials during that session. The Speaker is then expected to set a date f [...] | 2007-05-03 12:43:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM SY |
07DAMASCUS416 | Syria/GCC, Syria/US, Syria/South Africa, Winograd Report, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on May 3 reported President Asad's meeting on May 2 with Abdul-Rahman Attiya, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council(GCC). Talks focused on developments in Iraq, the occupied territories, and Lebanon, and on bilateral cooperation and means to activate Arab c [...] | 2007-05-03 14:30:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS419 | Asad, Syria/Palestinians, Winograd Report, Iraq, Lebanon [...] Summary: Syrian papers on May 2 featured President Asad's visit to Der Ezzor province on May 1 to inspect development projects. He addressed a crowd of citizens and officials, saying that "this time the enemies are playing the card of discord among sects in the region." He added that what i [...] | 2007-05-07 06:14:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS423 | GAUGING REGIME'S LEVEL OF UNHAPPINESS WITH LOW [...] (C) Summary: The turnout for the April 22-23 parliamentary elections was so low that regime insiders considered it "a catastrophe," reflecting not merely profound apathy but the dimensions of "an informal boycott," according to MFA advisor Dr. Samir al-Taki. Two senior members of the Ba'at [...] | 2007-05-07 14:21:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM SY |
07DAMASCUS424 | Syria/Russia, Syria/US, Sharm al-Sheikh Conference, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on May 5 reported FM Mouallem's participation in the Ministerial Conference of Iraq's Neighboring Countries held in Sharm al-Sheikh on May 4. In his speech at the conference, Mouallem stressed the need to schedule withdrawal of foreign troops from Iraq in accordance wi [...] | 2007-05-08 05:20:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS428 | Syria/Portugal, Syria/Oman, Syria/France, Sharm al-Sheikh [...] Summary: Syrian papers on May 8 reported meetings on May 7 by President Asad and FM Mouallem with Portuguese FM Luis Filipe Marques Amado. Talks dealt with Syrian/Portuguese relations, the latest developments in the Middle East, the importance of boosting the European Union's role in dealing [...] | 2007-05-08 14:20:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS431 | Syria/Cuba, Syria/Libya, Syria/US, Syria/France, Lebanon, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on May 9 reported Information Minister Mohsen Bilal's meeting on May 8 with Cuban MP Kenia Serrano, during which Bilal stressed Syria's concern to achieve stability and security in the Middle East through a just and comprehensive peace based on UN resolutions. Talks al [...] | 2007-05-09 13:37:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS432 | SARG REQUEST'S OBO VISIT TO IDENTIFY LOCATION FOR [...] (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph four. 2. (SBU) In a May 6 meeting with MFA director of protocol Dr. Amir Smadi, our SARG designated interlocutor, and a SARG consultant for the new diplomatic zone (DZ),Walid Serawan, the Charge followed up on his previous discussions r [...] | 2007-05-09 13:57:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ABLD AMGT SY |
07DAMASCUS433 | CANADA STATEMENT ON SYRIA'S RECORD ON HUMAN [...] (SBU) THE CANADIAN EMBASSY ALERTED US THAT THE CANADIANS HAD ISSUED A STATEMENT ON APRIL 26 TO EXPRESS CONCERN ABOUT THE SENTENCING TWO DAYS EARLIER OF SYRIAN HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER ANWAR AL-BUNNI, THE TRIALS OF OTHER POLITICAL PRISONERS, AND THE PROCESS SURROUNDING THE APRIL 22-23 PARLIAMENTARY [...] | 2007-05-09 15:01:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS436 | Syria/Libya, Syria/UN, Syria/France, Iraq, Lebanon, [...] Summary: Syrian press on May 10 reported President Asad's meeting on May 9 with Libyan Prime Minister El-Baghdadi Ali al-Mahmoudi. This is the first high level meeting between the two countries for years. Talks dealt with bilateral relations, mutual cooperation, and topics on the agenda of [...] | 2007-05-10 12:59:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS437 | SYRIAN COURT SENTENCES DISSIDENT LABWANI TO LIFE [...] (C) Summary. A Syrian Court convicted political detainee Kamal Labwani May 10 and sentenced him to life in prison, then commuting that sentence to 12 years. Such a strict sentence is longest prison term for a political detainee not associated with the Muslim Brotherhood or other Islamic grou [...] | 2007-05-10 14:31:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS438 | SYRIAN KURDISH FUTURE MOVEMENT HOLDS GRASSROOTS [...] (C) Summary. Despite an ongoing crackdown against all forms of organized political dissent, Machal Tammo, leader of the Kurdish opposition Future Movement, met with college students to discuss politics, society and opportunities for reform on April 29. The meeting seemed to illustrate that e [...] | 2007-05-10 14:45:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS439 | SYRIAN PRESIDENT DENIES PASSING ON SYRIA'S [...] (C) SUMMARY: IN A MAY 10 SPEECH BEFORE PARLIAMENT, SYRIAN PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASAD MADE A TORTURED DENIAL THAT SYRIA HAD PROVIDE COMMENTARY TO ARABS (CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD TO BE SAUDI ARABIA) ON SYRIA'S RESERVATIONS TO THE PROPOSED HARIRI TRIBUNAL. BASHAR'S COMMENTS COME IN THE CONTEXT OF RUMO [...] | 2007-05-10 15:01:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV SY SA |
07DAMASCUS444 | Asad Speech/Nomination, Syria/PLO, Syria/UK, Syria/Italy, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on May 11 reported President Asad's speech at the first session of the new People's Assembly on May 10, which approved the nomination of President Asad for a second seven-year term as president and set May 27 as the date for the presidential referendum. Papers also r [...] | 2007-05-14 09:39:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS445 | SYRIAN COURT SENTENCES FOUR MORE DISSIDENTS TO [...] (C) SUMMARY: A SYRIAN COURT CONVICTED AND SENTENCED ON MAY 13 PROMINENT SYRIAN WRITER AND DETAINEE MICHEL KILO AND THREE OTHERS TO PRISON FOR THEIR SIGNATURE ON A 2006 DECLARATION CALLING FOR STEPS TO IMPROVE SYRIA-LEBANON BILATERAL RELATIONS. KILO AND FORMER COMMUNIST PARTY MEMBER MAHMOUD [...] | 2007-05-14 10:35:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS448 | Asad Nomination/Referendum, Syria/Yemen, Syria/France, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on May 14 reported President Asad's meeting on May 13 with the Speaker and selected members of the People's Assembly, who conveyed to the President the Assembly's approval of the nomination of the President for a new term of office and its selection of May 27th as the d [...] | 2007-05-14 12:28:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS449 | ASAD'S MESSAGE TO PARLIAMENT: "A TALENTED [...] (C) Summary: Syrian President Bashar al-Asad delivered a major foreign policy speech May 10, on the occasion of the inaugural session of the newly elected Syrian People's Assembly. The speech picked up some of the rhetorical flourishes Asad has relied upon in other speeches he has delivered [...] | 2007-05-14 17:10:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS450 | ASAD'S MESSAGE TO PARLIAMENT: "A TALENTED [...] (C) Summary: Syrian President Bashar al-Asad delivered a major foreign policy speech May 10, on the occasion of the inaugural session of the newly elected Syrian People's Assembly. The speech picked up some of the rhetorical flourishes Asad has relied upon in other speeches he has delivered [...] | 2007-05-14 17:10:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS456 | Asad Nomination/Referendum, Mouallem, Syria/France, [...] Summary: The press campaign for President Asad's second term in office continues, with papers publishing articles and reports praising his policies and noting Syria's accomplishments under his rule. A curious electoral sidelight is the report on the website of the opposition National Salvati [...] | 2007-05-16 07:04:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS458 | OIC Conference, Palestinian Territories, Lebanon, Cheney, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on May 16 reported Foreign Minister Mouallem's speech at the meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Conference in Islamabad on May 15. Mouallem said that the only way to end violence and realize peace in the Middle East is by Israel's recognition of relevant intern [...] | 2007-05-16 11:03:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS46 | SYRIAN OPPOSITION ELDER STATESMAN ASSESSES CURRENT [...] (C) Summary: Senior opposition figure Riad Turk told A/DCM January 10 that the internal opposition has been weakened over the past year by regime repression, although he did not believe the condition was permanent. In his view the SARG is isolated and in a state of crisis because of its int [...] | 2007-01-15 14:39:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM SY IZ LE |
07DAMASCUS461 | SYRIA REFERENDUM MATRIX: EMBASSY ACTIVITIES [...] (S/NF) In response to ref A and as noted in ref B, Post has reviewed the FACT Team's matrix for the May 27 Presidential referendum in which Syrian President Bashar al-Asad will be elected to a second seven-year term. All proposed actions seem fine. Additionally, Post offers the following Em [...] | 2007-05-16 13:30:00 | Embassy Damascus | SECRET//NOFORN | PGOV PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS47 | SYRIAN WOMEN'S ACTIVIST'S TREATMENT BY SARG [...] (C) Summary: Poloff met January 9 with Syrian women's activist and lawyer Daad Mousa, who is a long-time Embassy contact. For the past six months, the once-outspoken Mousa has kept a low public profile because of SARG harassment of her and a family member during 2006, as part of a broader S [...] | 2007-01-15 16:17:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV SY LE |
07DAMASCUS470 | Palestinian Territories, Syria/Iran, Asad/ Referendum, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on May 17 featured an official Syrian statement issued on May 16 expressing Syria's deep concern about the bloody clashes among Palestinians in Gaza. "Fighting among Palestinians comes at a time when they must close ranks and boost national unity in the framework of [...] | 2007-05-17 13:40:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS472 | IRAQI REFUGEE DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO THE SARG [...] (C) Summary. Demonstrating continued MFA gestures on the specific issue of Iraqi refugees, Deputy FM Mikdad's office director Hussam A'ala met Charge May 17 to receive Reftel demarche. A'ala asked that the USG intervene with the GOI to speed along assistance for the Iraqi population in Syria [...] | 2007-05-17 14:36:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREF PREL SY IZ JO |
07DAMASCUS473 | EFFORTS TO HELP IRAQI REFUGEES IN SYRIA MOVING [...] (C) SUMMARY: A MONTH AFTER THE GENEVA CONFERENCE ON IRAQI REFUGEES, OUR CONTACTS REPORT THAT THEY ARE MAKING PROGRESS IN THEIR EFFORTS CONTINUE TO ASSIST IRAQIS IN SYRIA. UNHCR'S REPRESENTATIVE LAURENS JOLLES TOLD US THAT MOST OF HIS ORGANIZATION'S GRANT AGREEMENTS IN SYRIA HAVE BEEN SIGNED [...] | 2007-05-17 14:36:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PGOV SY |
07DAMASCUS474 | SYRIA'S BLACK MARKET FOR CURRENCY UNLIKELY TO [...] (C) SUMMARY: THE SARG IS TAKING THE FIRST STEPS TO IMPLEMENT A YEAR-OLD LAW ON MONEY CHANGERS THAT IS INTENDED TO PROTECT THE SYRIAN POUND FROM FLUCTUATION, AND REGULATE THE BLACK MARKET AND ALTERNATIVE REMITTANCE SYSTEMS. WHILE A MAJORITY OF MONEY CHANGE OPERATORS ARE NOW SEEKING LICENSES, I [...] | 2007-05-17 14:57:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN EINV SY |
07DAMASCUS476 | Syria/Pakistan, Syria/Lebanon, Palestinian Territories, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on May 18 reported President Asad's oral message to Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf about bilateral and regional developments, particularly in the Palestinian territories and Iraq. The message was conveyed by Foreign Minister Mouallem when President Musharraf rece [...] | 2007-05-20 13:14:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS479 | NEW EMBASSY TRAVEL SCHEME PAYING OFF DESPITE SARG [...] (C) Summary. A recent weekend working trip to Aleppo by the Charge and other Embassy officers illustrated that the SARG continues to watch us closely and seeks to hamper our access to contacts, especially outside Damascus, further underscoring the importance of a revised approach to regional [...] | 2007-05-21 08:26:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON OTRA PGOV PROP PHUM SY |
07DAMASCUS480 | PRIVATE SYRIAN AIRLINE DEAL STILL TRYING TO GET [...] (C) In a May 9 meeting, Syrian Arab Airlines (SAA) officials confirmed recent press reports that the newly-formed Cham Holding Company plans to partner with SAA and the Kuwaiti al-Aqeela company to establish a private airline in Syria, and acknowledged that some steps had already been taken. [...] | 2007-05-21 08:28:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | EAIR ECON ETTC KCRM SY |
07DAMASCUS482 | Syria/Lebanon, Golan, Asad/Referendum, Palestinian [...] Summary: Syrian papers on May 21 reported that clashes erupted on May 20 in the Lebanese city of Tripoli and in the nearby Nahr al-Bared Palestinian refugee camp between the Lebanese army and militants from the Palestinian group Fatah al-Islam. All papers featured an official statement by th [...] | 2007-05-21 13:07:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS483 | SYRIA-CUBA: TITLE III OF THE LIBERTAD ACT, MAY 2007 [...] (C) In response to reftel: Actual trade during 2005 (the most recent official data available from the SARG) totaled USD 106,978 in Syrian exports to Cuba and USD 160,834 in Syrian imports from Cuba. The Director of International Relations at the Syrian Ministry of Economy and Trade told EconF [...] | 2007-05-21 13:32:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD ETTC PREL CU SY |
07DAMASCUS484 | SARG CLOSES TWO BORDER CROSSING TO LEBANON [...] (U) On May 20, the Syrian Ministry of Interior released a statement announcing it had temporarily closed the two northern border crossings with Lebanon, al-Aridha and al-Dabbousiyah, "until the situation in Northern Lebanon becomes secure." It is unclear how long the crossing points will rem [...] | 2007-05-21 14:55:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER SY |
07DAMASCUS485 | North Lebanon Clashes, Mouallem, Jafaari, Palestinian [...] Summary: Syrian papers on May 22 continued to report on clashes in Naher al-Bared refugee camp in north Lebanon. All papers also featured a lecture at Damascus University by FM Mouallem on May 21 praising Syria's foreign policy under President Asad's leadership, saying that "US pressures an [...] | 2007-05-22 12:47:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS491 | Events in Northern Lebanon, Mouallem/Ki-Moon, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on May 23 reported that FM Mouallem received a phone call on May 22 from UN SecGen Ki-Moon about events in the Nahr al-Bared Palestinian refugee camp in north Lebanon. Mouallem expressed regret over the events, saying, "the leaders of Fatah al-Islam are wanted by the S [...] | 2007-05-23 11:55:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS494 | SYRIAN REGIME CRITIC RIAD SEIF ON STEPS TO [...] (C) Summary: Prominent Syrian opposition leader Riad Seif discussed on May 18 intensified preparations for the expansion of the Damascus Declaration (DD) group into an opposition National Congress, and also touched on the upcoming presidential referendum, and relations between the USG and c [...] | 2007-05-23 13:05:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM SY |
07DAMASCUS496 | Asad/Referendum, Syria/UNDOF, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestinian [...] Summary: Syrian papers on May 24 reported VP Shara's lecture at Damascus University on May 23 in anticipation of the May 27 referendum on a new term for President Asad. Vice President Shara renewed Syria's rejection of the war in Iraq, stressing support for the political process in the count [...] | 2007-05-24 11:41:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS5 | SYRIAN COURT RENDERS SURPRISE LIGHT SENTENCE IN [...] (SBU) Summary. In a surprise move, the Damascus Criminal Court handed down a relatively light sentence against prominent dissident Fa,ik al-Meir on December 31. Al-Meir, who was facing capital charges, could be released as early as next month. The decision appeared to catch most human rights [...] | 2007-12-31 15:16:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL SY IS |
07DAMASCUS50 | Syria/Iraq, Syria/Australia, Syria/US, Syria/UN, Bush's [...] Summary: Syrian papers over the weekend reported the visit to Damascus by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, beginning on Jan. 14, the first such visit in three decades. President Talabni received a warm welcome in Syria. He was received by and met with President Asad. Talks during the meeting [...] | 2007-01-16 08:23:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS500 | PROBING SARG TIES TO FATAH AL-ISLAM [...] (C) Summary: Our contacts offer contradictory assessments about whether the SARG has been involved in supporting Fatah al-Islam in Lebanon. A majority suspect there is some link, with many pointing to the suspicious timing for the outbreak of fighting, on the eve of UNSC consideration of a [...] | 2007-05-24 13:26:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS501 | SUBSIDIES: A GROWING RISK FACTOR FOR THE SYRIAN [...] (C) Summary: In spite of a modestly strengthening economy, the SARG faces increasing fiscal pressure to reduce the billions of dollars it currently expends on subsidies. The SARG's budget deficit is increasing dramatically because of the dual challenge of declining oil revenues and growing pu [...] | 2007-05-24 14:05:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN EINV PGOV SY |
07DAMASCUS502 | WAITING TO SAY "YES": ON THE EVE OF SYRIA'S [...] (C) Summary: In the days leading up to the May 27 presidential referendum, the streets of Damascus have taken on the air of a long-running block party, with signs, banners and flags expressing support and even love for President Bashar al-Asad. Pro-Bashar expressions are not limited to Dama [...] | 2007-05-24 14:39:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS507 | Presidential Referendum, Lebanon, Palestinian Territories, [...] Summary: The main focus in Syrian papers over the weekend was on the presidential referendum on president Asad's new term in office. Papers cited statements by Syrian officials praising President Asad's achievements during his first term in office. On May 27, papers featured statements by [...] | 2007-05-28 13:15:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS515 | BASHAR GETS HIS SECOND SEVEN-YEAR TERM IN HOLLOW [...] (C) Summary: Official Syrian poll results announced May 29 indicated that 97.62 percent of the Syrian voters (or almost 11.2 million persons) who cast a ballot had approved a second seven-year term for Syrian President Bashar al-Asad. Significantly stepped-up pressure on people to vote in the [...] | 2007-05-29 14:11:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS516 | BASHAR GETS HIS SECOND SEVEN-YEAR TERM IN HOLLOW [...] (C) Summary: Official Syrian poll results announced May 29 indicated that 97.62 percent of the Syrian voters (or almost 11.2 million persons) who cast a ballot had approved a second seven-year term for Syrian President Bashar al-Asad. Significantly stepped-up pressure on people to vote in the [...] | 2007-05-30 04:03:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS517 | SENIOR SYRIAN DISSIDENT ON THE OPPOSITION, THE [...] (C) SUMMARY: SENIOR OPPOSITION FIGURE RIAD TURK TOLD A/DCM MAY 22 THAT HE REMAINS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE OPPOSITION IN SYRIA, DESPITE ITS CURRENT WEAKNESS. WHILE CRITICAL OF SOME OF THE TACTICAL DECISIONS AND CAUTION OF FELLOW DISSIDENT RIAD SEIF (PARTICULAR REGARDING CALLS TO BOYCOTT THE PRE [...] | 2007-05-30 09:36:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PREL SY LE |
07DAMASCUS520 | Presidential Referendum, Syria/UK, Lebanon, Iraq, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on May 29 reported Vice President Shara's meeting on May 28 with former Archbishop Hilarion Capucci in which they discussed the regional situation and the international community's disregard of the oppression of the Palestinians under Israel's abusive practices. Shar [...] | 2007-05-30 14:04:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS521 | Presidential Referendum, Syria/UK, Syrian Policy, Iraq [...] Summary: Syrian papers featured a statement made by Speaker of the People's Assembly on May 29 officially announcing Bashar Al-Asad as the President of the Syrian Arab Republic for a new 7-year term following the final results of popular referendum in which the President won a reported 97.62 [...] | 2007-05-30 14:23:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS526 | Asad Re-election, International Tribunal, Syria/UK, [...] Summary: On May 31 Syrian papers featured a statement by a Syrian Foreign Ministry source commenting on the US State Department spokesman's reaction to the Syrian popular consensus on renewing President Asad's term as president of the Syrian Arab Republic. The statement expressed surprise t [...] | 2007-05-31 13:45:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS53 | SYRIA'S RIAD SEIF LOOKING FOR POLITICAL SPACE IN [...] (C) SUMMARY: SYRIAN OPPOSITION LEADER RIAD SEIF MET JANUARY 9 WITH A/DCM TO DISCUSS HIS DAMASCUS DECLARATION (DD) GROUP'S PLANS TO FIELD CANDIDATES IN THE APRIL PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS AND CAPITALIZE ON VOTERS' ANGER OVER THE REGIME'S DOMESTIC POLICIES. THE AVERAGE SYRIAN BACKS WITHOUT MUCH [...] | 2007-01-16 14:12:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM SY LE |
07DAMASCUS532 | Syria/Iran, Syria/Brazil, Mashaal, Nahr al-Bared, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on June 1 focused on the visit to Syria by Iranian FM Manuchehr Mottaki and his meeting with President Asad on May 31, which focused on bilateral relations and the latest developments in the region, particularly in Iraq, Palestine and Lebanon. Mottaki also met separate [...] | 2007-06-03 12:03:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS535 | INITIAL SARG RESPONSE TO OUR DIRECT ACCESS [...] (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 4. 2. (C) On June 3, the Syrian MFA summoned the Charge to respond to our demarche delivered on May 17 (ref A) requesting a SARG response to the USG Iraq non-paper. Hussam A'ala, Deputy FM Faisal Mikdad's Office Director, told Charge t [...] | 2007-06-04 14:37:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREF PREL SY IZ JO |
07DAMASCUS54 | Syria/Iraq, Syria's Role in the region, Rice's visit to the [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Jan. 16 continued to report on the visit to Damascus of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani. Headlines featured President Talabani's visit on Jan. 15 to the tomb of late President Hafez Asad in al-Qerdaha, where he laid a wreath of flowers on the tomb, read verses from t [...] | 2007-01-16 14:12:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS540 | IRANIAN AND IRAQI INFLUENCE IN THE SHI'A SUBURB OF [...] (C) SUMMARY: On May 21, Emboffs visited the predominantly Shi'a suburb of Sayeda Zeinab located on the outskirts of Damascus. An important pilgrimage site for Shi'a Muslims, Iranians have long played an influential role in the area, providing both financial and religious support. More recen [...] | 2007-06-05 09:58:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KISL PREL SOCI SY IR |
07DAMASCUS541 | SARG BACKS AWAY FROM HOSTING IRAQI SECURITY [...] Summary: Diplomatic sources tell us the Syrians are not moving ahead with the border security working group, either because of unhappiness over detained Syrian soldiers, or simply because of continued Iraqi nonresponsiveness. We do not know the validity of these reports, but see no evidence [...] | 2007-06-05 11:48:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER SY |
07DAMASCUS542 | SYRIA'S WTO DREAMS CONTINUE [...] (C) Summary: In the last several months, Syria has taken several public steps in an expressed desire to advance its WTO bid, including the formation of new committees on WTO accession planning, and the holding of several workshops and conferences designed to highlight their ongoing efforts to [...] | 2007-06-05 12:55:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFTA ETRD PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS543 | Syria/Italy, Nahr al-Bared, International Tribunal, Golan, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on June 5 reported the June 4 arrival in Damascus of Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema who will hold talks with senior Syrian officials on bilateral relations and regional issues. As for developments in Lebanon, papers reported continu [...] | 2007-06-05 12:56:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS544 | SARG NOT CAPITALIZING ON THE POTENTIAL OF SYRIAN [...] (C) SUMMARY: A recent SARG-sponsored conference for expatriates highlighted their potential benefit to the Syrian economy, but also revealed how little the regime has done or appears willing to do to capitalize on their potential. Syrian expatriates currently provide important remittance reven [...] | 2007-06-05 13:07:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER SY |
07DAMASCUS553 | Syria/Italy, Lebanon, Iraq, Israel/Palestinians (6/6) [...] Summary: Syrian papers on June 6 reported President Asad's meeting on June 5 with Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Massimo Dalima focusing on bilateral relations and the latest developments in Iraq, the occupied Palestinian territories and Lebanon. Both sides stressed the n [...] | 2007-06-06 12:48:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS557 | Syria/Spain, Syria/Pakistan, Syria/Cuba, Golan, Lebanon, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on June 7 reported that FM Mouallem will leave for Spain today at the invitation of Spanish FM Miguel Angel Moratinos. Mouallem will convey an oral message from President Asad to King Juan Carlos I and will hold talks with Moratinos regarding bilateral relations and th [...] | 2007-06-07 11:35:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS558 | IRRATIONAL EXUBERANCE OF REFERENDUM QUICKLY [...] (C) SUMMARY: NOW THAT BASHAR'S IMPOSED RE-ELECTION IS A FAIT ACCOMPLI, THE REGIME HAS SENT FIRM SIGNALS THAT THE TIME FOR ALL THE HOOPLA AND LETTING OFF STEAM THAT IT ALLOWED DURING THE THREE-WEEK RUN-UP IS NOW FINISHED. LIFE IN SYRIA HAS RETURNED TO ITS CALMER, REPRESSIVE RHYTHMS. WHILE [...] | 2007-06-07 14:54:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SY LE |
07DAMASCUS563 | IRAQI CHARGE SAYS SECURITY DIALOGUE WITH SYRIANS [...] (C) Summary: The Iraqi Charge d'Affaires in Syria, Hassan Abdul Aziz, told the Charge June 10 that dialogue with the Syrians on security was completely blocked for the moment over SARG unhappiness at the detention in Iraq of two Syrian soldiers taken into custody since February. Abdul Aziz [...] | 2007-06-10 14:46:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS567 | SYRIAN PRIVATE AIRLINES: SAME LEOPARD, NEW SPOTS [...] (C) Summary. The SARG has dusted off two options to upgrade its aging fleet of commercial aircraft: buying Russian planes, or leasing Boeing or Airbus planes with assistance from ICAO/UNDP. President Asad's cousin, Rami Makhlouf, appears to be progressing with his plan to establish a private [...] | 2007-06-11 09:37:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | EAIR ECON ETTC PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS568 | Syria/Spain, Syria/Israel, Syria/Lebanon, Malaysia, Iraq, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on June 8-9 reported the visit to Spain on June 7 by FM Mouallem, who conveyed an oral message from President Asad to King Juan Carlos of Spain on bilateral relations and current regional developments, particularly in Iraq, the occupied Palestinian territories and Leban [...] | 2007-06-11 11:00:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS572 | Palestinian Territories, Syria/Lebanon, Syria/Israel, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on June 11 reported that the Arab League on June 10 renewed its condemnation of the US congressional resolution which expressed support for Israel in its continued occupation of Jerusalem, describing the resolution as a flagrant violation of international law. Papers f [...] | 2007-06-11 11:47:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS575 | ASAD'S REFERENDUM COST SYRIA UP TO ONE BILLION USD [...] (C) SUMMARY: THE EXTENSIVE CELEBRATIONS SURROUNDING THE MAY 27 PRESIDENTIAL REFERENDUM ARE ESTIMATED TO HAVE COST SYRIA UP TO USD 1 BILLION. THE SARG ALONE SPENT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO ENCOURAGE A PRO-BASHAR FRENZY AND COORDINATE THE VARIOUS MARCHES, RALLIES, AND OTHER CELEBRATIONS TAKING PLA [...] | 2007-06-11 12:39:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER SY |
07DAMASCUS578 | TRAVEL BANS STRENGTHEN THE SYRIAN GOVERNMENT'S [...] (C) SUMMARY. ONE WAY THE SYRIAN REGIME STIFLES INTERNAL DISSENT IS TO BAN ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO MAY POSE A THREAT TO THE REGIME FROM TRAVELING ABROAD. THROUGH THE USE OF TRAVEL BANS THE REGIME AIMS TO INTIMIDATE MEMBERS OF THE OPPOSITION, CURTAIL THEIR INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES, AND CLOSELY MONIT [...] | 2007-06-11 14:10:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS579 | SYRIAN GOVERNMENT PREVENTS HUMAN RIGHTS NGO FROM [...] (C) Summary. Syrian security services in early June forcibly prevented the most recent monthly meeting of the Human Rights Association of Syria (HRAS) which was to be held at the office of prominent human rights lawyer Haithem al-Maleh. Although the security services are known for arbitraril [...] | 2007-06-12 10:50:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS58 | Syria/Iraq, Syria/Israel, Syria/Ecuador, Rice Visit, Iraq, [...] Summary: For a third consecutive day the Syrian press continued to report extensively on Iraqi President Talabani's visit to Syria. Headlines reported that President Asad and Talabani held a closed meeting on Jan. 16, during which they reviewed ways to develop relations between the two countr [...] | 2007-01-17 12:41:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS588 | Syria/Israel, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestinian Territories, Iran [...] Summary: Syrian papers on June 12 reported a meeting by the Central Leadership of the National Progressive Front (NPF) on June 11. The Leadership stressed Syria's firm position toward the issue of peace with Israel, describing the current peace proposals to Syria as "contradictory and not s [...] | 2007-06-12 12:58:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS596 | THE SARG OPENS A NEW BID ROUND FOR OIL AND NATURAL [...] (SBU) Summary. The SARG opened seven on-shore blocks for oil and natural gas exploration, but only two have not been previously offered. Royal Dutch Shell and PetroCanada are the largest international oil companies (IOC) involved in the current on-shore round which is set to close on July 12 [...] | 2007-06-13 12:16:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EINV ENRG EPET ETRD ETTC PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS597 | ASAD INSISTS ON NEED FOR AMBASSADOR TO RETURN [...] (C) Summary: In a one-on-one with his American biographer, President Bashar al-Asad May 30 underscored the need for the return of the U.S. ambassador to Damascus, according to the biographer, David Lesch. Asad discounted the importance of the May 3 Sharm meeting between FM Mu'allim and the [...] | 2007-06-13 12:34:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS598 | Syria/Greece, Syria/Italy, Syria/Netherlands, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on June 13 reported the visit to Damascus by Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs Dora Bakoyannis and her meeting with President Asad on June 12 about bilateral relations and political developments in Iraq, the occupied territories and Lebanon. Bakoyannis praised Syria's [...] | 2007-06-13 13:13:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS600 | POST APPROVES NSDD 38 - U.S. DEPARTMENT OF [...] Post approves this NSDD 38 Department of Defense, Department of Army request to add one Olmsted scholar position in Syria, for an appointment of limited duration. While this proposed staffing change is not reflected in the most recent MSP, post believes that DOD has made a persuasive case for [...] | 2007-06-14 09:12:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | AODE AMGT KMRS MASS SY |
07DAMASCUS603 | Palestinian Territories, Lebanon, Syria/Israel, Iraq [...] Summary: Syrian papers on June 14 quoted an official Syrian source as saying on June 13 that the Syrian government and Syrian people are concerned about intra-Palestinian fighting and violence. "Fighting among the Palestinian brothers will only serve the interests of the enemies of the Pales [...] | 2007-06-14 12:59:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS606 | Palestinian Territories, Lebanon, Syria/Israel, Iraq (6/15 [...] Summary: Syrian papers on June 15, 16 and 17 focused on the inter-Palestinian conflict in Gaza and the West Bank, the meeting of the Arab Foreign Minister in Cairo, and the Lebanese dispute between the majority and the opposition on holding by-elections to fill the seats of two assassinated [...] | 2007-06-17 13:15:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS61 | Syria/Iraq, Syria/Israel, Syria/Ecuador, Rice Visit, Iraq, [...] Summary: For a third consecutive day the Syrian press reported extensively on Iraqi President Talabani's visit to Syria. Headlines reported that Presidents Asad and Talabani held a closed meeting on Jan. 16, in which they reviewed ways to develop relations between the two countries in all fi [...] | 2007-01-17 13:04:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS613 | SARG NOT OFFSETTING LOSS OF OIL PRODUCTION, [...] (C) SUMMARY: Syria has long depended on oil production to account for a significant portion of its GDP, but with oil exports declining, Syria needs to generate new sources of growth and income. In March 2007, the SARG significantly revised prior year macroeconomic numbers to support claims t [...] | 2007-06-18 12:18:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN ETRD PGOV SY |
07DAMASCUS615 | SYRIAN YOUTH GROUP SENTENCED TO LENGTHY PRISON [...] (SBU) Summary. The Supreme State Security Court June 17 sentenced seven young civil society activists, including five university students, who tried from 2005 to 2006 to organize a youth discussion forum, to prison terms ranging from five to seven years. In stark contrast to other, more well- [...] | 2007-06-18 14:38:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS618 | Palestinian Territories, Lebanon, Syria/UK, Syria/Israel, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on June 18 and 19 focused on the visits to Damascus of the Kuwaiti Crown Prince and the UK Shadow Foreign Secretary. The papers reported that President Assad on June 18 SIPDIS received a message from the Kuwaiti Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on the [...] | 2007-06-19 13:29:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS625 | Palestinian Territories, Lebanon, Syria/EU, Syria/Israel, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on June 20 and 21 quoted Amr Moussa, the Arab League Secretary General, as saying on June 19 that Arab foreign ministers, who met in Cairo last Friday, did not receive any document from the Lebanese delegation on weapons smuggling to Lebanon. The papers concluded that [...] | 2007-06-21 09:45:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS628 | SYRIAN OPPOSITION LEADER HAS CANCER, DESCRIBES [...] (C) Summary: Leading opposition activist Riad Seif told Emboff that he was making quiet progress on expanding the small Damascus Declaration group into a 180-member National Congress. Separately, he confirmed that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and hopes to get permission for tr [...] | 2007-06-21 13:30:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS636 | HAMAS LEADERS IN SYRIA,SARG OFFICIALS EXPRESS [...] (C) Summary: SARG officials and the Damascus-based leaders of Hamas are offering divergent views in their assessments about the necessity and impact of the Hamas takeover in Gaza, with the SARG MFA officials expressing concern and Hamas leaders here -- after some initial uncertainty -- proje [...] | 2007-06-25 15:20:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KPAL KWBG SY |
07DAMASCUS638 | Syria/Japan, Syria/Italy, Palestinian Territories, Lebanon, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on June 26 reported President Asad's meeting on June 25 with Japanese First Deputy Foreign Minister Katso Hito Asano, who conveyed a message from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to President Asad on bilateral relations and means of enhancing them, particularly on the [...] | 2007-06-27 04:30:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS639 | Lebanon, Palestinian Territories, Syria/Iran, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on June 25 reported the car bomb that killed six UNIFIL peacekeepers from a Spanish contingent patrolling a road in the southern Lebanese village of Khiam on June 24, the first such attack on the UN Interim Force in Lebanon since it was reinforced last summer after the [...] | 2007-06-27 04:31:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS643 | Golan, Rice, Lebanon, Palestinian Territories, Iraq, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on June 27 marked the 33rd anniversary of the liberation of Al-Qunaytirah with reports and articles glorifying the "heroism" and sacrifices of Syrian forces during the October 1973 war and stressing that the occupied Golan will definitely return to Syria. Papers cited [...] | 2007-06-27 12:50:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS649 | SYRIAN DISSIDENT TO FACE CHARGES DESPITE [...] (SBU) Summary. Several months after being released on bail and then supposedly pardoned, Communist Action Party leader Fateh Jammous appeared in the Criminal Court in Damascus on June 26 to learn that he faces charges of committing, "acts that could threaten the security of the nation." Jammou [...] | 2007-06-28 13:09:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS651 | SYRIA PROPOSAL FOR 2007 AMBASSADOR FUND FOR [...] (U) Request: Post requests $20,000 from the Ambassador Fund for Refugees for the NGO LIFE for Relief and Development for a 10-day summer camp in August 2007 that would benefit 80 Iraqi and 20 Syrian children from eight to 12 years old. 2. (U) Background and justification: LIFE for Relief [...] | 2007-06-28 14:14:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | PREF SY |
07DAMASCUS652 | SYRIA PROVIDES ORAL "NO" TO REFUGEE DIRECT ACCESS [...] (C) Summary: In a June 27 meeting with the Syrian DFM's office director Hussam al-Din A'ala, seeking a response to the PRM refugee non-paper proposal to allow direct action on Iraqi refugee cases with links to the coalition, the SARG confirmed what it had already officially informed the Inte [...] | 2007-06-28 14:17:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PHUM SY IZ |
07DAMASCUS653 | IMPACT OF SARG CLOSING OF THREE OF FOUR BORDER [...] (C) SUMMARY: SARG officials and Syrian media have characterized the recent closing of three of the four land border crossings with Lebanon as a security precaution in the wake of the fighting in the Nahr al-Barid camp in Lebanon. For now they are publicly denying they will close the fourth a [...] | 2007-06-28 15:09:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ECON PTER SY |
07DAMASCUS664 | Syria/PDRK, US/Syria, Syria/EU, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestinian [...] Summary: Syrian papers on July 2 reported the July 1 meeting of Assistant Secretary General of the Ba'ath Party, Abdullah al-Ahmar, with Kim Tai Jung, Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Relations' Bureau at the Central Committee of the Democratic Korean Work Party. The two reviewed current devel [...] | 2007-07-02 12:48:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS665 | DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO SARG ON FOREIGN FIGHTERS [...] (C) Summary: Charge delivered reftel points on the foreign fighter issue July 2 to FM Walid Mu'allim's office director, Bassam Sabbagh. Sabbagh did not offer any official response but noted this was not a new issue and that the SARG did not want to cooperate on a few limited issues without a [...] | 2007-07-02 13:04:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS679 | Syria/Denmark, Syria/Japan, Golan, Palestinian [...] Summary: Syrian papers on July 3 reported Foreign Minister Mouallem's meeting on July 2 with Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeller, who reiterated the importance of the pivotal role Syria plays in achieving security and stability in the region, particularly supporting efforts to restore Ir [...] | 2007-07-03 13:19:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS683 | SYRIA UPDATE ON IRAQI REFUGEES [...] (U) Summary: PRM/ANE Office Director Richard Albright visited Damascus from June 12-15 and June 20-21, meeting about the Iraqi refugee crisis with interlocutors from a range of organizations, including: the Iraqi Embassy, the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC),the Internation [...] | 2007-07-05 12:26:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PGOV SY IZ |
07DAMASCUS684 | Syria/Denmark, Syria/US, Syria/Sudan, Syria/Russia, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on July 4 reported President Asad's meeting on July 3 with Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeller, focusing on bilateral relations and efforts to revive the peace process. Discussions also dealt with the situation in Iraq and the political process there. The two sid [...] | 2007-07-05 13:15:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS690 | Syria/Sudan, Syria/US, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestinian [...] Summary: Syrian papers on July 7 reported the visit to Sudan by Prime Minister Mohammad Naji Otri and his meeting with Sudanese President Omar Hasan al-Bashir on July 5. Their talks focused on bilateral relations and means of boosting them in all domains. The Sudanese President hailed Syria' [...] | 2007-07-08 13:15:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS694 | Mousa, Bilal, Aboul Gheit, Lebanon, Palestinian [...] Summary: Syrian papers on July 9 reported the July 8 arrival in Damascus from Riyadh of Arab League Secretary General Amr Mousa, for a two-day official visit to Syria. Mousa will meet with senior Syrian officials about the latest developments in Lebanon. He will discuss the Lebanese crisis [...] | 2007-07-09 13:33:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS70 | Syria/Norway, Syria/China, Bush's Iraq Strategy, Rice's [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Jan. 18 reported FM Walid Mouallem's meeting on Jan. 17 with Svein Sieve, Advisor of the Norwegian Foreign Ministry for Middle East Affairs. Sieve reiterated the importance of Syria's role to cement security and stability in the region. FM Mouallem emphasized the n [...] | 2007-01-21 08:05:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS700 | EMBASSY DAMASCUS PROPOSALS FOR OUTREACH TO IRAQ [...] (SBU) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 7. 2. (C) SUMMARY: While PRM and the Department direct assistance for the up to 1.4 million Iraqis in Syria through the U.N. and international organizations, Post sees potential to explore and create additional, albeit modest, opport [...] | 2007-07-10 14:06:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF SY |
07DAMASCUS701 | SYRIAN OPPOSITION LEADER ON HIS STRUGGLE WITH [...] (C) Summary: On July 3, prominent Syrian opposition leader Riad Seif provided an update on his unsuccessful efforts so far to obtain permission to travel overseas for treatment of his prostate cancer, including his meetings with a Syrian VP and intelligence chiefs. He observed that the rela [...] | 2007-07-10 14:15:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM SY |
07DAMASCUS702 | HIGH PRICE OF REAL ESTATE BURDEN FOR SYRIANS [...] (C) SUMMARY: Real estate prices throughout Syria have risen rapidly over the past three years due to high demand and a limited property supply exacerbated by market inefficiencies. Most Syrian businessmen and economists agree that the rapid price increase is creating a real estate bubble that [...] | 2007-07-10 14:20:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN ETRD PGOV SY |
07DAMASCUS716 | Primakov, Syria/China, Syria/Iran, Mousa, Lebanon, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on July 11 featured a press conference on July 11 held by Yevgeny Primakov, Chairman of the Russian Chamber of Trade and Industry and former Russian Premier, at the headquarters of the Rossiiskaia Gazeta newspaper on July 10 emphasizing that it is impossible to achieve [...] | 2007-07-13 09:02:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS717 | Amr Mousa, Syria/Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestinian [...] Summary: Syrian papers on July 10 reported the visit to Damascus by Secretary General Amr Mousa and his meeting with President Asad on July 9 focusing on regional Arab developments. President Asad expressed support to the Arab League Secretary General mission in Lebanon aiming at achieving ac [...] | 2007-07-13 09:03:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS718 | Syria/Kuwait, Syria/UAE, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestinian [...] Summary: Syrian papers on July 12 reported that President Asad on July 11 received al letter from Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad al-Jaber Al Sabah connected with bilateral relations between the two sisterly countries and issues of common concern. The letter focused on the latest devel [...] | 2007-07-13 09:04:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS723 | Syria/US, Syria/UAE, Syria/Guinea-Bissau Syria/France, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on July 13 reported President Asad's meeting on July 12 with Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, Archbishop Emeritus of Washington, and Catholic Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of the Brooklyn Diocese, focusing on the tense situation in the Middle East. President Asad reiterated the [...] | 2007-07-15 14:14:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS726 | SYRIAN DETAINEES RELEASED, SECURITY WORKING GROUP [...] (C) The Iraqi Charge d'Affaires in Damascus told Emboff at a reception on July 15 that Iraqi authorities had released two Syrian detainees on July 12 or 13 (mentioned in reftel),potentially paving the way for a Syrian-hosted border security working group meeting in Damascus as early as August [...] | 2007-07-16 12:51:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PREL PGOV SY IZ |
07DAMASCUS727 | Syria/UAE, Syria/Netherlands, Syria/Sudan, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on July 16 reported that President Sheikh Khaifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates arrived in Damascus July 15 on an official 2-day visit. He made a statement upon arrival expressing satisfaction with cooperation in recent years in the economic, trade and [...] | 2007-07-16 13:45:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS730 | Asad, Cousseran, Lebanon, Bush/ME Peace, Iraq, Palestinian [...] Summary: President Asad's oath-taking ceremony and speech at the People's Assembly on July 17 was the main topic in Syrian papers on July 18. Banner headlines were dedicated to the speech, which was carried in its entirety. President Asad said that "Syria has emerged stronger a fter facing [...] | 2007-07-19 10:40:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS731 | Syria-UAE, Syria/Iran, Syrian Press, Lebanon, Iraq, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on July 17 reported President Asad's meeting with UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan on July 16. The presidents reviewed bilateral relations and means of strengthening them and hailed the role played by the Syrian-Emirates Joint Committee. They discussed [...] | 2007-07-19 10:41:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS735 | Syria/Iran, Syria/France, Syria/PLO, Lebanon, Asad's [...] Summary: Syrian papers on July 19 reported that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will pay a one-day visit to Syria today to meet with President Asad and other senior Syrian officials. Papers also reported VP Shar'a's meeting with Jean-Claude Cousseran, envoy of French Foreign Minister [...] | 2007-07-19 10:51:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS74 | Syria/PLO, Syria/Iran, Syria/Libya, Syria/Belgium, Iraq, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Jan. 22 reported President Asad's and VP Shara's meetings with Ali Larijani, Secretary of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council, on Jan 21. Talks focused on current regional developments. Larijani conveyed a message from President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad about [...] | 2007-01-22 13:46:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS745 | Syria/Iran, Peace/Bush's Call for International [...] Summary: Syrian papers on July 20 reported Iranian President Ahmadinejad's summit with President Asad on July 19. Talks focused on regional developments and bilateral relations. Banner headlines featured the joint press conference at the conclusion of their talks. The Iranian President call [...] | 2007-07-22 13:49:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS746 | Syria/Iran, Syria/Iraq, Lebanon, Palestinian Territories, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on July 23 featured a statement by Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Mohammad Ali Husseini on July 22 reiterating the importance of the recent talks between President Asad and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad which aimed to improve the strong relations between the [...] | 2007-07-23 10:09:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS750 | SARG WILL ATTEND AMMAN REFUGEE WORKING GROUP; [...] (C) Summary: In a July 22 meeting, Charge delivered reftel demarche on the neighbor's working group on refugees to the Syrian DFM's office director, Hussam al-Din A'ala. A'ala noted SARG intentions to attend the meeting and to use the gathering to discuss modalities for delivering Iraqi govern [...] | 2007-07-24 04:50:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PREL IZ JO SY |
07DAMASCUS751 | Lebanon, Syria/Ukraine, Syria/Iraq, Syria/Israel, Peace [...] Summary: Syrian papers on July 24 reported the July 23 broadcast by al-Jazeera television of an interview with Hizbollah Secretary General Hasan Nasrallah. Nasrallah said that Syria was SIPDIS ready to engage in the July 2006 war on Lebanon, but Hizbollah did not see any reason for Syria [...] | 2007-07-24 09:48:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS755 | SYRIAN PRESIDENT LAUNCHES SECOND TERM WITH FOCUS [...] (C) Summary: Despite the focus on domestic issues in Syrian President Bashar al-Asad's July 17 second-term inaugural speech, contacts have concluded that the speech was most significant in its reference to Syrian-Israeli negotiations. Asad used the speech to respond to Israeli PM Olmert's J [...] | 2007-07-25 14:23:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PREF SY |
07DAMASCUS756 | MOVEMENT ON SYRIA-IRAQ RELATIONS? [...] No summary [...] | 2007-07-25 14:50:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV IZ SY |
07DAMASCUS762 | SYRIA'S ELECTRICITY CRISIS [...] (C) SUMMARY: Syria has recently suffered widespread and unscheduled electricity outages. The SARG has tried to assert that the outages are a temporary problem, but this current crisis is an indicator of the larger electricity dilemma facing Syria today ) a growing electricity shortage brought [...] | 2007-07-26 10:45:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ENRG PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS765 | MATCHING FOOTPRINTS: FIRST TIME ADULT AMCIT APPLICANTS FROM IRAQ AND IRAN, IN SYRIA [...] A growing number of men in their early-to-mid 20s who claim to have been born in the United States are now applying for their first U.S. passports. Of the six individuals in the last two weeks, five came to Syria from Iraq (including two brothers) and one from Iran. One of the Iraqis was prev [...] | 2007-07-26 13:31:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | CPAS KFRD KWMN ASEC SY IZ IR |
07DAMASCUS77 | UNHCR SYRIA RAMPING UP FOR MORE ASSISTANCE TO [...] (C) Summary: UNHCR Damascus is planning a dramatic increase in services to the at least 800,000 Iraqis in Syria this year, with an appeal for a more than 20-fold budget increase and a scheduled visit to Damascus next month of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, according to the UNHCR Repr [...] | 2007-01-22 14:42:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PGOV SY IZ |
07DAMASCUS772 | Lebanon, Peace Process, Palestinian Territories, Iraq, [...] Summary: All Syrian papers on July 29 featured Hizbollah leader Sayed Hassan Nasrallah's speech on July 28 in mass rally in Bint Jbeil in south Lebanon commemorating the anniversary of the July 2006 war with Israel saying that the Lebanese resistance has foiled US plans for a new Middle East [...] | 2007-07-30 06:16:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS773 | DAMASCUS FRAUD PREVENTION MANAGEMENT REPORT [...] No summary [...] | 2007-07-30 10:15:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | CVIS CPAS KFRD KCRM CMGT ASEC SY |
07DAMASCUS774 | SARG USES AHMEDINEJAD VISIT TO SIGNAL STRENGTH OF [...] (C) Summary: The scheduling of Iranian president Mahmud Ahmedinejad's visit to Damascus two days after president Bashar al-Asad took his second oath of office prompted observers of Syrian politics to interpret the visit in terms of the most notable element of Asad's inauguration speech: his co [...] | 2007-07-30 10:17:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SY IR IS |
07DAMASCUS775 | Iraq, Lebanon, Islam, Palestinian Territories, Peace [...] Summary: Syrian papers on July 30 reported Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal al-Miqdad's meeting on July 29 with Under Secretary of the Iraqi Foreign Ministry Mohammad al-Haj Mahmoud focusing on bilateral relations, developments in Iraq and the effects of the increasing influx of Iraqi citizens [...] | 2007-07-30 14:22:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS776 | SARG SAYS "DCS MUST BEGIN LICENSE PROCESS" TO [...] (C) Summary: MFA delivered July 30 the official answer to Embassy's three-month effort to get visas for teachers/staff at the Embassy-managed Damascus Community School (DCS). MFA stated Embassy had to "begin the registration process" for DCS as a private school in Syria with the Ministry of [...] | 2007-07-30 15:07:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | AMGT SY |
07DAMASCUS777 | DESPITE ASAD'S DENIAL, RUMORS OF SUBSIDIES BEING [...] (C) SUMMARY: President Asad rejected public rumors of the lifting of subsidies in his July 17 inauguration address (ref A). In spite of this populist message, SARG officials continue to publicly discuss the burden of subsidies and their future plans to restructure the subsidy system. The SAR [...] | 2007-07-31 08:59:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN PREL PGOV SY |
07DAMASCUS778 | Peace Process, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestinian Territories, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on July 31 reported FM Mouallem's meeting on July 30 with Norwegian Foreign Minister Special Envoy for Middle-East Affairs Sven Sevje. Discussion centered upon recent developments in the Middle East and efforts to revive the peace process. FM Mouallem expressed Syria [...] | 2007-07-31 13:18:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS78 | TALABANI'S MARATHON VISIT TO DAMASCUS [...] (C) Summary. During his six-day visit to Damascus, President Talabani met with most Syrians of significance, including four separate meetings with President Asad including two one-on-ones. Talabani was accompanied by some 20 Iraqi officials in addition to four ministers who signed unspecifi [...] | 2007-01-22 15:08:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER EPET SY |
07DAMASCUS782 | Syrian Army, Syria/Spain, Peace Process, Lebanon, Iraq, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on August 1 featured a speech by President Asad marking the 62nd anniversary of the Syrian army's creation published July 31 in the military journal "Army of the People", in which he called for the return of the Golan Heights. He said that the latest events in the regi [...] | 2007-08-01 13:02:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS786 | GREAT PROMISE, LITTLE PROGRESS: THE COASTAL CITY [...] (C) SUMMARY: Emboffs visited the coastal city of Tartous on July 9th. While the city and surrounding areas are rich in economic and natural resources, its development is well behind its potential. The area boasts two of Syria's three major ports, is widely known for its agricultural producti [...] | 2007-08-02 14:37:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EIND PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS787 | DAMASCUS HOSTS WHO CONFERENCE ON IRAQI REFUGEES [...] (C) Summary. The World Health Organization (WHO) organized a regional conference on the health concerns of Iraqi refugees in Damascus on July 29 and 30. Arab diplomats and Syrians who work for international organizations complimented the SARG's willingness to step in at the last moment to ho [...] | 2007-08-02 14:41:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREF PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS79 | PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT MEETS MISH'AL IN DAMASCUS [...] (C) SUMMARY: VISITING PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABBAS MET WITH DAMASCUS-BASED HAMAS LEADER KHALID MISH'AL FOR ABOUT THREE HOURS ON JANUARY 21 IN THE SYRIAN CAPITAL, FOLLOWING A SERIES OF SEPARATE MEETINGS BETWEEN TOP SYRIAN OFFICIALS AND THE TWO FIGURES, ACCORDING TO PRESS REPORTS AND CO [...] | 2007-01-22 15:25:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | KPAL PREL PGOV SY |
07DAMASCUS793 | COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR FIVE USG PERSONNEL [...] Embassy Damascus welcomes and grants Country Clearance for the proposed visit of Ms. Karen H. Sasahara, Mr. Stephen Mangino, Colonel Cheryl Smart, Mr. Daniel F. Landers, Mr. Brian Gilligan and Mr. Thomas Meek. Travelers will be met and assisted at the airport by an Embassy driver, expediter, [...] | 2007-08-06 10:01:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | AMGT EAGR IZ JO OTRA PREL PTER SY |
07DAMASCUS796 | CONSULAR OPERATIONS IN A STATE SPONSOR OF TERRORISM - [...] No summary [...] | 2007-08-07 06:46:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ASEC CVIS CPAS KFRD KCRM SY IZ IR |
07DAMASCUS797 | CONSULAR OPERATIONS IN A STATE SPONSOR OF [...] (SBU) Summary: Consular Operations at Embassy Damascus are impacted by the fact that the Syrian Arab Republic is a State Sponsor of Terrorism, as well as by our growing Iraqi workload. This cable focuses on the salient features of conducting consular work in this special environment. End Sum [...] | 2007-08-07 08:55:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ASEC CVIS CPAS KFRD KCRM SY IZ IR |
07DAMASCUS801 | Bilal, Baath Party, Palestinian Territories, Lebanon, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on August 4 featured a lecture by Information Minister Muhsen Bilal saying that the US project currently aims at lessening the value of victories achieved by the Lebanese resistance and imposing its schemes on Palestine, Iraq and other countries with the aim of seizing [...] | 2007-08-07 13:26:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS802 | Syria/Italy, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestinian Territories, Peace [...] Summary: Syrian papers on August 7 reported that President Asad received a phone call from the Italian Prime Minister on August 6 focusing on the situation in Iraq, Lebanon and the Palestinian territories. On Iraq, papers continued to report the increasing number of US casualties in Iraq. [...] | 2007-08-07 13:26:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS806 | Syria/Iraq, US Arms Shipments, Lebanon, Palestinian [...] Summary: Syrian papers on August 8 reported Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal al-Miqdad's meeting on August 7 with Iraqi Foreign Ministry Deputy Labid Abbawi on bilateral relations between Syria and Iraq and means of developing them in all different domains. During the meeting, both sides exchan [...] | 2007-08-08 14:08:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS807 | SYRIA'S APPROACH TO LEBANON: CORE INTERESTS AT [...] (S) SUMMARY: The Syrian government watched Lebanon's August 5 Metn by-elections unfold in studied silence intended to signal the SARG's detachment from events across the border. The SARG's silence reflected both the regime's perception that its allies in Lebanon are gaining ground and the lim [...] | 2007-08-09 04:25:00 | Embassy Damascus | SECRET | PREL SY LE PTER PGOV |
07DAMASCUS82 | Syria/Belgium, Syria/Iraq, Syria/Iran, Syria/Pakistan, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Jan. 23 reported President Asad's meeting on Jan. 23 with Anne-Marie Lizin, Chairwoman of the Belgian Senate. Talks centered on bilateral relations and regional developments. President Asad reiterated the importance of continuing Euro-Syrian communication and Belgi [...] | 2007-01-23 14:13:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS824 | Syria/India, Britain, Italy, Lebanon, Iraq, Peace [...] Summary: Syrian papers on August 14 reported the visit to India by FM Mouallem on August 13. Mouallem conferred with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who praised President Asad saying that "Syria has achieved remarkable progress (which) showed wisdom in dealing with the developments of t [...] | 2007-08-14 12:54:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS825 | Syria/Lebanon, Lantos, Iraq, Peace Conference (8/13) [...] Summary: Syrian papers on August 13 reported a statement by Kabalan Kabalan, Chairman of the Southern Lebanon Council on August 12 announcing that the Lebanese authorities started to execute a project to rebuild houses in the Lebanese southern towns of Qana, al-Qulaila and Seddiqin, destroyed [...] | 2007-08-14 13:13:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS835 | Shara, Syria/India, Nasrallah, Iraq, Palestinian [...] Summary: Syrian papers on August 15 reported a meeting with journalists in Damascus by Vice President Shara on August 14 confirming that Syria has no intention of waging war against Israel to restore occupied Golan, but he accused Israel for seeking "any excuse to launch a war." "Israel know [...] | 2007-08-15 13:47:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS836 | SARG REPORTS ON BORDER SECURITY EFFORTS DURING [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Syrian Interior Ministry hosted the Border Security Working Group (BSWG) of Iraqi Neighbors in Damascus August 8-9 (Reftel). Although official Syrian commentary during the two-day meeting was limited, Syria's Interior Minister Bassam Abdel Majid provided opening remarks and M [...] | 2007-08-16 05:15:00 | Embassy Damascus | SECRET | PINS PREL PTER SY |
07DAMASCUS838 | Syria/Israel, Syria/Argentina, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestinian [...] Summary: Syrian papers on August 16 featured a statement by Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak saying on August 15 that "Israel is not interested in war with Syria, and Israel believes that Syria does not want war either," adding that "war shouldn't erupt, therefore." Barak made the stateme [...] | 2007-08-16 11:50:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS846 | RIAD SEIF SEEKS OTHERS TO ECHO DEPARTMENT'S AUG 15 [...] No summary [...] | 2007-08-20 10:11:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM SY |
07DAMASCUS847 | Syria/Saudi Arabia, Syria/Iraq, Lebanon, Palestinian [...] Summary: Syrian papers on August 19 featured a statement by an official source expressing regret over a Saudi official statement regarding statements attributed to VP Shara, which "were unrightfully changed," stressing at the same time Syria's insistence on not being dragged into disputes tha [...] | 2007-08-20 10:25:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS85 | Syria/Qatar, Syria/Brazil, Golan, Lebanon, Iraq, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Jan. 25 reported that President Asad returned to Damascus after a short visit to Qatar on Jan. 24, where he reviewed with Qatari Prince Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani developments in the region, especially in Iraq and Palestine. The leaders also reviewed bilatera [...] | 2007-01-25 13:42:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS853 | Syria/Iraq, Syria/Palestinians, Syria/Israel, Lebanon, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on August 21 reported the visit to Damascus by Iraqi PM Nouri al-Malki and his meeting with PM Mohammad Naji Ottri on August 20. Talks focused on bilateral relations and mutual cooperation between the two countries and means to improve them. PM Ottri expressed Syria's [...] | 2007-08-22 04:39:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS857 | Syria/Iraq, Lebanon, Palestinian Territories, Peace [...] Summary: Syrian papers on August 22 reported President Asad's meeting on August 21 with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in which he reiterated Syria's support for the current political process in Iraq and stressed the need to intensify efforts to create a suitable foundation for achievin [...] | 2007-08-22 11:51:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS862 | FIRST IRAQI REFUGEE TRAVELS FROM SYRIA FOR RESETTLEMENT IN [...] (SBU) The first Iraqi refugee to get resettlement in the U.S. from this year's processing in Syria traveled on August 21. An adult male, he will be settled in San Jose, California. A total of 146 Iraqi individuals from Iraq will move to the U.S. in August, and 200 more are expected to travel [...] | 2007-08-23 13:12:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | CVIS PREF SY IZ |
07DAMASCUS864 | LOCAL SYRIAN ELECTIONS: NO FOLLOW-THROUGH ON [...] (C) Summary. Municipal elections in Syria, scheduled for August 26, have failed to inspire the public and lack the large, public expeditures that characterized Parliamentary elections earlier this year. The lack of enthusiasm reflects a widespread lack of faith in the system and the well-fou [...] | 2007-08-23 14:09:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS865 | SARG ECONOMIC INTEREST IN IRAQ [...] (C) Summary. It is still open to debate how much Syria is benefiting from improved relations with Iraq as the pluses of increased transit revenues, investment, and trade are off-set by the costs of hosting an ever-growing number of Iraqis. Still, an increasing number of Syrians are focusing [...] | 2007-08-23 14:32:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS866 | MALIKI VISIT POSITIVE, BUT INCREMENTAL APPROACH [...] (S) Summary: No one here is saying "modus vivendi," but PM Maliki's August 19-22 visit was notable for top-level SARG and Iraqi commitments on security, energy, and political cooperation. Behind the scenes, the Iraqis strongly suspect that the August 14 attacks on Qahtaniya and Al Jazeera [...] | 2007-08-25 09:04:00 | Embassy Damascus | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL PGOV SY IZ |
07DAMASCUS868 | ELECTRICITY CRISIS PROVOKES PUBLIC DISCONTENT; [...] (C) SUMMARY: Unscheduled electricity outages that have plagued Syria since early June 2007 continue to affect large portions of the country and have caused increasing public discontent. Rather than assigning blame directly to the regime, however, the public has largely accused Iraqi refugees [...] | 2007-08-26 04:26:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ENRG PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS88 | SYRIA 2007 ELECTIONS PRIMER [...] (SBU) THE SARG IS EXPECTED TO HOLD THREE SETS OF ELECTIONS IN 2007, STARTING WITH THE PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY IN APRIL, FOLLOWED BY A PRESIDENTIAL REFERENDUM EXPECTED TO TAKE PLACE IN LATE MAY OR EARLY JUNE, AND MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS EXPECTED IN AUGUST. THE FOLLOWING IS AN EXPLANATION OF THE ELECTIO [...] | 2007-01-25 16:12:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV SY |
07DAMASCUS888 | POST EFFORTS TO PROMOTE FREEDOM IN SYRIA [...] (U) This is an action response to STATE 088465 2. (C) Post meets with human rights and civil society activists as well as key opposition figures on a regular basis (ref A). As a result, Post is able to monitor their activities closely and routinely. We also continue to demonstrate soli [...] | 2007-08-30 12:24:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS889 | EMBASSY TEAM VISITS SYRIAN NORTHEAST [...] (SBU) Summary. PAO and Poloff visited the cities of Qamishli and Deir az-Zour as part of a PD led trip to archaeological sites in the Northeast of Syria, including one major site under excavation by UCLA. The trip afforded Emboffs the opportunity to examine the state of tourism sector develo [...] | 2007-08-30 13:19:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ENRG PGOV PHUM PREF PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS890 | INFLATION CONTINUES TO AFFLICT SYRIA [...] (SBU) Summary: The IMF recently estimated average inflation in Syria at eight percent, close to the rate estimated by Post's 2006-7 price survey. This rate does not tell the whole story, however, as black market prices and subsidies mask inflation in Syria. Local Syrian economists take issu [...] | 2007-08-30 14:03:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON SY |
07DAMASCUS905 | SARG SIGNALS NEW VISA REQUIREMENT FOR IRAQIS [...] (C) Summary: Confirming what Deputy Foreign Minister Miqdad told UK and other Embassies at a private briefing last week, Syrian dailies reported September 3 that, effective September 10, Iraqis traveling to Syria will need a visa. According to Miqdad, Iraqi PM Maliki proposed this action. A [...] | 2007-09-05 12:14:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PHUM PREL SY IZ |
07DAMASCUS909 | APATHY, LOW TURNOUT MARK LOCAL SYRIAN ELECTIONS [...] (C) Summary. Lackluster turnout and voter apathy characterized local elections held throughout Syria on August 26, 27. This round of elections garnered even less attention than Parliamentary elections earlier this year. Voters had little choice but to rubberstamp government-approved lists of [...] | 2007-09-05 14:23:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS913 | Syria/Iraq, Syria/Iran, Middle East Peace Conference, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on September 4 reported that President Asad chaired a meeting the Central Leadership of National Progressive Front. During the meeting, President Asad briefed the Front's members on the latest political developments in the region. He referred to the role played by "some [...] | 2007-09-06 12:31:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS92 | Russia, Syria/Argentina, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestinian [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Jan. 28 reported that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Tehran and Damascus must be involved in the Middle East peace process. "We are deeply convinced that Iran and Syria must not be isolated, but, rather, brought into the peace process," Lavrov to [...] | 2007-01-28 15:38:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS920 | Syria/Israel, Syria/Rome, Asad CBS Interview, Algeria, [...] Summary: The main story in Syrian papers over the weekend was the Israeli warplanes violation of Syrian airspace on September 6. Government-owned Al-Thawra, the only paper to appear on September 7, quoted a Syrian military spokesman as saying that Syrian air defenses opened fire on the Israel [...] | 2007-09-09 12:53:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS927 | Syria/Turkey, Petraeus-Crocker Report, 9/11 Events, [...] Summary: Syrian papers on September 10 reported the visit to Turkey by FM Mouallem on September 9 to convey a message from President Asad to President Gul congratulating him on his election as President. FM Mouallem's talks with Turkish officials focused on the recent Israeli warplanes viola [...] | 2007-09-11 13:53:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS931 | SYRIA,S GAS SECTOR UNABLE TO COMPENSATE FOR [...] (C) SUMMARY: The SARG routinely expresses confidence that its supply of natural gas -- when fully on-line ) will offset dwindling oil production. In preparation for this switch the SARG has been encouraging the substitution of natural gas for oil in electrical power generation. There is alre [...] | 2007-09-13 12:17:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EINV ENRG EPET ETRD ETTC PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS932 | CONSULAR SECTION ACTIVITIES [...] (SBU) Summary: Despite the SARG's continuing efforts to restrict Embassy contact with large segments of Syrian society, the Consular Section continues to run an active outreach program. Below is a list of events in August and September. End Summary. 2. (SBU) Student Visa Talks -- Our NI [...] | 2007-09-13 12:19:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ASEC CVIS CPAS KFRD KCRM SY IZ |
07DAMASCUS933 | SYRIAN VISA REQUIREMENT ON IRAQIS: POSTPONED FOR [...] No summary [...] | 2007-09-13 15:40:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PHUM PREL SY IZ |
07DAMASCUS937 | Bush's Speech, Syria/Russia, Syria/North Korea, Palestinian [...] Summary: Syrian papers on September 15 reported President Bush's televised speech on September 13 announcing gradual pullout of US forces from Iraq. Isan Dari, Chief Editor of government-owned Tishreen criticized Bush's speech saying that the speech cannot conceal "the failures and defects" o [...] | 2007-09-16 13:20:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS949 | SARG SENDING MIXED SIGNALS ON FUEL SUBSIDIES [...] No summary [...] | 2007-09-18 16:38:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG ETRD EPET SY LE |
07DAMASCUS95 | Syria/Yemen, Syria/Iraq, Lebanon, Palestinian Territories [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Jan. 29 reported President Asad's meeting in Yemen on Jan. 28 with Yemeni Prime Minister, Abdul-Qader Bajmal. Talks focused on regional and international developments and meetings of the Syrian-Yemeni Higher Committee. On the issue of Iraq, papers reported Foreign [...] | 2007-01-29 14:18:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS950 | ASSESSING SARG VULNERABILITIES [...] (S) The Syrian Accountability Act and other sanctions have had an adverse impact on the SARG, but not to a degree that has modified Syrian behavior on our key issues of concern. Nearly three years after most sanctions were implemented, this cable reflects the Embassy,s assessment of both SARG [...] | 2007-09-18 16:53:00 | Embassy Damascus | SECRET | ETRD EFIN PTER SY |
07DAMASCUS951 | SARG SENDING MIXED SIGNALS ON FUEL SUBSIDIES [...] No summary [...] | 2007-09-19 04:53:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG ETRD EPET SY LE |
07DAMASCUS956 | CLARIFICATION OF SARG STANCE ON REFUGEES [...] (C) Summary. A Syrian MFA official notified the Charge that the SARG was unwilling on political grounds to allow processing of refugee referrals at the U.S. Embassy in Syria. He said there was no bilateral political basis for such agreement and cited a litany of "facts" to further support t [...] | 2007-09-19 15:38:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREF PREL SY IZ JO |
07DAMASCUS958 | Lebanon, Syria/UK, Syrian-North Korea, Syria/Israel, Peace [...] Summary: Syrian papers on September 20 featured a statement by a Syrian media source on September 19 strongly condemning the blast in Sin al-Feil, east of Beirut that claimed the lives of Lebanese MP Antoine Ghanem and other Lebanese citizens. "This criminal act targets efforts and endeavors [...] | 2007-09-20 13:54:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS961 | SYRIAN MISTREATMENT OF POLITICAL PRISONERS [...] (C) Summary. According to a variety of credible human rights contacts, the Syrian regime continues to stonewall requests by Riad Seif, Anwar al-Bunni, Michel Kilo and other high profile political prisoners for medical treatment. In addition, prison officials have stepped up harassment of a pr [...] | 2007-09-23 06:18:00 | Embassy Damascus | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL SY |
07DAMASCUS975 | UNGA, Syria/Israel, Peace Conference, Iraq, US/Syria [...] Summary: Syrian papers on September 27 reported meetings FM Mouallem held on September 25 on the sidelines of the 62nd session of the UN General Assembly in New York. He saw Russian FM SergeyQavrov, High Re presentative of the EU Common Foreign policy and Security Secretary-General of the Co [...] | 2007-09-27 13:13:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DAMASCUS99 | Asad/Mubarak, Syria/EU, Israel, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestinian [...] Summary: Syrian papers on Jan. 30 reported that President Asad had a telephone conversation with President Mubarak on Jan. 29, during which the leaders discussed the intra-Palestinian clashes and means to stop them. On Syrian-EU relations, papers reported that VP Shara on Jan. 29 hailed ef [...] | 2007-01-30 13:16:00 | Embassy Damascus | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY |
07DILI14 | SUSPECTED INTERNATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKERS DETAINED [...] (C) Summary: UNPOL has arrested a Nigerian and a Lebanese national in Dili suspected of involvement in an apparent attempt to traffic young Timorese women to Syria, possibly for prostitution. The Nigerian detainee, found in possession of a large number of fraudulent documents, is confirmed to [...] | 2007-01-16 11:23:00 | Embassy Dili | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM KJUS KPKO KCRM ASEC UN SY NI LE TT |
07DOHA420 | DEMOCRACY FORUM: LEBANESE PRESIDENT AND SYRIAN [...] (U) The Amir of Qatar, Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, opened the seventh annual Forum on Democracy, Development, and Free Trade April 23 with a speech that focused on the need for democratic reforms in the Arab region. He described a "sort of lassitude" in Arab movement toward reform in the region [...] | 2007-04-24 14:16:00 | Embassy Doha | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM LE SY QA |
07DOHA508 | QATAR "FIFTY-FIFTY" ON SUPPORT FOR HARIRI TRIBUNAL [...] (C) Assistant Minister Mohamed al-Rumaihi, who holds the MFA's UN portfolio, told the Ambassador May 17 that Qatar was "fifty-fifty" on supporting the Hariri assassination tribunal. He said the tribunal was "important to approve," but then outlined reasons why Qatar believes the decision shoul [...] | 2007-05-17 13:03:00 | Embassy Doha | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER LE SY QA |
07DOHA556 | QATAR STRONGLY HINTS IT WON'T SUPPORT THE SPECIAL [...] (C) During Gulf Security Dialogue discussions in Doha May 24, Acting PM A/S Mull expressed the hope that Qatar would vote for the UN Security Council resolution establishing the Hariri Tribunal under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter. Qatari MFA Assistant Minister Mohammad al-Rumeihi replied, "We wi [...] | 2007-05-24 14:05:00 | Embassy Doha | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER UNSC LE SY QA |
07DUBAI363 | MOHAMMAD GERGAWI DISCUSSES IRAN, IRAQ AND ISRAEL WITH [...] (S) SUMMARY. Senator Joseph Lieberman (I, CN) met with Mohammad Gergawi, UAE Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, on May 29. Gergawi, also a close advisor to UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Dubai ruler Mohammad bin Rashid Al-Maktoum (MbR),described education as a primary weapon again [...] | 2007-06-07 13:23:00 | Consulate Dubai | SECRET | PREL PGOV PINS KNNP IR IS IZ SY AE |
07HELSINKI394 | FINNISH RESPONSE: SYRIA'S SHAM PRESIDENTIAL [...] No summary [...] | 2007-05-25 12:03:00 | Embassy Helsinki | CONFIDENTIAL | KDEM PREL PHUM SY EUN FI |
07HELSINKI710 | FINNLAND SUPPORTS EU BORDER MISSION FOR LEBANON [...] (C) PolChief delivered subject demarche to Mika-Markus Leinonen, Office Director of the Finnish MFA's Unit for Civilian Crisis Management, Sept. 17. Leinonen welcomed the fact that the US supports a joint EU-Arab border mission for Lebanon and noted that the Finnish Government is very support [...] | 2007-09-17 13:10:00 | Embassy Helsinki | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SY IS LE EUN FI |
07ISTANBUL1037 | AKP INSIDER COMMENTS ON MISSIONARIES, TRADE WITH [...] (C) Summary and comment. Ibrahim Yildirim is a well-connected Justice and Development Party (AK) insider and frequent contact of the consulate, though he holds neither a titled party position nor political office. During an extended conversation, Yildirim said there should be no compulsion [...] | 2007-12-05 08:06:00 | Consulate Istanbul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM TU IR SY |
07ISTANBUL692 | TURKEY'S SPECIAL ENVOY FOR IRAQ BRIEFS STAFFDEL [...] (C) GOT Special Envoy for Iraq Ambassador Oguz Celikkol told staffers that Sunnis in Iraq tell Turkey they feel excluded from decision-making; absent consensus-based decisions in Iraq, the community or communities feeling left out will forcefully resist. He reported great Saudi discomfort wi [...] | 2007-07-31 12:21:00 | Consulate Istanbul | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PREF TU IZ JO SY |
07JAKARTA3050 | DEMARCHE DELIVERED: LEBANESE PRESIDENTIAL [...] (C) Mission discussed reftel themes with Harry Purwanto, Director for North American Affairs at the Department of Foreign Affairs, on November 1. We noted that Indonesia would appear to share U.S. objectives, given the participation of an Indonesian peacekeeping battalion in UNIFIL. 2. (C [...] | 2007-11-01 10:45:00 | Embassy Jakarta | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL PGOV PTER EUN SY LE IN |
07JAKARTA3328 | TERRORISM FINANCE: SYRIA/LEBANON DEMARCHE DELIVERED [...] (SBU) Reftel points were passed on December 6 to Deputy Director for Terrorism and UN Sanctions Aris Munandar at Indonesia's Foreign Ministry. Munandar said he would consult with colleagues and give us any comments. Munandar also noted that his Directorate for International Security & Disarm [...] | 2007-12-06 05:04:00 | Embassy Jakarta | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EFIN KTFN PTER PREL SY ID |
07JAKARTA87 | AMBASSADOR URGES FORMIN WIRAJUDA TO SUPPORT UNSC [...] (C) Summary. In a January 9 meeting with the Ambassador, Foreign Minister Wirajuda remained non-committal on support for our draft UNSC resolution on Burma. He continued to question whether the Burmese regime poses a significant threat to international peace and security. The GOI, he said, [...] | 2007-01-10 09:59:00 | Embassy Jakarta | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM UNSC ASEAN SY BM ID |
07LISBON2929 | PORTUGAL RESPONSE IN ADVANCE OF NOVEMBER 19-20 [...] (U) In advance of the November 19 GAERC, Deputy EU Correspondent Ana Filomena Rocha offered Portugal's views on reftel points, including the upcoming summit with Africa, Kosovo, Bosnia, Iran, Iraq, the Middle East, Burma, and Pakistan. She further mentioned that the GAERC plans to raise the p [...] | 2007-11-16 18:02:00 | Embassy Lisbon | CONFIDENTIAL | IR IS IZ LE SY PREL PGOV PO |
07LJUBLJANA559 | SLOVENIA: TRAVEL BAN ON SYRIAN ACTIVIST RIAD SEIF [...] (C) In an August 28 meeting with Director General of the Slovenian Foreign Ministry's Directorate for European Affairs and Bilateral Political Relations Bogdan Benko, Charge d'Affaires requested that Slovenia issue a public statment similar to the Department's August 15 statement calling on th [...] | 2007-08-30 11:56:00 | Embassy Ljubljana | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM EUN JA KDEM PREL SA SY SI |
07LJUBLJANA600 | SLOVENIA: DEMARCH ON EU BORDER MISSION FOR LEBANON [...] (C) In a September 18 meeting with arko Purkart of the Slovenian Foreign Ministry'sSecurity Policy Division, Pol-Econ Chief conveye U.S. support for EU involvement on the Lebanon-yria border along the lines discussed reftel. Pukart described the EU state of play on a possible brder mission, ex [...] | 2007-09-18 15:10:00 | Embassy Ljubljana | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PRE SY IS LE EUN SI |
07LJUBLJANA606 | SLOVENIA'S CONCERNS ABOUT EU BORDER MISSION FOR [...] (C) On September 20, Blaz Masle from the MFA's Division for Near East and Africa passed along the government's latest position on an EU Border Mission for the Lebanon-Syria border. Masle stated that Slovenia was in favor of a fact-finding mission once the EU received agreements from both gove [...] | 2007-09-20 15:13:00 | Embassy Ljubljana | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SY IS LE EUN SI |
07LJUBLJANA747 | SLOVENIA ON ENCOURAGING RAPID LEBANESE [...] (C) In a December 6 meeting with the MFA's European Correspondent, Aljaz Arih, Emboff urged that the Government of Slovenia (GOS) include in its public statements and private messages to key players expressions of support for immediate Lebanese presidential elections being held without linkage [...] | 2007-12-07 05:37:00 | Embassy Ljubljana | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM LE SY SI |
07LJUBLJANA749 | SLOVENIA IN ADVANCE OF DECEMBER 10-11 GAERC [...] (U) Emboff delivered Department's points to the MFA's EU Correspondent Aljaz Arih on December 6. EU Enlargement -------------- 2. (C) Arih said that Slovenia, as one of the strongest advocates for EU enlargement, agreed with our points. He noted that the EU was still drafting the Europe [...] | 2007-12-07 10:44:00 | Embassy Ljubljana | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EUN PGOV IR IS BM SY |
07LUXEMBOURG356 | DEMARCHE DELIVERED: TRAVEL BAN ON SYRIAN ACTIVIST [...] (SBU) On 29 August 2007 Pol/Econ officer delivered points contained reftel to the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign Affairs along with the Department's 15 August public statement. The MFA was unaware of the situation (NOTE: Our contacts who normally handle EU Affairs and Middle Eastern portfolio [...] | 2007-08-31 15:39:00 | Embassy Luxembourg | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | KDEM PHUM PREL LU SY |
07MADRID1035 | SPAIN ON SYRIA REFERENDUM [...] (C) Poloff contacted MFA Subdirector General for the Middle East Alberto Ucelay on 5/25 to relay reftel points, urging Ucelay to issue a statement calling attention to Syria's sham May 27 Presidential Referendum. Ucelay, who had returned that day from Lebanon, acknowledged that Spain did not [...] | 2007-05-29 13:49:00 | Embassy Madrid | CONFIDENTIAL | KDEM PREL SY SP |
07MADRID1171 | VISIT TO SPAIN OF SYRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER [...] (C) Syrian Foreign Minister Walid-al-Mu'allim visited Madrid June 7 for a meeting with FM Miguel Angel Moratinos. An MFA press release issued prior to the meeting indicated the discussions would focus on the Arab League peace initiative, efforts to reduce tensions in Lebanon, and international [...] | 2007-06-14 08:50:00 | Embassy Madrid | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SY SP |
07MADRID1326 | FOREIGN FIGHTERS/IRAQ: SPAIN SUPPORTS GROUP [...] (S) The DCM met with Spanish Political Director Rafael Dezcallar July 5 to discuss the issue of foreign fighters transiting Arab nations to join the Al Qaeda insurgency in Iraq. The DCM stressed that the majority of foreign fighters were working with Al Qaeda, that Al Qaeda is responsible for [...] | 2007-07-05 14:45:00 | Embassy Madrid | SECRET | PTER PREL SY SP IZ |
07MADRID1328 | FOREIGN FIGHTERS/IRAQ: SPAIN'S NSA SUPPORTIVE [...] No summary [...] | 2007-07-06 07:17:00 | Embassy Madrid | SECRET | PTER PREL SP SY IZ |
07MADRID1361 | SPAIN: MFA WILL LOOK AT FOREIGN FIGHTERS DEMARCHE [...] (U) This message contains an action request. Please see para. 4. 2. (S) Poloff met with Spanish MFA Deputy Director General for Terrorism Miguel Garcia-Herraiz on July 11 to share talking points on a potential Spanish demarche to Arab governments on stemming the flow of foreign fighters i [...] | 2007-07-13 06:34:00 | Embassy Madrid | SECRET | PREL PTER SY IZ SP |
07MADRID1499 | SPANISH FM MORATINOS IN SYRIA AND LEBANON [...] (C) SUMMARY: During the last week of July, Foreign Minister Moratinos met with top leaders in Egypt, Lebanon, and Syria, including Syrian President Assad, in a declared effort to support US and European efforts in Palestine and Lebanon. According to MFA Middle East DG Alvaro Iranzo, Moratinos [...] | 2007-08-01 17:04:00 | Embassy Madrid | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SP IS LE SY IZ |
07MADRID1644 | SPAIN SUPPORTS EU EFFORTS ON RIAD SEIF [...] No summary [...] | 2007-08-28 14:38:00 | Embassy Madrid | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EUN JA KDEM PHUM PREL SA SY SP |
07MADRID1802 | SPANISH OPTIMISTIC ABOUT SYRIA BORDER PLAN, NOTE [...] (C) SUMMARY: Spanish DG for the Mideast, Mediterranean and Africa Alvaro Iranzo told DCM September 13 that Spain had received generally positive EU feedback to its non-paper on a Syrian border force, noting that certain EU members, including the French, had expressed a desire to wait until a [...] | 2007-09-17 16:24:00 | Embassy Madrid | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EUN SP SY IS LE |
07MADRID78 | MIDDLE EAST CONFERENCE: MORATINOS URGES EXPANSION [...] (U) Summary. Participants in a high level event to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the 1991 Madrid Middle East Conference recalled the spirit of the 1991 Conference, discussed the problems facing current Middle East peace negotiators, urged deeper USG engagement in resolving the Israeli-P [...] | 2007-01-16 16:09:00 | Embassy Madrid | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL IS SY LE SP |
07MINSK1052 | Terrorism Finance - Syria/Lebanon Designation Information [...] No summary [...] | 2007-12-26 16:35:00 | Embassy Minsk | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIN KTFN PTER LE SY BO |
07MOSCOW1005 | RUSSIAN INDIVIDUAL'S EFFORTS TO BROKER SALE OF [...] (S) On March 9, we discussed reftel information with Sergey Petlyakov, Director of the Foreign Ministry's Arms Technology and Transfer Policy Section in the Department for Disarmament and Security Affairs. Petlyakov said he was unaware of any arms broker named Arkadiy Vinogradov or efforts t [...] | 2007-03-09 16:36:00 | Embassy Moscow | SECRET | PARM PREL ETTC MTCR KSCA RS SY |
07MOSCOW1026 | FOLLOW-UP DEMARCHE TO RUSSIA ON ARMS COOPERATION [...] (S) Sergey Petlyakov, Director of the Foreign Ministry's Arms Technology and Transfer Policy Section in the Department for Disarmament and Security Affairs, told us March 9 that he would raise Ref B information within the GOR's interagency community and get back to us on Russian arms cooperati [...] | 2007-03-12 13:00:00 | Embassy Moscow | SECRET | PREL PARM ETTC RS SY SU IR |
07MOSCOW259 | DFM SALTANOV ON QUARTET, LEBANON, SYRIA, IRAQ, [...] (C) Summary: In a January 22 meeting with the Ambassador, Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksandr Saltanov reaffirmed support for the roadmap, while expressing sympathy for Palestinian efforts to proceed to final status discussions, and flagged that FM Lavrov will resurrect the GOR proposal for a [...] | 2007-01-23 10:38:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECON RS IS IZ SY LE |
07MOSCOW4305 | DFM SALTANOV ON QUARTET, MIDDLE EAST CONFERENCE, [...] (C) Summary: In an August 30 meeting with the Ambassador, Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksandr Saltanov expressed strong support for the upcoming Quartet meetings and the Middle East Peace Conference. Saltanov proposed bilateral consultations in Washington or New York following his planned Septe [...] | 2007-08-31 11:51:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON IS IZ LE PREL RS SY |
07MOSCOW4584 | RUSSIAN RESPONSE ON UAVS TO SYRIA AND [...] (S) Russian MFA Office of Disarmament and Security Affairs (DVBR) passed us a non-paper September 12 (faxed to EUR/RUS, informal translation in paragraph 3) in response to ref a and b demarches on the possible sale of UAVs to Syria and nanotechnology cooperation with Iran. DVBR officer Alexand [...] | 2007-09-18 10:03:00 | Embassy Moscow | SECRET | ETTC IR KSCA MTCRE PARM PREL RS SY |
07MOSCOW4897 | RUSSIAN DFM KISLYAK: IRAN, MD, CFE, ARMS [...] (C) Summary: In an October 4 meeting with the Ambassador, DFM Kislyak staked out familiar positions on missile defense, arguing that U.S. insistence on radar and interceptor facilities in the Czech Republic and Poland meant the 2 2 delegations would "talk past each other" and accusing the U [...] | 2007-10-05 09:57:00 | Embassy Moscow | SECRET | PREL PGOV PARM EAID MASS ETTC RU SY IR IZ |
07MOSCOW5391 | DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON LEBANESE PRESIDENTIAL [...] No summary [...] | 2007-11-15 11:58:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER EUN LE RS SY |
07MOSCOW5425 | MFA UPBEAT ON IRAQ NEIGHBORS MINISTERIAL, DEBT [...] (C) Summary: On November 15, MFA Deputy Director for Iraq Aleksandr Kinshak told us that Russia considered the Iraq Neighbors Expanded Ministerial in Istanbul "very successful," noting that the atmosphere was more positive in Istanbul than at the previous ministerial in Sharm el Sheikh. Kinsh [...] | 2007-11-16 14:42:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON IS IZ LE PREL RS SY |
07MOSCOW5497 | GAZPROM-OWNED STROYTRANSGAZ ON SYRIA, OTHER [...] (C) In a November 20 meeting with Econoff, Leonid Bokhanovskiy, First Vice-President of the Gazprom-owned construction firm Stroytransgaz, confirmed that the company had completed a gas treatment facility in Syria as well as a gas pipeline from Egypt to Syria. He indicated that the company wo [...] | 2007-11-23 11:45:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG ECON PREL RS IR IZ SY |
07MOSCOW5702 | DFM SALTANOV ON POST-ANNAPOLIS, LEBANON, IRAQI [...] (C) Summary: In a December 4 meeting with the Ambassador, DFM Saltanov underscored Putin's positive assessment of Annapolis, praised the Secretary for her "tireless" efforts, and highlighted Russia's interest in discussing a post-Annapolis meeting in Moscow during the December 17 Quartet meet [...] | 2007-12-04 15:35:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON IS IZ LE PREL RS SY |
07MOSCOW828 | AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES HAMAS VISIT, SYRIA, AND IRAQ [...] (C) Summary: Deputy Foreign Minister Saltanov told the Ambassador February 27 that the MFA saw Hamas as evolving in its views on Israel following a February 26-27 Moscow visit by Hamas Politburo Chief Mishal. While Mishal was not willing to directly address publicly the question of recogni [...] | 2007-02-27 16:37:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KPAL EAID IS LE SY IZ SA RS |
07MUSCAT1121 | OMANI SUPPORT FOR LEBANESE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS [...] (C) The Ambassador delivered reftel demarche on December 12 during a meeting with Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary-General Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi. Sayyid Badr SIPDIS confirmed that Oman supported the holding of timely Lebanese presidential elections without linkage to other issues, bu [...] | 2007-12-12 11:06:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KDEM LE SY MU |
07MUSCAT671 | STOPPING FLOW OF FOREIGN FIGHTERS TO IRAQ: OMAN [...] (S) Pol-Econ Chief delivered reftel demarche on July 3 to Humaid al-Maani, Office Director for Ministry of Foreign Affairs Under Secretary Sayyid al Badr al-Busaidi. (Note: Al-Maani had recently returned to Muscat from Washington after participating in the U.S.-Oman Gulf Security Dialogue. E [...] | 2007-07-03 10:26:00 | Embassy Muscat | SECRET | PREL PTER SY IZ MU |
07NICOSIA451 | CYPRUS CLAIMS "NO TIME" TO TAKE STANCE ON SYRIA'S [...] No summary [...] | 2007-05-25 10:17:00 | Embassy Nicosia | CONFIDENTIAL | KDEM PREL PHUM SY EUN CY |
07OTTAWA266 | PSI: CANADIAN FOLLOW-UP ON ATTEMPT TO SHIP [...] Action request: See para 3. 2. (SBU) Responding to refs A and C, on February 9 Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) Export Controls Division Deputy Director Steven Goodinson conveyed to us the points below regarding the attempted shipment of U.S.-origin test eq [...] | 2007-02-09 19:52:00 | Embassy Ottawa | UNCLASSIFIED | PARM KNNP MNUC ETTC PREL SY CA |
07PANAMA1742 | PANAMA: LEBANESE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS DEMARCHE [...] Bonagas had no substantive response, but expressed his pleasure regarding continued USG efforts to engage the MFA on matters that were before the UN Security Council, such as the current situation in Lebanon. EATON [...] | 2007-11-06 20:46:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV PTER LE SY EUN PM |
07PARIS112 | FRENCH SHARE VIEWS ON LEBANON CONFERENCE, UNSCR [...] (S) Summary: EB PDAS Liz Dibble and NEA DAS Robert Danin met with the MFA's Herve Besancenot (DAS-equivalent for the Levant) and the Elysee's Dominique Boche (Chirac's Middle East advisor) on January 9 to discuss preparations for the January 25 Lebanon conference (septel to follow) and options [...] | 2007-01-10 17:01:00 | Embassy Paris | SECRET | FR KDEM LE PGOV PREL SY |
07PARIS1242 | FRENCH PUT CONTACT GROUP ON INDEFINITE HOLD [...] (S) Summary: On March 27, Herve Besancenot, MFA DAS-equivalent for the Levant, gave an equivocal response to reftel demarche, claiming that the Quai's position had remained consistent: the French support the Contact Group in theory, but the timing must be handled carefully because of the extr [...] | 2007-03-28 17:01:00 | Embassy Paris | SECRET | FR GM IR IS IT LE PARM PGOV PREL SP SY UK |
07PARIS1288 | MFA SHARES SKEPTICISM ON SYRIAN ELECTIONS [...] No summary [...] | 2007-04-02 07:52:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | FR PGOV PREL SY |
07PARIS1307 | JOHNNY ABDO: DISTRUSTFUL OF SAUDI DIPLOMATIC [...] (C) Summary: In a March 30 meeting, Former Lebanese Intelligence Chief Johnny Abdo said he distrusts the recent flurry of Saudi diplomatic activity on Lebanon, and faulted the Saudis for not taking Saad Hariri seriously. A March 14 supporter, Abdo nevertheless criticized the March 14 leadersh [...] | 2007-04-02 16:49:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | FR LE PGOV PREL SY |
07PARIS1476 | HARIRI ADVISOR: CHIRAC DETERMINED TO PURSUE [...] (S) Summary: President Chirac has concluded that there is no way to establish the International Tribunal for Lebanon other than via Chapter VII action by the UNSC, and will exert all his influence to make that happen before leaving office next month, according to Basile Yared, the Paris-based [...] | 2007-04-12 17:04:00 | Embassy Paris | SECRET | FR LE PGOV PREL SY |
07PARIS158 | UPDATE ON LEBANON DONORS CONFERENCE [...] (U) SUMMARY: FRANCE IS ENCOURAGED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF LEBANON'S PROPOSED ECONOMIC PROGRAM TO GARNER DONOR SUPPORT, AND IS RELATIVELY WELL-ADVANCED IN PREPARATIONS FOR THE JANUARY 25 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR LEBANON. THE LEBANESE ECONOMIC TEAM GAVE A VERY GOOD PRESENTATION OF ITS ECONOMIC [...] | 2007-01-16 15:18:00 | Embassy Paris | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIN KDEM PGOV PREL LE SY FR |
07PARIS1581 | CHIRAC SENDS ENVOY TO TEHRAN, BUT ENVOY HAS [...] (S) Several months after his plans to send a secret envoy to Tehran were frustrated by a press leak, President Chirac quietly dispatched Jean Felix-Pagagnon (NEA A/S-equivalent) and Damien Loras (FM Douste-Blazy's cabinet advisor for the Middle East) to Iran on April 17 for a two-day visit. Do [...] | 2007-04-19 08:58:00 | Embassy Paris | SECRET | FR LY SY IR PGOV PREL |
07PARIS1593 | CHIRAC'S ENDGAME IN LEBANON [...] (C) Summary/comment: President Chirac does not believe Russia will veto a UNSCR to establish the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, according to Chirac's Middle East advisor, Dominique Boche. Although the Russians have not yet proposed any quid pro quo for their support or abstention, the French w [...] | 2007-04-19 18:16:00 | Embassy Paris | SECRET | FR LE SY PGOV PREL UNSC |
07PARIS1597 | MUBARAK AND ABBAS BID ADIEU TO CHIRAC [...] (C) Summary: President Jacques Chirac received Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Paris on April 16, and then met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on April 17. While both visits were essentially courtesy calls, Chirac seized the opportunity to press Mubarak for support on [...] | 2007-04-20 14:12:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | KPAL EG FR IS PGOV PREL SY |
07PARIS1879 | SAAD HARIRI'S MEETING WITH SARKOZY [...] (C) PRESIDENT-ELECT SARKOZY ASSURED PRESIDENT CHIRAC AND LEBANESE MP SAAD HARIRI ON MAY 10 THAT HE WILL STAY THE COURSE ON PURSUING A CHAPTER VII UNSCR TO ESTABLISH THE SPECIAL TRIBUNAL FOR LEBANON. ACCORDING TO READOUTS WE RECEIVED AFTER THE MEETING FROM DOMINIQUE BOCHE, CHIRAC'S MIDDLE EAST [...] | 2007-05-11 15:29:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | FR PGOV PREL LE SY |
07PARIS1882 | FRENCH VIEWS ON TAKING CARE OF BRAMMERTZ. THE ICTY [...] (C) France is backing Serge Brammertz to succeed Carla Del Ponte as ICTY Chief Prosecutor from a belief that Brammertz will otherwise refuse to extend his mandate at the UN International Investigative Commission (UNIIIC),an outcome the French characterize as disastrous. MFA UN/Middle East Ac [...] | 2007-05-11 15:32:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM UNSC SY LE FR |
07PARIS1883 | HEAD-TO-HEAD WITH AOUN'S HENCHMAN [...] (C) SUMMARY: WE MET MAY 10 WITH MICHEL AOUN'S REPRESENTATIVE IN PARIS, SIMON ABI RAMIA, AND CHALLENGED HIS TEDIOUS ASSERTION THAT THE U.S. SHOULD REGARD AOUN AS AN ALLY. WE ARGUED, INTER ALIA, THAT AOUN IS BEING USED BY HIZBALLAH, THAT ABI RAMIA'S "AOUN IS YOUR ALLY" MESSAGE HAS LOST ALL CRED [...] | 2007-05-11 15:40:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | FR PGOV PREL LE SY |
07PARIS1888 | FRANCE AND LEBANON: UPDATE ON CHAPTER VII [...] (C) NEA Watcher met May 11 with Damien Loras, FM Douste-Blazy,s cabinet advisor for the Middle East, to discuss French thinking on the content and timing of a Chapter VII resolution to establish the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. On content, Loras noted that the French disagreed with essential [...] | 2007-05-11 17:59:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | FR PGOV PREL LE SY |
07PARIS195 | MFA POLITICAL DIRECTOR DOWNBEAT ON IRAQ, [...] (C) Summary: In a meeting with the Ambassador, French MFA Political Director Gerard Araud was uniformly downbeat in his comments about Iraq, the Middle East peace process, and Lebanon. Iraq has passed the point of no return on remaining a unified state, Araud contended. The current hostilitie [...] | 2007-01-18 15:09:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PARM EFIN UNSC IR LE SY IZ FR |
07PARIS2004 | ENGAGING SARKOZY'S GOVERNMENT ON THE MIDDLE EAST [...] (C) Summary: Further to the recommendations made reftel on engaging President Sarkozy's government on a number of key foreign policy issues (including Iraq and Iran),this cable provides additional thoughts on how we might strengthen our partnership with France on the broad range of our mutual [...] | 2007-05-18 13:45:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | FR PGOV PREL LE SY MEPP |
07PARIS2202 | STAYING IN SYNCH WITH FRANCE ON SYRIA [...] (U) This is an action request; see para 9. 2. (C) Summary: FM Kouchner's May 24 comments in Beirut have fed speculation here that France is on the verge of revising its policy toward Syria. While the French position remains somewhat murky (Kouchner appeared to walk back his comments on May [...] | 2007-05-29 09:15:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | FR LE SY PREL |
07PARIS257 | FRENCH NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR'S VIEWS ON MIDDLE [...] (S) Summary: French NSA-equivalent Maurice Gourdault-Montagne (MGM) told the Ambassador on January 22 that "some" are calling for France to freeze plans for establishing an international tribunal on Lebanon until next autumn, in the hope that this delay would allow Lebanese PM Siniora to break [...] | 2007-01-22 17:22:00 | Embassy Paris | SECRET | FR KDEM LE PGOV PREL SY |
07PARIS2685 | GOF: LEBANON CONFERENCE AND DIALOGUE WITH SYRIA [...] (C) SUMMARY: Boris Boillon, President Sarkozy's Middle East Advisor, told us on June 21 that France would await the results of the Arab League's national dialogue conference in Beirut, scheduled for next week, before ultimately committing to host a similar event in Paris. As a result, the noti [...] | 2007-06-21 17:56:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL LE SY FR |
07PARIS2723 | A/S FRIED'S JUNE 24 MEETING WITH FRENCH SPECIAL [...] (C) Summary: A/S Fried and Department Counselor Cohen met June 24 with French Special Envoy Cousseran, FM Kouchner's point man for the Lebanese dialogue meeting to be held in Paris in mid-July. Cousseran had just concluded a visit to Tehran, meeting there with national security chief Larija [...] | 2007-06-25 17:54:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL LE FR SY |
07PARIS2884 | DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON SEEKING REGIONAL SUPPORT TO [...] (S) Reftel demarche was delivered on July 3 to Gilles Bonnaud, MFA PDAS-equivalent for Middle East affairs. Bonnaud commented that he was not surprised that Damascus had failed to demonstrate the good will it offered at Sharm Al Shayk. He agreed to consider the request to conduct a joint dema [...] | 2007-07-03 15:33:00 | Embassy Paris | SECRET | PREL PTER SY IZ FR |
07PARIS3062 | FRENCH-HOSTED LEBANESE GATHERING MEETS LOW [...] (U) The French-hosted "inter-Lebanese meeting" just outside Paris concluded the evening of July 15 with no dramatic breakthroughs and in accord with the modest expectations French officials had expressed in the days leading up to it. French FM Bernard Kouchner told a July 15 press conferenc [...] | 2007-07-16 15:05:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | FR IS LE PARM PGOV PREL PTER SY |
07PARIS309 | NEA DAS DANIN PITCHES INFORMAL LEBANON CONTACT [...] (S) Summary: NEA DAS Robert Danin met separately on January 23 with his MFA counterpart, Herve Besancenot, and with President Chirac's Middle East adviser, Dominique Boche. Danin proposed establishing a contact group on Lebanon (with the likely participation of the U.S., France, Italy and Ger [...] | 2007-01-26 12:16:00 | Embassy Paris | SECRET | FR KDEM LE PGOV PREL SY |
07PARIS3107 | FRANCE/LEBANON: TO DAMASCUS AND BEYOND [...] (U) The unexpected July 17 visit to Damascus by French envoy for Lebanon Jean-Claude Cousseran has for the past couple of days vied with news about an expected imminent visit to Libya by President Sarkozy in connection with the "Bulgarian medics" case as the top international story. This wa [...] | 2007-07-19 16:20:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | FR IS LE PARM PGOV PREL PTER SY |
07PARIS3183 | FRENCH MFA NEA A/S-EQUIVALENT ON LEBANON, JULY 24 [...] (C) The French are starting to worry about the clock ticking down in Lebanon and the decreasing likelihood of a carefully sequenced settlement that addresses the need to elect a successor to President Lahoud as well as form a new government representing the different factions. NEA A/S-Equiv [...] | 2007-07-25 17:57:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | FR IS LE PGOV PREL PTER SY |
07PARIS3184 | FRENCH MFA NEA A/S-EQUIVALENT ON LEBANON, JULY 24 [...] (C) The French are starting to worry about the clock ticking down in Lebanon and the decreasing likelihood of a carefully sequenced settlement that addresses the need to elect a successor to President Lahoud as well as form a new government representing the different factions. NEA A/S-Equiv [...] | 2007-07-25 18:09:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | FR IS LE PGOV PREL PTER SY |
07PARIS32 | MFA REMAINS LEERY OF CHAPTER VII OPTION FOR [...] (C) On January 4, Poloff reviewed legal options for establishing the Special Tribunal for Lebanon with Salina Grenet, MFA Action Officer for Middle East issues at the UN. Grenet said the Quai is still taking a "wait and see" approach to the tribunal in hopes that the March 14 coalition will ye [...] | 2007-01-05 13:59:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | FR LE PGOV PREL SY |
07PARIS3210 | FRENCH MFA NEA A/S-EQUIVALENT ON LEBANON, JULY 24 [...] (C) The French are starting to worry about the clock ticking down in Lebanon and the decreasing likelihood of a carefully sequenced settlement that addresses the need to elect a successor to President Lahoud as well as form a new government representing the different factions. NEA A/S-Equiv [...] | 2007-07-27 17:00:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | FR IS LE PGOV PREL PTER SY |
07PARIS3298 | FRENCH NEXT STEPS ON LEBANON AWAIT CRITICAL [...] (C) Summary: As of August 3, France was waiting until after the August 5 parliamentary by-elections to decide what to do next in Lebanon, including the possibility of a restricted meeting of Lebanese factions in Beirut per reftel. The MFA's Syria/Lebanon desk officer thought the weekend of [...] | 2007-08-06 08:50:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PARM PTER FR LE SY IR |
07PARIS3385 | METN BY-ELECTION RESULT ALLOWS FRANCE TO RELAX A [...] (C) Summary: The French MFA told us August 9 that FM Kouchner's anticipated August 25 return to Beirut was more tentative than public statements and press reporting have indicated since the hotly contested Metn by-election last weekend has not led to violence. The new DAS-equivalent for th [...] | 2007-08-10 16:39:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM FR LE SY IS IR |
07PARIS3386 | METN BY-ELECTION RESULT ALLOWS FRANCE TO RELAX A [...] (C) Summary: The French MFA told us August 9 that FM Kouchner's anticipated August 25 return to Beirut was more tentative than public statements and press reporting have indicated since the hotly contested Metn by-election last weekend has not led to violence. The new DAS-equivalent for th [...] | 2007-08-10 16:40:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM FR LE SY IS IR |
07PARIS3631 | FRENCH NOT PREPARED TO ISSUE PUBLIC STATEMENT ON [...] (C) France does not intend to issue a public declaration on Syrian dissident Riad Seif (reftel),according to French MFA Syria desk officer Jean-Christophe Auge. He indicated August 31 that France had delivered a joint EU demarche on August 29 to Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Miqdad asking [...] | 2007-08-31 15:23:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL KDEM FR SY LE |
07PARIS3734 | FRENCH REEPHASIZE THE PRIORITY FOR A "CONSENSUS" [...] (C) Summary: Nabih Berri's recent initiatives to resolve Lebanon's political crisis has caused the GOF to reemphasize its position that the next president of Lebanon needs to be a consensus figure. Meetings at the Presidency and the MFA confirmed that the GOF believes "extremists" in March [...] | 2007-09-07 18:35:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV FR LE SY IR |
07PARIS3735 | FRENCH REEPHASIZE THE PRIORITY FOR A "CONSENSUS" [...] (C) Summary: Nabih Berri's recent initiatives to resolve Lebanon's political crisis has caused the GOF to reemphasize its position that the next president of Lebanon needs to be a consensus figure. Meetings at the Presidency and the MFA confirmed that the GOF believes "extremists" in March [...] | 2007-09-07 18:56:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV FR LE SY IR |
07PARIS3772 | FRENCH RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR SUPPORT FOR LEBANON [...] (C) We delivered reftel demarche late the afternoon of September 7 to French MFA DAS-equivalent for the Levant Ludovic Pouille. He was a bit surprised to receive such a message so late, i.e., after FM Kouchner had already left to attend the Gymnich. After confirming the message was address [...] | 2007-09-11 16:40:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM FR LE SY EU |
07PARIS3874 | FRENCH NEA A/S-EQUIVALENT ON THE [...] (C) Polmincouns called on French MFA NEA A/S-equivalent Jean Felix-Paganon September 17 to request a readout from FM Kouchner's visit September 10-14 to the Levant before Kouchner travels to Washington. Felix-Paganon, accompanied by DAS-equivalent for the Levant Ludovic Pouille, focused on [...] | 2007-09-17 16:24:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KPAL FR IS SY LE |
07PARIS3921 | FRENCH MFA NEA A/S-EQUIVALENT ON LEBANON, [...] (C) French MFA NEA A/S-Equivalent Jean Felix-Paganon reviewed with Polmincouns September 17 FM Kouchner's visit to Beirut during Kouchner's recent swing through the Levant. He provided little detail and began the discussion of Lebanon as a carryover from a preceding discussion of the peace p [...] | 2007-09-19 11:54:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM FR LE SY IR |
07PARIS3997 | FRENCH ON EU BORDER MISSION ON LEBANON AND LEBANON [...] (C) We presented reftel demarches to French MFA DAS-equivalent Ludovic Pouille on September 19. On the EU border mission for Lebanon, Pouille said that France agreed with all of the points as conveyed and made the following additional points: --Coordination has not been easy on this withi [...] | 2007-09-24 16:37:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR FR LE SY |
07PARIS4258 | PSI DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO FRENCH MFA [...] (C) On October 12, Embassy DutyOff transmitted reftel NIACT demarche to Martin Briens, MFA DAS-equivalent for Nuclear Non-Proliferation. PolOff followed up with Briens during business hours to answer any questions; however, the MFA requested no additional information. Please visit Paris' C [...] | 2007-10-15 12:11:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PARM EWWT GR FR KN SY |
07PARIS4313 | FRENCH UPDATE ON LEBANON, AS THE "THREE MINISTERS" [...] (C) Summary: France does not believe the October 23 session of the Lebanese parliament will result in the election of a new Lebanese president and sees the visit by French, Italian, and Spanish foreign ministers October 19-20 as a way to remind Lebanese political figures of their &responsib [...] | 2007-10-19 09:41:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM FR LE SY IR IT SP |
07PARIS4356 | PSI UPDATE DELIVERED TO FRENCH MFA [...] (C) On October 24, PolOff transmitted reftel A demarche to Luis Vassy and Melanie Rosselet, MFA desk officers for nuclear non-proliferation. Vassy thanked us for the close cooperation, including the reftel A update. He said that the GOF is still evaluating whether UNSCR 1718 will apply, and [...] | 2007-10-26 10:50:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PARM ETTC EWWT KNNP GR SY TU FR |
07PARIS4358 | FRENCH NEXT STEPS ON LEBANON [...] (C) In an unfortunately abbreviated meeting, French MFA DAS-equivalent for the Levant Ludovic Pouille gave us a quick update October 25 on how the French intend to move forward on Lebanon over the next couple of weeks. --FM Kouchner intends to continue his process of pressing the Lebanese [...] | 2007-10-26 12:32:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM FR LE SY IR |
07PARIS4463 | ELYSEE SECRETARY GENERAL FLIES TO BEIRUT NOVEMBER 9 [...] (C) Summary: Claude Gueant, secretary general of the French presidency, arrived in Beirut November 9 for meetings with Lebanese focused on the presidential election -- with an expected emphasis on securing the Maronite Patriarch,s agreement to develop an acceptable list of names. Speculatio [...] | 2007-11-09 17:51:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM FR LE SY |
07PARIS4602 | ELSYEE TAKE ON LEBANON: THE INITIATIVE TO ELECT [...] (C) French Presidency NEA adviser Boris Boillon told PolMinCouns and poloff November 29 that he is concerned that the March 14-backed initiative to elect LAF commander Michel Sleiman as president has already failed. He criticized the maladroit way he claimed March 14 had prematurely announce [...] | 2007-11-29 17:24:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM FR LE SY IR |
07PARIS4685 | YOUR DECEMBER 16-18 VISIT TO FRANCE [...] (C) That the first international follow-on to Annapolis is taking place in Paris reflects the new confidence and greater cooperation that characterize our relationship with France seven months into the Presidency of Nicolas Sarkozy. France's support for our efforts to achieve peace in the Mid [...] | 2007-12-11 15:12:00 | Embassy Paris | SECRET | OVIP PREL PGOV PINR KPAL EU FR LG SY IS IR |
07PARIS4742 | FRENCH MFA LEVANT DAS ON LEBANON, DECEMBER 18, 2007 [...] (C) French MFA DAS-equivalent for the Levant Ludovic Pouille on December 18 said France was pleased the overall results of the previous day,s Lebanon ministerial. He particularly praised the Secretary's performance at the meeting in the face of initial Egyptian, Arab League, Saudi, Spanish, [...] | 2007-12-19 17:55:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM MARR FR LE SY SA EG SP IT |
07PARIS613 | GHASSAN SALAME: LEBANON'S POLITICAL SYSTEM IS [...] (C) SUMMARY: FORMER LEBANESE CULTURE MINISTER GHASSAN SALAME SHARED WITH US ON FEBRUARY 14 A BLEAK ASSESSMENT OF LEBANON'S POLITICAL SITUATION. SALAME SAID LEBANON'S POLITICAL SYSTEM WAS BROKEN, THAT BOTH SIDES WERE LOSING IN THE CURRENT CRISIS, THAT SYRIA WAS THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM, AND THA [...] | 2007-02-16 11:38:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | FR LE PGOV PREL SY |
07PARIS710 | CHIRAC ADVISOR PROVIDES READOUT ON PA PRESIDENT [...] (C) Summary: In his February 24 meeting with President Chirac, Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas urged the French to support a resumption of international economic assistance to the PA, but also suggested a continued refusal to engage in political contact with the new governme [...] | 2007-02-26 13:43:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | FR IR IS KPAL LE PGOV PREL SY |
07PARIS776 | FRENCH POLICY PLANNER SHARES VIEWS ON MIDDLE EAST [...] (C) Summary: Christian Nakhle, the MFA's lead policy planner for the Middle East, told us on February 27 that he just returned from a 10-day trip to the Gulf and was deeply worried about Bahrain's internal stability, saying he foresaw the possibility of serious political unrest developing withi [...] | 2007-02-28 16:17:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | FR IR IS IZ LE PGOV PREL SY |
07PRAGUE1084 | CZECH REPUBLIC: EU BORDER MISSION FOR LEBANON [...] (C) Embassy official met with Czech desk officers for Syria and Lebanon regarding the Spanish proposal for a European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) mission on the Lebanon-Syria border. These Czech officials indicated that this possible mission, while discussed on September 14 at the Poli [...] | 2007-09-20 12:24:00 | Embassy Prague | CONFIDENTIAL | EU EZ PGOV PREL IS SY LE |
07PRAGUE1085 | CZECH REPUBLIC SUPPORTS NEED FOR SPECIAL TRIBUNAL [...] (SBU) Embassy political officer spoke with Czech desk officers for Syria and Lebanon regarding the Special Tribunal for Lebanon to try those responsible for the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri. These Czech officials indicated that the EU is generally supportive of this tri [...] | 2007-09-20 12:25:00 | Embassy Prague | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EU EZ IS SY LE UNSC PTER PGOV |
07PRAGUE609 | CZECHS AGREE THAT UPCOMING SYRIAN ELECTION WILL [...] (SBU) Czech MFA Syria desk officer Jaromir Marek told Poloff on May 25 that the Czech Republic agrees that the upcoming presidential election in Syria will not be free and fair. He chuckled at the very idea of using the word "election" in connection with the event, observing that it is really [...] | 2007-05-25 15:04:00 | Embassy Prague | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL KDEM PHUM SY EUN EZ |
07RIYADH23 | SAG STATES NO HIGH-LEVEL ENGAGEMENT OF SYRIAN [...] (S) Charge' met with Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Nizar Obaid Madani on January 7 to relay the request contained in reftel that the SAG refrain from allowing high-ranking Syrian officials to visit the Kingdom. In response, Dr. Madani told Charge' that he is unaware of any planned [...] | 2007-01-08 11:31:00 | Embassy Riyadh | SECRET | PREL PINR KPAL KISL SY SA |
07ROME1122 | ITALY ON SYRIA'S SHAM PRESIDENTIAL "REFERENDUM" [...] (C) PolMinCouns delivered reftel points to Luciano Pezzotti, Director of the MFA Office for Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Israel and the Palestinian territories. PMC urged an Italian and/or EU statement addressing Syria's pending presidential referendum. He said the Syrian Government should [...] | 2007-05-24 14:59:00 | Embassy Rome | CONFIDENTIAL | KDEM PREL PHUM SY EUN IT |
07ROME120 | ITALY - DESIGNATIONS OF ADDITIONAL SYRIAN ENTITIES UNDER E.O. 13382 [...] No summary [...] | 2007-01-18 16:01:00 | Embassy Rome | SECRET | PREL PTER KTFN KNNP EFIN ETTC SY IT PARM |
07ROME1842 | ITALY: SANNINO ON KOSOVO, IRAN, MEPP, SYRIA - [...] (C/NF) In a wide-ranging conversation over breakfast August 29, the Ambassador discussed Kosovo, Iran, Hamas and Syria with the PM's Senior Diplomatic Advisor (National Security Advisor-Equivalent) Stefano Sannino. Sannino agreed that a UNSCR on Kosovo was unlikely and suggested that the inte [...] | 2007-08-29 16:04:00 | Embassy Rome | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL UNSC KV IR IS WE SY JO IT |
07ROME1844 | SYRIA: ITALY SUPPORTS EU ACTION ON SEIF; WILL [...] (C) Poloff delivered ref A points to the Prime Minister's Diplomatic Advisor on the Middle East, Marco Carnelos, and to the MFA's Acting Office Director for Near East Affairs, Michele Tommasi August 29. Tommasi said the GOI was well aware of the Seif case and supported the EU's plan to appr [...] | 2007-08-30 08:31:00 | Embassy Rome | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM KDEM EUN SY IT |
07ROME1959 | AMBASSADOR ASKS SANNINO TO RECONSIDER HIGH-LEVEL [...] (C/NF) On September 13, the Ambassador met with Stefano Sannino, Senior Diplomatic Advisor to PM Prodi. Sannino informed the Ambassador that he would be traveling to Tehran next week to meet Deputy FM Jalili and chief nuclear negotiator Larajani to discuss the nuclear issue, Afghanistan and L [...] | 2007-09-13 15:57:00 | Embassy Rome | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL PGOV UNSC IR SU SY IT |
07ROME2218 | EU FMS TRIP: ITALY PROMOTING "CONSENSUS" [...] (C/NF) Poloff delivered reftel demarche to MFA Deputy Levant Office Director Danielle Bosio October 18. Bosio said Italy agreed with reftel points on non-interference in Lebanese politics with one exception. Bosio agreed on the need for the three FMs to remain impartial, but explained that I [...] | 2007-10-19 16:16:00 | Embassy Rome | CONFIDENTIAL | FR IR IT KDEM LE PGOV PREL SP SY |
07ROME2293 | LEBANON: ITALIAN RESPONSE TO USG POSITION ON [...] No summary [...] | 2007-11-05 11:20:00 | Embassy Rome | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER IT LE SY |
07ROME2360 | ITALIANS DISCUSS IRAN SANCTIONS, LEBANESE [...] (C/NF) Summary. On November 15, S/I and NEA PDAS David Satterfield met in Rome with MFA Iraq Task Force Director Gianludovico De Martino and MFA Director General for Middle Eastern Affairs Cesare Ragaglini. De Martino said Italy wanted to see greater on-the-ground coordination of donor progra [...] | 2007-11-21 12:36:00 | Embassy Rome | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL PGOV LE SY IZ IR IS IT |
07ROME2445 | ITALY SUPPORTS RAPID LEBANESE PRESIDENTIAL [...] No summary [...] | 2007-12-07 17:21:00 | Embassy Rome | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM LE SY IT |
07ROME2505 | (S) AUSTRALIA GROUP: GOI RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON [...] (S) On December 21, Econcoff delivered reftel points on efforts by the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Center (SSRC) to procure large quantities of chemicals useful in producing chemical weapons to Roberto Liotto, the Italian MFA official responsible for Italian participation in the Au [...] | 2007-12-21 15:12:00 | Embassy Rome | SECRET | PREL PARM ETTC SY IT |
07ROME572 | ITALY FAVORS USING EU TO PRESSURE SYRIA ON HUMAN [...] (C) Poloff delivered reftel points to MFA Near East office director, Luciano Pezzotti March 22. Pezzotti said Italy shared our concern over the human rights situation in Syria; however, Italy was not planning on issuing any statements concerning the election. He said Italy would support a [...] | 2007-03-22 15:46:00 | Embassy Rome | CONFIDENTIAL | KDEM PREL PHUM SY IT |
07SEOUL2271 | (S) ROKG NEXT STEPS ON SEIZED SYRIA-BOUND STEEL [...] (S) On July 27, poloff delivered reftel A demarche to Kim Jae-woo, Deputy Director of the Disarmament and Nonproliferation Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Kim said that the ROKG, through the ROK Embassy in Beijing, had requested that the Chinese government investigate t [...] | 2007-07-27 08:30:00 | Embassy Seoul | SECRET | PARM MTCRE PREL ETTC KS SY CH |
07SEOUL2675 | (S) ROKG PLANS TO ALLOW SYRIA-BOUND STEEL [...] (S) On August 31, Kim Jae-woo, Deputy Director of the Disarmament and Nonproliferation Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, informed poloff that the ROKG had decided to allow the transshipment of Syria-bound steel that had been seized by ROK authorities in June. Kim said that the [...] | 2007-09-04 08:09:00 | Embassy Seoul | SECRET | PARM MTCRE PREL ETTC KS SY CH |
07SKOPJE283 | MACEDONIA: AMBASSADOR PRESSES PRIME MINISTER FOR [...] (C) The Ambassador met with PM Gruevski April 11 to press him for greater flexibility in meeting eAlbanian opposition DUI's demands in exchange for DUI's commitment to end its boycott of Parliament. Gruevski asserted he had already conceded much of what DUI wanted in terms of a list of laws r [...] | 2007-04-16 06:48:00 | Embassy Skopje | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINR MK SY |
07SOFIA1227 | GAERC DEMARCHE: BULGARIA AGREES WITH U.S. [...] (SBU) We delivered reftel demarche to MFA head of office for EU affairs Sergey Tassev on October 10. Tassev said there were "no disagreements" with the US positions in the non-paper. Kosovo and Libya were the most important issues for Bulgaria. There were rumors that there was a new U.S. [...] | 2007-10-12 15:16:00 | Embassy Sofia | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV RS LY IR SY LE BG |
07SOFIA1356 | BULGARIA TO ATTEND UNGA PLENARY VOTES ON [...] No summary [...] | 2007-12-07 13:46:00 | Embassy Sofia | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV KDEM LE SY |
07SOFIA1357 | BULGARIA TO CONSIDER U.S. VIEWS ON THE PARIS [...] No summary [...] | 2007-12-07 15:18:00 | Embassy Sofia | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV KDEM LE SY |
07SOFIA1358 | BULGARIA TO CONSIDER U.S. VIEWS ON LEBANESE [...] No summary [...] | 2007-12-07 15:18:00 | Embassy Sofia | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV KDEM LE SY |
07SOFIA1359 | BULGARIA WILL TRY TO ALIGN ITSELF WITH EU VIEWS AT [...] No summary [...] | 2007-12-07 15:18:00 | Embassy Sofia | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV KDEM LE SY |
07SOFIA190 | BULGARIAN PRESIDENT OFFERS TO "HELP" WITH SYRIA [...] (U) Action request: see paragraph 4. 2. (C) Presidential Foreign Policy Advisor Zlatin Trapkov recently invited us to discuss U.S. policy in Iraq generally and toward Syria's role specifically. Trapkov said he had been asked by the President to convey the message that Bulgaria was willin [...] | 2007-02-14 07:41:00 | Embassy Sofia | SECRET | PREL PINR SY BU |
07SOFIA827 | BULGARIA SUPPORTS U.S. POSITION ON FOREIGN [...] (S) We delivered reftel demarche to Petko Doykov, Director of the MFA's Middle East directorate, on July 5. Tailoring the demarche to Bulgaria's circumstances, we urged in particular that the GOB approach Syria and insist that it stop the flow of foreign fighters entering Iraq from Syria. Doyk [...] | 2007-07-05 14:30:00 | Embassy Sofia | SECRET | PREL PTER SY IZ BU |
07STATE1166 | DESIGNATION OF ADDITIONAL SYRIAN ENTITIES UNDER [...] (U) This is an action request. See paragraph 4 for action. 2. (U) BACKGROUND: The Treasury Department on January 4, 2007, designated three additional Syrian entities pursuant to Executive Order 13382 ("Blocking the Property of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferators and their Supporters" [...] | 2007-01-05 14:01:00 | Secretary of State | SECRET | PREL KNNP PARM SY ETTC |
07STATE130669 | DEMARCHE: APPROACHING THE UN SECRETARIAT ABOUT [...] (U) This is an action request, see para 2. 2. (C) Department requests USUN encourage the UN Secretariat to delay the release of the UNSC resolution 1701 report until late November in order to ensure consultations on the 1701 report take place after resolution of the Presidental election [...] | 2007-09-17 22:52:00 | Secretary of State | CONFIDENTIAL | UNSC PREL PBTS IS SY LE |
07STATE131559 | (S) ALERTING GERMANY TO A SHIPMENT OF [...] (U) This is an action request. Embassy Berlin, please see paragraph 3. 2. (S) The U.S. has information that a German company recently arranged the shipment of 17 Mercedes-Benz trucks from Hamburg, Germany, to Latakia, Syria, aboard the Maltese-flagged vessel "Wloclawek." These 17 trucks [...] | 2007-09-18 21:41:00 | Secretary of State | SECRET | PARM MTCRE PREL ETTC GM SY |
07STATE131595 | (S) CHINESE-ORIGIN STEEL BEING SHIPPED TO SYRIA'S [...] This is an Action Request. Embassy Beijing, please see paragraph 5. 2. (S) BACKGROUND (FOR POST ONLY): On July 6, 2007, South Korean officials informed the USG that on June 19, the ROK had intercepted a shipment of Chinese-origin steel en route to Syria. The ROK had taken this action in [...] | 2007-09-18 23:00:00 | Secretary of State | SECRET | PARM MTCRE PREL ETTC CH KS SY |
07STATE135366 | (S) FOLLOWING-UP WITH GERMANY ON ITS EFFORTS TO PREVENT A SHIPMENT OF GERMAN-ORIGIN TRUCKS CHASSIS TO SYRIA'S BALLISTIC MISSILE PROGRAM [...] No summary [...] | 2007-09-25 21:59:00 | Secretary of State | SECRET | ETTC GM MTCRE PARM PREL SY |
07STATE137352 | IRAQ ALLIES AMBASSADORS' MEETING - SEPTEMBER 18 [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. On September 18, Ambassador David Satterfield, the Senior Advisor to the Secretary of State and Coordinator for Iraq, briefed diplomats from non-troop-contributing allies. Amb. Satterfield underscored key themes from Amb. Crocker's congressional testimony the previous week. I [...] | 2007-09-28 18:54:00 | Secretary of State | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAID IR IZ MOPS PREL SY |
07STATE145166 | DEMARCHE: ENSURING 1701 REPORT DOES NOT INCLUDE [...] (U) This is an action request, see para 2. 2. (S//NF) Per Reftel, Department remains concerned that the upcoming 1701 report (scheduled for release on October 29) might contain conclusions about the sovereignty of Sheba'a Farms and/or proposals for its transfer to UN trusteeship. Such [...] | 2007-10-17 14:30:00 | Secretary of State | SECRET//NOFORN | UNSC LE SY IS PREL PBTS |
07STATE147332 | RESPONSE TO SARG "DEAL" RE DHS REFUGEE [...] (U) This is an action request. See paras 2-4. 2. (C) Department appreciates Post's engagement with the SARG on the important subject of allowing resumption of DHS/USCIS interviews of Iraqi refugees in Syria. The "deal" proposed by the SARG is clearly unacceptable and we find it hard to b [...] | 2007-10-22 23:18:00 | Secretary of State | CONFIDENTIAL | IZ PHUM PREF PREL SY |
07STATE150510 | Deputy Secretary Negroponte's October 22, 2007 [...] (U) Classified by: NEA DAS LAWRENCE E. BUTLER FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) 2. (U) October 22, 2007; 3 P.M; Washington, D.C. 3. (SBU) Participants: U.S. The Deputy Secretary Under Secretary Reuben Jeffery, E Amb. Lawrence Butler, NEA Aaron Jost, D Andrea Tomaszewicz (NEA Notetake [...] | 2007-10-30 18:19:00 | Secretary of State | CONFIDENTIAL | OVIP EFIN EPET PGOV PREF IZ RS IT JO LE SY |
07STATE151231 | USG POSITION ON LEBANESE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS [...] (SBU) This is an action request. 2. (C) The Department requests posts' and other agencies' assistance to bolster international support for Lebanon's pro-sovereignty March 14 majority in its ongoing negotiations with the pro-Syrian opposition over a successor to current President Emile Lahou [...] | 2007-10-31 23:20:00 | Secretary of State | CONFIDENTIAL | LE PGOV PREL PTER SY EUN |
07STATE156474 | APPROACHING THE EU IN ADVANCE OF THE NOVEMBER 19-20 [...] (U) Classified by William Lucas, Office Director, EUR/ERA. Reason: 1.4(b) and (d). 2. (U) This is an action request. See paragraph 17. 3. (SBU) Summary: EU Foreign Ministers will hold their next General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) meeting in Brussels on November 19-2 [...] | 2007-11-15 03:17:00 | Secretary of State | CONFIDENTIAL | EUN PREL PGOV BK BM CH IR IS IZ KV LE PK SY ZI |
07STATE28998 | DEMARCHE CONCERNING ISNA SANCTIONS ON CHINESE [...] (S/NF) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 4. We want to inform the Chinese government that, under the Iran and Syria Nonproliferation Act (ISNA),sanctions may be imposed on two Chinese companies, NORINCO and China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC),for providing Wassen [...] | 2007-03-07 23:36:00 | Secretary of State | SECRET | PREL PARM ETTC CH IR SY |
07STATE51204 | P-1 REFERRAL OF ESSAM HAMOUDI AHMED [...] (SBU) PRM concurs with Post's Priority 1 referral of the following individual for processing in the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program: NAME: Essam Hammoudi Ahmed DOB: 1980 POB: Samawah, Iraq PPT: S1647887 Gender: Male Marital Status: Single 2. (SBU) Please inform PRM/A of applica [...] | 2007-04-17 20:45:00 | Secretary of State | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PREF IZ SY |
07STATE62354 | IRAQ AMBASSADORS' FORUM - APRIL 30, 2007 [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. The Political Military Bureau hosted an Iraq Ambassadors' Forum on April 30. Ambassador David Satterfield, the Senior Advisor to the Secretary of State and Coordinator for Iraq, briefed on the challenges faced by Iraq in advance of the launch of the International Compact with [...] | 2007-05-08 20:53:00 | Secretary of State | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | IR IZ MOPS PREL EAID SY |
07STATE63229 | DEMARCHE REQUEST: ENCOURAGE SUPPORT FOR COUNCIL [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Department requests Embassies encourage host governments to support UN Security Council action to establish the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. In New York, Belgium, Italy, Peru, and Slovakia have been generally supportive of the P-3's call for Council action, via a Chapter VI [...] | 2007-05-09 21:04:00 | Secretary of State | CONFIDENTIAL | UNSC LE SY IT BE PE LO PREL PTER CF GH SF |
07STATE72784 | IRAQ AMBASSADORS' FORUM - MAY 17, 2007 [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. The Political Military Bureau hosted an Iraq Ambassadors' Forum on May 17. Ambassador David Satterfield, the Senior Advisor to the Secretary of State and Coordinator for Iraq, briefed on the successful launching event of the International Compact with Iraq (ICI) and the subse [...] | 2007-05-25 21:05:00 | Secretary of State | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAID IR IZ MOPS PREL SY |
07STATE88011 | INSTRUCTIONS: CONFIRMING LANGUAGE ON SHEBA'A IN [...] (C) This is an action request. Department requests USUN confirm with the UN Secretary General (SYG) the specific language that it will use on the Sheba'a Farms issue in the upcoming UN Security Council resolution 1701 report. End action request. 2. (C) USUN should pursue the following [...] | 2007-06-24 21:53:00 | Secretary of State | CONFIDENTIAL | UNSC SY LE IS PREL |
07STOCKHOLM1167 | SWEDEN ON EU BORDER MISSION FOR LEBANON [...] No summary [...] | 2007-09-18 14:48:00 | Embassy Stockholm | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV SW SY IS LE EUN |
07STOCKHOLM1389 | SWEDEN ON NOVEMBER 19-20 FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING [...] No summary [...] | 2007-11-16 17:09:00 | Embassy Stockholm | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EUN PK SW CH BM IS LE KV SY ZI |
07TALLINN344 | ESTONIA HAS NO PLANS TO COMMENT ON SYRIAN ELECTION [...] No summary [...] | 2007-05-25 13:45:00 | Embassy Tallinn | CONFIDENTIAL | KDEM PREL PHUM SY EUN EN |
07TALLINN565 | ESTONIA INTERESTED IN UNSCR 1737 TECHNICAL [...] No summary [...] | 2007-08-29 13:22:00 | Embassy Tallinn | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EUN JA KDEM PHUM PREL SA SY EN |
07TALLINN568 | CORRECTION: SYRIAN AVCTIVIST DEMARCHE DELIVERED [...] No summary [...] | 2007-08-30 06:34:00 | Embassy Tallinn | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EUN JA KDEM PHUM PREL SA SY EN |
07TALLINN620 | ESTONIA SUPPORTS EU BORDER MISSION FOR LEBANON [...] No summary [...] | 2007-09-19 12:38:00 | Embassy Tallinn | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EUN SY IS LE EN |
07TELAVIV1258 | CODEL PELOSI'S MEETING WITH PM OLMERT [...] (C) Summary: Prime Minister Olmert told CODEL Pelosi April 1 that he would continue to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas despite Abbas' failure to deliver on his commitments. Olmert was adamant that his talks with Abbas not include the final status issues of refugees, Jerusalem a [...] | 2007-04-27 15:13:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KPAL IS SY LE IR IZ |
07TELAVIV1288 | CODEL PELOSI DISCUSSES TWO-STATE SOLUTION, SYRIA, AND IRAN [...] (SBU) SUMMARY FM Livni met with CODEL Pelosi and emphasized that Israel and the U.S. share challenges and values. Speaker Pelosi and the Representatives reaffirmed their commitment to an Israel at peace with its neighbors. Livni stressed that the missing soldiers and the trafficking of arms to [...] | 2007-05-01 14:53:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PTER KPAL IS SY LE IR IZ |
07TELAVIV133 | ISRAELI POL-MIL BUREAU CHIEF ON RUSSIAN ASSISTANCE [...] (S) On January 8, Israeli MOD Political-Military Bureau Chief Amos Gilad shared with the Ambassador the results of his recent visit to Russia and meetings with Russian intelligence officials to discuss Iran and Syria. Gilad said that the Russians believe it will take twice as long as the Isra [...] | 2007-01-11 16:24:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | SECRET | PREL KNNP ETTC MASS SY IR EG RS |
07TELAVIV1343 | ISRAEL MFA AND MOD CONTACTS ON POSSIBLE SUMMER WAR [...] (S) An MOD working-level official suggests that Hizballah in southern Lebanon is not seeking a fight with Israel this summer, but is intent on quietly rebuilding its capabilities, and reasserting itself south of the Litani River. The official does not rule out that Syria might try to provoke a war [...] | 2007-05-07 13:40:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | SECRET | PREL PINR MCAP MARR SY LE IS |
07TELAVIV1590 | CODEL PRICE AND PM OLMERT DISCUSS LEBANON, SYRIA [...] (C) Summary: CODEL Price met with PM Ehud Olmert on May 30, and asked for updates on Syria, Lebanon and the Palestinians. Rep. Rahall (D-WV) encouraged Olmert to take up Syrian President Asad's offer to talk "without preconditions." Olmert replied that he had never said "no" regarding Syria [...] | 2007-06-01 15:11:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINR SY LE KPAL IS |
07TELAVIV1665 | DOE/NNSA/LLNL TEAM'S VISIT TO ISRAEL SEES PROGRESS [...] (S) From March 13 through March 14, a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Team comprised of officials from the DOE-affiliated National Nuclear Safety Administration (NNSA) and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) met with officials from the Israeli Atomic Energy Commission (IAEC),Israel' [...] | 2007-06-07 15:18:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | SECRET | PREL KNNP MNUC IR SY KN IS |
07TELAVIV1671 | PM OLMERT WELCOMES ACTION ON IRAN, INVESTMENT [...] (C) SUMMARY: Rep. Robert Wexler (D-Fl) and Florida Governor Charlie Crist met with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on May 31 as part of a broad mission to expand trade and political relations between Israel and the State of Florida. At the top of the agenda was the Florida legislature's recent dec [...] | 2007-06-08 06:07:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINR SY LE KPAL IS |
07TELAVIV1691 | PM OLMERT DISCUSSES TWO-STATE SOLUTION, [...] (C) SUMMARY: IN A MEETING WITH CODEL LEAHY MAY 30, ISRAELI PM EHUD OLMERT REAFFIRMED HIS COMMITMENT TO A TWO-STATE SOLUTION AND DESCRIBED HIS EFFORTS TO REACH THIS GOAL. CALLING THE INTERNAL PALESTINIAN SITUATION "UNBEARABLE," OLMERT EXPRESSED HIS SINCERE DESIRE TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION AND [...] | 2007-06-11 14:48:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINR IS KPAL SY LE |
07TELAVIV1733 | MILITARY INTELLIGENCE DIRECTOR YADLIN COMMENTS ON [...] (S) Summary. During a June 12 meeting with the Ambassador, IDI Director MG Amos Yadlin said that Gaza was "number four" on his list of threats, preceded by Iran, Syria, and Hizballah in that order. Yadlin said the IDI has been predicting armed confrontation in Gaza between Hamas and Fatah since Ham [...] | 2007-06-13 16:38:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | SECRET | PREL PTER MOPS KWBG LE SY IS |
07TELAVIV1750 | A/S SILVERBERG DISCUSSES LEBANON AND UNSCR 1701 [...] (C) Summary: IO A/S Kristen Silverberg discussed Lebanon and UNSCR 1701 issues with MFA IO Deputy Director General Roni Leshno-Ya'ar and his staff on June 7 in Jerusalem. Ya'ar reiterated Israeli concerns over the rearmament of Hizballah, noting Israeli plans to meet with the UN border assessm [...] | 2007-06-14 14:26:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC PGOV PTER SY LE IS |
07TELAVIV1919 | BARAK IS BACK: WHAT MIGHT IT MEAN FOR U.S. POLICY? [...] (C) Summary: Newly elected Labor Party Chairman Ehud Barak swiftly assumed the Minister of Defense portfolio on June 19. PM Olmert facilitated Barak's rather dramatic reentry into public life by securing the cabinet's approval by telephone on the 15th and a Knesset vote of confidence on the [...] | 2007-06-22 15:46:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL MOPS KPAL KWBG PINR IS IR SY |
07TELAVIV209 | MFA DEBUNKS MEDIA REPORT OF PEACE NEGOTIATIONS [...] (U) THE LEFT-LEANING DAILY HA'ARETZ RAN AN EXCLUSIVE FRONT PAGE STORY JANUARY 16 BY VETERAN JOURNALIST AKIVA ELDAR "REVEALING" THAT BACK CHANNEL ISRAELI-SYRIAN NEGOTIATIONS HAD RESULTED IN A DRAFT PEACE AGREEMENT. THESE TALKS, WHICH WERE UNDERTAKEN THROUGH UNSPECIFIED EUROPEAN MEDIATION FROM [...] | 2007-01-18 13:48:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV IS SY |
07TELAVIV2112 | CODEL ISRAEL'S MEETING WITH AMOS GILAD: REGIONAL [...] (S) SUMMARY. CODEL Israel on July 5 discussed with the MOD's political-military bureau chief MG (Ret) Amos Gilad the evolving relationship between Iran, Syria, and Hizballah, Egypt's role in working to broker the release of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, and curbing weapons smuggling [...] | 2007-07-10 11:41:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | SECRET | PREL PTER KNNP MNUC EG IS SY |
07TELAVIV2425 | UNTSO: GOLAN UNDER CONTROL, SOUTHERN LEBANON [...] (U) The commander of United Nations Treaty Supervision Organization (UNTSO),Major General Ian Gordon (Australia),called on the Ambassador on August 8 to discuss the situation on the ground in his areas of operation, particularly the Lebanese-Israeli border and the Golan Heights. UNTSO is an [...] | 2007-08-10 06:05:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | KPKO MOPS UN SY LE IS |
07TELAVIV252 | GOI CAUTIOUSLY IN FAVOR OF INFORMAL UNSCR 1701 [...] (S) SUMMARY: During a January 22 meeting with NEA DAS Robert Danin, Aharon "Ronny" Yaar (MFA Deputy Director General and Head of the UN and International Organizations Division) and Tal Becker (Advisor to Foreign Minister Livni) observed that smuggling of weapons, including hundreds of long-ra [...] | 2007-01-24 06:49:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | SECRET | PREL PTER PGOV LE SY IS FR |
07TELAVIV2576 | U/S BURNS' MEETING AT ISRAEL'S MFA ON LEBANON, [...] (S) After the August 16 signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on U.S. Security Assistance to Israel and the press conference that followed, Under Secretary Burns and his delegation participated in a roundtable discussion of issues with an Israeli MFA delegation led by MFA Director G [...] | 2007-08-24 04:24:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | SECRET | PREL MASS NATO PTER KNNP UNSC SY IR EG LE IS |
07TELAVIV2635 | U/S BURNS' AUGUST 15 MEETING WITH ISRAELI DEPUTY [...] (S) In an August 15 meeting, Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz and Under Secretary Burns discussed the Memorandum of Understanding on security assistance to Israel that would be signed the following day, U.S. efforts to ensure that security assistance to Arab partners would not jeopard [...] | 2007-08-30 07:12:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | SECRET | PREL PTER MASS MARR KNNP UNSC SY LE IS |
07TELAVIV2640 | DAS DANIN'S AUGUST 29 MEETING WITH ISRAELI DEFMIN [...] (S) In an August 29 meeting, Michael Herzog, the Chief of Staff to Israeli Defense Minister Barak, told visiting NEA DAS Robert Danin that Israel is not looking for a fight with either Hizballah or Syria, but needs to prepare for one just in case. Earlier concerns within government circles abo [...] | 2007-08-30 13:26:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | SECRET | PREL PTER MASS KPAL KWBG UNSC SY EG LE IS |
07TELAVIV2672 | AMBASSADOR AND DAS DANIN DISCUSS REGIONAL AND [...] (C) SUMMARY. The Ambassador and visiting NEA DAS Robert Danin met with MFA DG Aharon Abramovitch in Jerusalem August 28 to discuss ongoing regional and bilateral issues. Abramovitch reported significant progress in the negotiations over stationing Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) ambul [...] | 2007-09-04 16:40:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KWBG LE SY IS |
07TELAVIV2690 | DAS DANIN AND IDF INTEL CHIEF MG YADLIN DISCUSS [...] (S) SUMMARY. During a meeting August 30, Israel Defense Intelligence (IDI) Chief MG Amos Yadlin analyzed the ongoing possibility of war with Syria for visiting NEA DAS Robert Danin. While tensions have eased somewhat from their mid-summer high, and while neither side wanted a fight, Yadlin s [...] | 2007-09-06 09:05:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | SECRET | PREL PTER MOPPS PINR SY IR LE IS |
07TELAVIV2703 | ISRAEL CALM, NO OFFICIAL COMMENT ON SYRIAN CLAIMS [...] (U) The Israeli media were dominated September 6 and 7 by Syrian media reports that IAF aircraft penetrated deep into Syrian airspace early in the morning of September 6 and may or may not have dropped ordinance on unspecified targets. Much of the television news commentary the evening of Sep [...] | 2007-09-07 10:36:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MOPS SY IS |
07TELAVIV2714 | ISRAEL CALM, NO OFFICIAL COMMENT ON SYRIAN CLAIMS [...] (U) The Israeli media were dominated September 6 and 7 by Syrian media reports that IAF aircraft penetrated deep into Syrian airspace early in the morning of September 6 and may or may not have dropped ordinance on unspecified targets. Much of the television news commentary the evening of Sep [...] | 2007-09-07 13:55:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MOPS ASEC SY IS |
07TELAVIV2738 | ISRAELI LEADERSHIP STILL SILENT ABOUT ALLEGED IAF [...] (U) Much to the consternation of the Israeli media and punditocracy, the Israeli civilian and military leadership are continuing to maintain strict silence about the mysterious Israeli Air Force operation deep into Syrian territory early in the morning of September 6. Israeli media reports o [...] | 2007-09-11 10:49:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MOPS ASEC SY IS |
07TELAVIV319 | TURKISH AMBASSADOR ON HAMAS, SYRIA, IRAQI KURDS, [...] (C) Summary: The Ambassador met with his new Turkish counterpart, former MFA spokesman Namik Tan, in Tel Aviv on January 26. Tan maintained that Turkey's policy of engagement with Hamas and Syria is intended to split them from Iran. He reiterated Ankara's opposition to the Iranian nuclear we [...] | 2007-01-29 15:43:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER ECON KWBG KPAL TU SY IR IZ IS |
07TELAVIV3303 | OLMERT, BARAK AND LIVNI HEADING FOR ANNAPOLIS, [...] (C) Summary. The Israeli cabinet met the morning of November 19 to discuss the Annapolis Conference. In a reportedly contentious session, the cabinet agreed to the release of 441 Palestinian prisoners, although several key ministers, including Avigdor Lieberman and Shaul Mofaz, opposed the [...] | 2007-11-19 15:09:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER KPAL IS EG SY |
07TELAVIV3316 | AMBASSADOR HOSTS ROUNDTABLE ON "TOWARDS ANNAPOLIS AND [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: On November 14th Ambassador Jones held a round-table discussion with leading Israeli academics and think tank representatives to discuss the upcoming Annapolis conference. Opinions varied as to the possible outcomes of the conference, but there was general agreement that plannin [...] | 2007-11-20 17:26:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV KPAL KWBG IS SA IR SY |
07TELAVIV357 | LABOR'S POTENTIAL LEADERS [...] (SBU) Summary: In a series of meetings with the Ambassador, Labor MKs Ami Ayalon, Avishai Braverman and Ophir Pines-Paz all aspire to lead the party following the May 28 primaries, which they believe will end the era of Amir Peretz at the helm. Ayalon and Braverman were the first to team up [...] | 2007-02-01 12:02:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINR IS KPAL IR SY |
07TELAVIV3613 | CODEL SPECTER'S MEETING WITH PRIME MINISTER OLMERT [...] (C) Summary. CODEL Specter met with Prime Minister Olmert December 25. Their discussion focused on the possibility of peace negotiations with Syria; the National Intelligence Estimate and Iran's nuclear program; Egypt and the problem of smuggling into Gaza; dealing with Hamas in Gaza; and the [...] | 2007-12-27 11:42:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV OREP KPAL SY IR EG IS |
07TELAVIV421 | ISRAEL-SYRIA: FORMER MFA DG DESCRIBES TRACK-TWO [...] (C) Summary. Former MFA Director General Alon Liel briefed DCM, PAO, and PolCouns February 5 on track two peace negotiations with Syria that lasted from January 2004 until a final meeting in July 2006 during the fighting in Lebanon. The track two discussions were initially sponsored by the T [...] | 2007-02-07 16:09:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER SY IS TU |
07TELAVIV689 | IRAN: ISRAELI ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION ON UNSCR [...] (S) Responding to the points in reftels, Merav Zafary and Gil Reich from the Israeli Atomic Energy Commission (IAEC) told poloff February 28 that they were timely -- coming in advance of the IAEA Board of Governors (BOG) meeting set for March 5 -- and hopefully will encourage other countries to [...] | 2007-03-02 13:12:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | SECRET | PREL MNUC KNNP UNSC SY RU IR IS |
07TELAVIV733 | LEADING NATIONAL SECURITY EXPERTS DEBATE IRAN, [...] (C) SUMMARY: DURING A MARCH 1 ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION WITH VISITING S/P DEPUTY DIRECTOR MATT WAXMAN, POLCOUNS AND POLOFF, SENIOR RESEARCHERS AT TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY,S INSTITUTE FOR NATIONAL SECURITY STUDIES (INSS) SURVEYED A VARIETY OF REGIONAL THREATS FACING ISRAEL AND OFFERED VARIOUS POLICY AL [...] | 2007-03-08 12:20:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PINS KPAL KWBG LE SY IR IZ IS |
07TELAVIV739 | IRAN: CODEL KYL AND HARMAN'S BREAKFAST WITH [...] (U) During the visit of CODELs Kyl and Harman to Israel, February 18-20, the two CODELs -- led by Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) and Representative Jane Harman (D-CA) -- held a series of meetings with GOI officials and Knesset members according to a program drawn up by Knesset Member Yuval Steinitz, th [...] | 2007-03-08 14:40:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | SECRET | PREL PTER MASS KPAL KWBG IR SY IS |
07TELAVIV740 | CODEL KYL AND HARMAN'S LUNCH WITH KNESSET MEMBERS [...] (S) 1. (C) During the visit of CODELs Kyl and Harman to Israel, February 18-20, the two CODELs -- led by Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) and Representative Jane Harman (D-CA) -- held a series of meetings with GOI officials and Knesset members according to a program drawn up by Knesset Member Yuval Stei [...] | 2007-03-08 14:53:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | SECRET | PREL PINR PTER KPAL KWBG MASS IR SY LE IS |
07TELAVIV867 | ISRAELI TRANSPORTATION MINISTER MOFAZ ON IRAN AND [...] (S) During a March 14 meeting devoted to a variety of issues, Israeli Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz praised the latest session of the U.S.-Israel Strategic Dialogue, and noted that he would soon begin preparing for the next session scheduled for May 7-8 in Washington. Mofaz, who has the GOI l [...] | 2007-03-21 06:14:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | SECRET | PREL PTER PINR KPAL KWBG SY LE IR IS |
07THEHAGUE2084 | SHIELD S15A-06: DUTCH RESPONSE TO SYRIAN CW-USEFUL [...] (S) Polmiloff delivered reftel points to MFA Senior Advisor for Nuclear Affairs and Nonproliferation Ceta Noland on December 20. Noland appreciated the points, noting that Syria was a "country of concern" for the Australia Group and the Dutch intelligence service (AIVD). She said the Dutch d [...] | 2007-12-21 13:56:00 | Embassy The Hague | SECRET | PREL PARM ETTC SY NL |
07TOKYO3078 | SENIOR VICE MINISTER ASANO'S SYRIA MEETINGS [...] (C) Summary. Syria must tighten its border controls and use its influence to help resolve internal strife in Lebanon, Senior Vice Minister Asano told Syrian President Al-Asad in Damascus on June 25. Asano delivered a "strong message" from Prime Minister Abe during his visit, according to a J [...] | 2007-07-06 01:34:00 | Embassy Tokyo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER SY LE IZ TU JA |
07TOKYO3505 | JAPAN TO EXTEND SELF DEFENSE FORCE PARTICIPATION [...] (U) Japan decided July 31 to extend Japan Self Defense Force (JSDF) participation in the U.N. Disengagement Observer Force in the Golan Heights (UNDOF) for an additional six months ending March 31, 2008, according to press reports confirmed by MOFA contacts. The decision was made in response [...] | 2007-08-01 07:29:00 | Embassy Tokyo | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL MOPS IS SY JA KPKO |
07TOKYO4057 | DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON RIAD SEIF TRAVEL BAN [...] (C) Embassy Tokyo Political Officer delivered reftel demarche and a copy of Department's statement on Riad Seif to MOFA First Middle East Division Syria officer Hitoshi Ishizuka, who replied that the Japanese Embassy in Damascus is in the process of checking the details of Seif's case and tha [...] | 2007-08-31 07:58:00 | Embassy Tokyo | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL KDEM EUN SY JA |
07TOKYO500 | JAPAN NEGOTIATING TO RESUME ASSISTANCE TO SYRIA [...] (S) SUMMARY: The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is engaged in discussions with the Syrian Ministry of Transport and the Latakia Port General Company about entering into a technical assistance agreement to provide training and equipment to upgrade cargo handling facilities at the [...] | 2007-02-02 09:33:00 | Embassy Tokyo | SECRET | PREL EAID PTER SY JA |
07TOKYO695 | JAPANESE AMBASSADOR FOR IRAQI RECONSTRUCTION [...] (C) SUMMARY: Japanese Ambassador in Charge of Reconstruction Assistance to Iraq Gotaro Ogawa visited Turkey, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar January 24-31. Ogawa reports he found all four countries to be deeply concerned about the lack of stability in Iraq, critical of United States policy, a [...] | 2007-02-16 09:02:00 | Embassy Tokyo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL IZ SA QA TU SY JA |
07TRIPOLI1032 | LIBYA CLOSES BORDER WITH EGYPT TO NON-EGYPTIAN IMPORTS [...] No summary [...] | 2007-12-12 07:56:00 | Embassy Tripoli | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ETRD PREL PGOV LY EG JO SY TU |
07TUNIS1366 | RESPONSE TO IDENTIFYING ARAB JUDGE CANDIDATES FOR [...] No summary [...] | 2007-10-09 14:52:00 | Embassy Tunis | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | UNSC KJUS KCRM LE SY TS PREL |
07TUNIS180 | ARAB INTERIOR MINISTERS DISCUSS CT COOPERATION [...] (U) SUMMARY: The January 30-31 Arab League Interior Ministers meeting in Tunis was focused on counter-terrorism cooperation. Voicing support for Lebanon and Iraq, the Council of Arab Interior Ministers also discussed narcotics trafficking, civil protection and road safety. President Ben Ali' [...] | 2007-02-05 15:26:00 | Embassy Tunis | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PTER PGOV IZ SY SU TS |
07TUNIS903 | STOPPING THE FLOW OF FOREIGN FIGHTERS TO IRAQ [...] No summary [...] | 2007-07-09 09:27:00 | Embassy Tunis | SECRET | PREL PTER SY IZ TS |
07USEUBRUSSELS2753 | EU ON RIAD SEIF [...] (C) PolOff approached European Council Secretariat officials covering Syria and human rights August 27, requesting public statements supporting Riad Seif's request for travel to Germany as well as a demarche to Damascus on Seif's case. The Charge followed-up in an August 31 meeting with Chri [...] | 2007-08-31 14:38:00 | USEU Brussels | CONFIDENTIAL | KDEM PHUM PREL EUN JA SA SY |
07USEUBRUSSELS283 | (U) READOUT ON EU HIREP SOLANA'S JAN 19-21 MIDDLE [...] (C) SUMMARY. According to EU Council Middle East Director Christian Jouret, Solana's Middle East visit resulted in good, in-depth discussion with both Israeli and Palestinian leaders, though there were clear differences on both the pace and scope of possible negotiations. Solana met with Isra [...] | 2007-01-26 17:08:00 | USEU Brussels | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV PREL XF LE SY IS EUN |
07USEUBRUSSELS3227 | RUSSIAN ARMS TRANSFERS TO IRAN AND SYRIA: EU [...] No summary [...] | 2007-10-24 16:30:00 | USEU Brussels | SECRET | PARM ETTC PREL IR IZ RU SY EUN |
07USUNNEWYORK1019 | UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY: HUMAN RIGHTS [...] (U) Speaking Oct. 31 in the annual debate on promotion and protection of human rights in the UN General Assembly's Third Committee, Ambassador Khalilzad emphasized the value the United States places on human rights, described the important role these rights play in building societies, cited exa [...] | 2007-11-15 14:27:00 | USUN New York | UNCLASSIFIED | UNGA PHUM BM CU KN SY CH |
07USUNNEWYORK1046 | LEBANON: SYG BRIEFS ON VISIT TO BEIRUT [...] (C) During a meeting with Amb Khalilzad on November 19 (other issues covered septel),SYG Ban Ki-Moon said that he had emphasized during his November 15-16 visit to Beirut that Lebanon must hold presidential elections on time to elect a candidate "broadly acceptable" to all Lebanese. Ban said [...] | 2007-11-19 21:59:00 | USUN New York | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER UNSC SY IS LE |
07USUNNEWYORK1053 | LEBANON: SYG BAN PESSIMISTIC ON ELECTION SOLUTION [...] (C) During a luncheon with UNSC PermReps on November 20, SYG Ban Ki-Moon reported that he had telephoned Lebanon's Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri at about 12:15 p.m. EST that day to urge him to work towards a solution in Lebanon's upcoming presidential election. Berri claimed he had not yet m [...] | 2007-11-20 21:37:00 | USUN New York | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER KDEM UNSC SY LE |
07USUNNEWYORK1059 | LEBANON TRIBUNAL: UN BRIEFS KEY DONORS ON PLANS [...] BEGIN SUMMARY: In the UN's first meeting with major donors and potential donors to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon ("Tribunal") on November 16, UN Legal Counsel Nicolas Michel briefed Ambassador Wallace, as well as representatives of the missions of Lebanon, The Netherlands, France, and the [...] | 2007-11-21 20:54:00 | USUN New York | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL PTER UNSC SY LE |
07USUNNEWYORK1116 | LEBANON: BRAMMERTZ DEPARTS UNIIIC WITHOUT THE [...] (C) Summary. During a bilateral meeting with Amb Khalilzad on December 3, departing head of the UN International Independent Investigation Commission (UNIIIC) Serge Brammertz revealed that while he hoped to identify the "physical perpetrators" of the Hariri assassination "within a few months," [...] | 2007-12-05 00:07:00 | USUN New York | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER UNSC SY LE |
07USUNNEWYORK1133 | LEBANON: BELLEMARE WILL EMULATE BRAMMERTZ'S [...] (C) Summary. During a meeting with Amb Wolff on December 5, incoming UNIIIC head and Prosecutor-designate of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon Daniel Bellemare recognized the sense of frustration among Council members about not receiving much information on the state of UNIIIC's investigation. [...] | 2007-12-07 14:50:00 | USUN New York | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER UNSC SY LE |
07USUNNEWYORK1138 | MAJOR DONORS TO LEBANON SPECIAL TRIBUNAL DECIDE ON [...] (C) BEGIN SUMMARY: In the UN's second meeting with major donors and potential donors to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon ("Tribunal") on December 5 (reftel),UN Under-Secretary for Legal Affairs Nicolas Michel announced that the UN and the Dutch had initialed the text of a Headquarters Agree [...] | 2007-12-07 20:44:00 | USUN New York | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER UNSC SY LE |
07USUNNEWYORK1141 | LEBANON: BRAMMERTZ PREDICTABLY TIGHT-LIPPED IN [...] (SBU) Summary. During a December 5 open briefing to the UNSC and closed consultations with member states that followed, departing UN International Independent Investigation Commission (UNIIIC) head Serge Brammertz hewed closely to his written report to the Council and declined to provide more [...] | 2007-12-10 14:05:00 | USUN New York | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PTER UNSC SY LE |
07USUNNEWYORK1150 | LEBANON: DUTCH SEEK IMMEDIATE DECISION ON BUILDING [...] (SBU) BEGIN SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST: At the third meeting UN Legal Counsel Nicolas Michel hosted for major donors and potential donors to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon ("Tribunal") on December 10 (reftel),Dutch PermRep Majoor asked representatives of Lebanon, France, UK, Germany, and [...] | 2007-12-11 15:13:00 | USUN New York | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PTER UNSC SY LE |
07USUNNEWYORK1177 | LEBANON: COUNCIL DEBATE ON UNSCR 1701 CONFIRMS [...] (SBU) Summary. During closed UNSC consultations on December 12, UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Geir Pedersen reported that Lebanon's continuing political impasse had prevented further progress on the implementation of resolution 1701. He called for presidential elections to be held as so [...] | 2007-12-17 16:44:00 | USUN New York | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PTER KPKO UNSC SY IS LE |
07USUNNEWYORK1184 | LEBANON TRIBUNAL: EXPERTS FROM KEY AND LIKELY [...] SUMMARY: Following up on recent conversations held at ambassadorial level among major and likely donors to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) (see reftels),experts from USUN, France, Germany, the UK, and the Netherlands, as well as Lebanese PermRep Salam and representatives of the UN Off [...] | 2007-12-19 17:10:00 | USUN New York | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PTER UNSC SY LE |
07USUNNEWYORK1185 | LEBANON: TRIBUNAL COSTS RISING WHILE FUNDS STILL [...] (C) Summary. UN Legal Counsel Nicolas Michel convened a meeting of major donors to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (U.S., UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Lebanon) on December 18. Although Michel pressed for the Management Committee to be set up immediately, donors could not adopt [...] | 2007-12-19 20:22:00 | USUN New York | SECRET | PTER UNSC SY LE |
07USUNNEWYORK144 | AMBASSADOR WOLFF RAISES HIZBALLAH RE-ARMAMENT WITH [...] (C) Summary. During a meeting with UN Under Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Marie SIPDIS Guehenno on February 20, Ambassador Wolff and IO A/S Silverberg raised strong USG concerns of arms smuggling into Lebanon and claims by Hizballah SYG Nasrallah that his organization [...] | 2007-02-21 19:01:00 | USUN New York | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER UNSC KPKO IS SY LE |
07USUNNEWYORK175 | ISRAELI MILITARY BRIEFS UN ON HIZBALLAH REARMAMENT [...] (C) SUMMARY: ON MARCH 1 ISRAELI BRIGADIER GENERAL YOSSI BAIDATZ BRIEFED THE UN AND SELECTED DELEGATIONS, INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL AND TROOP CONTRIBUTING COUNTRIES TO UNIFIL, ABOUT REARMAMENT OF HIZBALLAH. USING AERIAL IMAGERY AND CITING "HUNDREDS" OF TRUCK MOVEMENTS SINCE A [...] | 2007-03-03 00:26:00 | USUN New York | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC IS SY IR LE |
07USUNNEWYORK182 | PROPOSED NEXT STEPS ON BRAMMERTZ COMMISSION AND [...] (C) Summary and Action Request: UNIIIC Commissioner Serge Brammertz is scheduled to deliver his latest report on the Commission's activities March 14 and to brief the Security Council March 21. In order to foster UNSC support for the Commission and Tribunal, USUN recommends that Brammertz [...] | 2007-03-06 23:25:00 | USUN New York | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL PTER UNSC SY LE |
07USUNNEWYORK190 | VISITING UNIFIL OFFICER DESCRIBES SITUATION IN [...] (C) Summary. Visiting UNIFIL political advisor Cornelia Frank (please protect) told USUN March 8 that while UNIFIL takes Israeli reports of arms smuggling and Hizballah refortification south of the Litani river seriously, it has thus far found little evidence to fully substantiate these alleg [...] | 2007-03-09 22:51:00 | USUN New York | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KPKO UNSC IS SY LE |
07USUNNEWYORK212 | UN DPA ON SYG BAN KI-MOON'S MIDDLE EAST VISIT [...] (S/NF) SUMMARY: A/S SILVERBERG AND DAS DANIN MET WITH UN DPA MIDDLE EAST ADVISOR MICHAEL WILLIAMS MARCH 13 TO DISCUSS THE SYG'S FORTHCOMING MIDDLE EAST TRIP AND UPCOMING UNSCR 1701 REPORT. SYG BAN KI-MOON PLANS TO MEET WITH SARG PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASAD ON THE MARGINS OF THE ARAB LEAGUE MEETI [...] | 2007-03-15 23:31:00 | USUN New York | SECRET | PREL UNSC KPKO KPAL LE SY IS |
07USUNNEWYORK218 | ISRAELI MFA IO HEAD RONNY YA'AR OUTLINES POSSIBLE [...] (C) Summary. During a lunch meeting with IO A/S Silverberg, NEA DAS Danin, and Ambassador Wolff on March 13, senior Israeli MFA official Ronny Ya'ar expressed concerns about SYG Ban Ki-Moon's planned travel to Damascus in April, possible references to new UN conclusions about the sovereignty [...] | 2007-03-19 17:45:00 | USUN New York | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC KPKO KPAL LE SY IS |
07USUNNEWYORK226 | BRAMMERTZ AGREES TO MAKE PROCEDURAL CASE FOR [...] (C) Summary. During a bilateral meeting with UN International Independent Investigation Commission (UNIIIC) Chief Serge Brammertz on March 19, Ambassador Wolff said the U.S. would support an early extension of the Commission's mandate for up to one year and urged Brammertz to make the case fo [...] | 2007-03-20 23:59:00 | USUN New York | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL UNSC SY LE |
07USUNNEWYORK231 | FRENCH VIEWS ON UNIIIC EXTENSION, CHAPTER VII FOR [...] (C) Summary. During a meeting with French PR de la Sabliere on March 19, Ambassador Wolff sought French views on timing/strategy for a possible Chapter VII resolution to establish the Special Lebanon Tribunal and underscored the need to convene a meeting of the Lebanon Contact Group before Se [...] | 2007-03-22 14:39:00 | USUN New York | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL UNSC SY LE |
07USUNNEWYORK240 | UNSC MEETING: BRAMMERTZ CAUTIOUS ON PROCEDURAL [...] (SBU) After a public briefing to the Security Council by UNIIIC head Serge Brammertz on March 21 that just reviewed the findings in his last report (ref A),UNSC members proceeded to closed consultations to discuss the Commission's work in more detail. Nearly all delegations supported the GOL [...] | 2007-03-24 22:45:00 | USUN New York | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL PTER UNSC SY LE |
07USUNNEWYORK241 | UNSC MEETING: BRAMMERTZ CAUTIOUS ON PROCEDURAL [...] (SBU) After a public briefing to the Security Council by UNIIIC head Serge Brammertz on March 21 that just reviewed the findings in his last report (ref A),UNSC members proceeded to closed consultations to discuss the Commission's work in more detail. Nearly all delegations supported the GOL [...] | 2007-03-24 22:45:00 | USUN New York | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL PTER UNSC SY LE |
07USUNNEWYORK271 | UNSCR 1701: SYG BAN FORWARD-LEANING ON ARMS [...] (SBU) Summary. During an April 5 closed briefing to the UN Security Council on his recent visit to Middle East and his March report on UNSCR 1701 implementation (other topics reported septel),UN SYG Ban Ki-Moon took a very forward-leaning approach on reports of arms smuggling into Lebanon an [...] | 2007-04-06 15:33:00 | USUN New York | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PTER UNSC KPKO IS SY LE |
07USUNNEWYORK277 | MICHEL SHARES THOUGHTS ON ESTABLISHING HARIRI [...] (U) Ambassador Wolff, accompanied by Ambassador Chris Ross (USUN/POL) and USUN LegalOff, met with UN Legal Counsel Nicolas Michel and two members of his staff April 9 to explore the UN's understanding of the state of play on establishment of the tribunal envisaged in UN Security Council Resol [...] | 2007-04-11 08:26:00 | USUN New York | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC PGOV PTER KCRM SY LE |
07USUNNEWYORK319 | LEBANON TRIBUNAL: MICHEL REPORTS TRIP AND P-3 [...] (U) This is an action request. See para 18. 2. (C) BEGIN SUMMARY: Per reftel, USUN Ambassador Wolff met with UN Legal Counsel Nicolas Michel on April 24 and followed up on April 25 to discuss the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. In response to Ambassador Wolff,s questions, Michel reported th [...] | 2007-04-25 00:11:00 | USUN New York | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC SY LE |
07USUNNEWYORK346 | LEBANON: FRENCH INSIST BRAMMERTZ MUST SUCCEED [...] (SBU) During a P-3 meeting on May 1 (septel),French PermRep de la Sabliere reported that UN International Independent Investigation Commission (UNIIIC) head Serge Brammertz has informed France that he will leave his current position on June 15, 2007 and return to the International Criminal Co [...] | 2007-05-03 01:04:00 | USUN New York | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER UNSC FR SY LE |
07USUNNEWYORK347 | LEBANON TRIBUNAL: MICHEL BRIEFS COUNCIL AND [...] (C) Summary. In a forthright briefing to the Security Council on May 2, UN Legal Counsel Nicolas Michel said his April 17-21 trip to Beirut to help facilitate Lebanese ratification of the UN-GOL agreement and statute establishing the UN Special Tribunal for Lebanon had yielded no concrete res [...] | 2007-05-03 02:34:00 | USUN New York | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER UNSC SY LE |
07USUNNEWYORK349 | LEBANON TRIBUNAL: P-3 PERMREPS MEET GOL ADVISOR [...] (C) Summary. During a meeting with P-3 PermReps on May 3, GOL senior foreign policy advisor Mohammad Chattah reported that while UNSC delegates with whom he had met were generally positive about the need to establish the tribunal, several expressed concerns about the international legal implic [...] | 2007-05-04 00:54:00 | USUN New York | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER UNSC SY LE |
07USUNNEWYORK360 | LEBANON TRIBUNAL: SYG BAN FORGOES TRIP TO BEIRUT [...] (C) During a meeting with Ambassador Khalilzad on May 8, SYG Ban said he would not/not travel to Beirut to make a last-ditch push for Lebanese ratification of the UN-GOL tribunal agreement and statute. Ban said he is not/not asking for more time for diplomatic efforts to find a Lebanese solut [...] | 2007-05-09 23:05:00 | USUN New York | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC SY LY |
07USUNNEWYORK376 | LEBANON TRIBUNAL: P-3 DISCUSS DRAFT RESOLUTION AND [...] (C) Summary. During a meeting on May 11, P-3 PermReps told SYG Ban that the Council should act on the tribunal as soon as possible after it receives a clear request from the GOL and the SYG endorses the GOL position. Noting he planned to speak with PM Siniora on May 14, Ban reported that Syri [...] | 2007-05-14 23:37:00 | USUN New York | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER UNSC SY LE |
07USUNNEWYORK384 | LEBANON TRIBUNAL: P-3 AGREE ON DRAFT UNSCR AND [...] (SBU) The U.S., France, and the UK (P-3) reached agreement on a draft Chapter VII resolution to establish the Special Lebanon Tribunal on May 17. P-3 Permanent Representatives will share the text with all UNSC delegations either bilaterally or in joint approaches by close of business on May 1 [...] | 2007-05-17 21:00:00 | USUN New York | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PTER UNSC SY LE |
07USUNNEWYORK389 | LEBANON TRIBUNAL: P-5 PERMREPS DISCUSS DRAFT UNSCR [...] (SBU) P-5 PermReps met on May 17 to discuss the P-3 draft Chapter VII UNSC resolution on the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (reftel). French PR de la Sabliere introduced the draft resolution, noting that the co-authors preferred the "light" approach of deciding that the tribunal agreement and s [...] | 2007-05-18 19:04:00 | USUN New York | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PTER UNSC SY LE |
07USUNNEWYORK392 | UNSC LUNCH WITH SYG BAN: LEBANON, IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN [...] (C) Summary. Ambassador Khalilzad hosted the monthly lunch for Security Council Perm Reps with the Secretary-General. In addition to updating the Council on SIPDIS his discussions on Iraq and Afghanistan, SYG Ban used the opportunity to follow-up on Lebanese PM Siniora's letter requesting [...] | 2007-05-19 00:40:00 | USUN New York | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC IQ LE AF SY |
07USUNNEWYORK393 | LEBANON TRIBUNAL: P-3 PERMREPS ENGAGE COUNCIL [...] (SBU) Summary. P-3 PermReps joined forces May 18 to canvass their Council counterparts to explain the draft Chapter VII resolution on the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (ref A) and seek their support. Most delegations said they had yet to receive instructions on the draft text and conceded tha [...] | 2007-05-19 01:57:00 | USUN New York | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PTER UNSC SY LE |
07USUNNEWYORK401 | LEBANON TRIBUNAL: CHATAH CONSULTS P-3 AND OTHERS [...] (C) Summary and Comment: P-3 Ambassadors met May 21 with GOL Foreign Policy Advisor Mohamad Chatah, who said the recent violence in Lebanon argued for accelerating action in the Security Council. Chatah said the GOL would prefer a vote on the tribunal May 25 even if it meant the resolution re [...] | 2007-05-22 00:27:00 | USUN New York | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL PTER UNSC SY LE |
07USUNNEWYORK408 | LEBANON TRIBUNAL: P-3 AND CHATAH AGREE TO PUSH FOR [...] (C) SUMMARY. P-3 PERMREPS AGREED ON MAY 23 TO TABLE THE RESOLUTION ON THE SPECIAL TRIBUNAL FOR LEBANON IN THE COUNCIL ON THE MORNING OF MAY 25, PUT THE TEXT "IN BLUE" THE EVENING OF MAY 25, AND PUSH FOR A VOTE ON MAY 29. (NOTE: MAY 28 IS A UN HOLIDAY. END NOTE.) DURING A SEPARATE MEETING WI [...] | 2007-05-24 00:30:00 | USUN New York | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL PTER UNSC SY LE |
07USUNNEWYORK411 | LEBANON TRIBUNAL: DRAFT UNSCR DOES NOT YET HAVE [...] (C) P-3 PermReps, joined by Slovakia, agreed mid-afternoon May 24 that we do not currently have nine confirmed votes in favor of the draft Chapter VII resolution on the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. (Although USUN subsequently learned that we have support from a majority of Security Council c [...] | 2007-05-24 23:43:00 | USUN New York | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER UNSC SY LE |
07USUNNEWYORK423 | LEBANON TRIBUNAL: VOTE SCHEDULED FOR MAY 30 [...] (C) The UN Security Council discussed the draft resolution on the Special Tribunal for Lebanon for the second time during closed consultations on May 29. After P-3 PermReps explained the revisions made to the draft resolution in response to concerns raised during UNSC consultations on May 25, [...] | 2007-05-29 23:46:00 | USUN New York | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER UNSC SY LE |
07USUNNEWYORK440 | SECURITY COUNCIL ADOPTS RESOLUTION 1757 ON LEBANON [...] (U) THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL VOTED 10-0-5 ON MAY 30 TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 1757, WHICH DECIDES UNDER THE COUNCIL'S CHAPTER VII AUTHORITY TO BRING INTO EFFECT THE SPECIAL PAGE 02 RUCNDTA0440 UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000440 TRIBUNAL FOR LEBANON. RUSSIA, CHINA, QATAR, SOUTH AFRICA, AND INDONESIA A [...] | 2007-06-04 11:44:00 | USUN New York | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PTER UNSC SY LE |
07USUNNEWYORK495 | SECURITY COUNCIL STATEMENTS ON LEBANON [...] (U) During the past week, the Security Council has issued three statements on the situation on Lebanon. The Council issued a press statement June 18 condemning the rocket attack from Lebanon into Israel; a Presidential Statement (PRST) June 13 condemning the assassination of Lebanese parliam [...] | 2007-06-19 00:38:00 | USUN New York | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL UNSC IS SY LE |
07USUNNEWYORK502 | ISRAELI GENERAL DISCUSSES UNIFIL IN NEW YORK [...] (C) Israeli Brigadier General Udi Dekel visited New York June 13-20 to share with P-5 delegations and the UN secretariat an updated Israeli assessment of Hizballah SIPDIS activities in the UNIFIL area of operations (AO). While commending UNIFIL's valuable role in disrupting Hizballah's fr [...] | 2007-06-20 22:48:00 | USUN New York | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC IS SY LE |
07USUNNEWYORK505 | SECURITY COUNCIL SPLIT OVER SUPPORT FOR ABBAS [...] (SBU) In the monthly briefing to the Security Council on the situation in the Middle East, Michael Williams, the recently appointed UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, said the Middle East was in a time of crisis. Williams focused his briefing on recent events in Gaza and [...] | 2007-06-21 00:58:00 | USUN New York | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL KPAL LE SY IS |
07USUNNEWYORK575 | UPDATE ON UN EFFORTS TO SET UP LEBANON TRIBUNAL [...] (C) Summary. USUN Legal Adviser and Poloff met with UN Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) attorneys Mark Quarterman and Jerome de Hemptinne on July 12 to seek an update on efforts to establish the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. USUN Legal Adviser met separately with UN Legal Counsel Nicolas Michel [...] | 2007-07-13 21:30:00 | USUN New York | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL PTER UNSC SY LE |
07USUNNEWYORK582 | MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE ON RELATIONS WITH THE [...] Summary. On July 9, 2007 the Committee on Relations with the Host Country convened its 233rd meeting to address, inter alia, Host Country travel regulations, acceleration of immigration and customs procedures, and entry visas issued by the Host Country. Briefly mentioned were New York,s con [...] | 2007-07-17 11:48:00 | USUN New York | UNCLASSIFIED | OFDP UN CVIS SY |
07USUNNEWYORK601 | SECRETARIAT DELIVERS TOUGH UNSCR 1701/LIBAT [...] (C) Summary. During closed consultations on the SYG,s latest UNSCR 1701 report as well as the report of the Lebanon Independent Border Assessment Team (LIBAT) on July 18, UNSCO Michael Williams spoke at length about the need for greater progress on the issue of prisoners, compliance with the a [...] | 2007-07-24 20:06:00 | USUN New York | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER UNSC KPKO IS SY LE |
07USUNNEWYORK651 | COUNCIL ADOPTS LEBANON STATEMENT AFTER QATAR [...] (C) The UN Security Council adopted a Presidential Statement (PRST) on August 3 in response to the Secretary-General's latest report on the implementation of SIPDIS resolution 1701 as well as the report of the Lebanon Independent Border Assessment Team (full text of PRST below). The PRST w [...] | 2007-08-08 23:14:00 | USUN New York | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER UNSC KPKO SY IS LE |
07USUNNEWYORK688 | NETHERLANDS AGREES TO HOST SPECIAL TRIBUNAL FOR [...] (U) The UN Secretariat announced on August 17 that UN Secretary-General Ban had received a letter dated August 15 SIPDIS from Prime Minister Jan Balkenende informing him that the Government of the Netherlands is "favorably disposed" to hosting the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, created pursu [...] | 2007-08-17 22:24:00 | USUN New York | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PTER UNSC SY LE NE |
07USUNNEWYORK697 | OLA LEGAL COUNSEL TO TRAVEL TO THE NETHERLANDS TO [...] Begin Summary: UN Legal Counsel Nicolas Michel will lead a high-level UN delegation to the Netherlands in the next two weeks to discuss practical arrangements for the Netherlands to host the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, Michel's Special Assistant Mark Quarterman advised USUN August 21. The [...] | 2007-08-22 23:45:00 | USUN New York | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PTER UNSC KCRM SY LE NE |
07USUNNEWYORK717 | MONTHLY UNSC MIDEAST DEBATE: CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM FOR [...] (U) Summary. During a seven-hour monthly UNSC debate on the Middle East on August 29 featuring over 30 speakers, UNSCO Michael Williams professed "guarded optimism" about recent developments in the Arab-Israeli peace process but was decidedly downcast about the reality on the ground. Amb Wol [...] | 2007-08-30 22:20:00 | USUN New York | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PTER UNSC KPKO KPAL KWBG SY LE IS |
07USUNNEWYORK749 | UNIFIL COMMANDER GRAZIANO MAINTAINS THAT SOUTH [...] (C) During consultations in New York September 4-7 with the UN, troop contributing countries (TCC),members of the Security Council, and other interested delegations, UNIFIL Force Commander Graziano declared that Hizballah's arms pose the greatest threat to stability in Lebanon. But he mainta [...] | 2007-09-13 18:28:00 | USUN New York | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER KPKO UNSC SY IS LE |
07USUNNEWYORK780 | LEBANON TRIBUNAL - PROGRESS REPORT [...] USUN Legal Adviser spoke with UN Assistant Secretary General for Legal Affairs, Larry Johnson, September 18, about progress on the appointment of a Prosecutor and Judges for the Lebanon Tribunal. He confirmed that UN Legal Counsel Nicolas Michel has interviewed some prospects for the Prosecu [...] | 2007-09-21 16:04:00 | USUN New York | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KCRM KJUS LE PREL SY |
07USUNNEWYORK789 | U.S. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SPECIAL TRIBUNAL FOR [...] (C) BEGIN SUMMARY: Mission Legal Adviser delivered reftel names of individuals interested in working with the Special Tribunal for Lebanon to UN Legal Counsel Nicolas Michel and UN Assistant Secretary General for Legal Affairs Larry Johnson on September 24. On the margins of the meeting, Mi [...] | 2007-09-24 21:33:00 | USUN New York | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | KCRM KJUS LE PREL SY |
07USUNNEWYORK821 | UN PROGRESSES ON SPECIAL TRIBUNAL FOR LEBANON [...] (C) BEGIN SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST: UN Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) officers told USUN October 3 and October 4 that the UN wants to move quickly this month to appoint the next Commissioner of the UN International Investigation Commission (UNIIIC),who would also serve as the Prosecutor for [...] | 2007-10-05 21:17:00 | USUN New York | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC PGOV PTER KCRM SY LE |
07USUNNEWYORK852 | UN BRIEFS SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ON LEBANON [...] Summary: The UN is moving to appoint the principal officers of the Lebanon Tribunal during October and November. UN Legal Counsel told Security Council members that a mechanism has been set up to identify the Tribunal Prosecutor and Judges before the end of the year. He explained that the [...] | 2007-10-11 13:59:00 | USUN New York | UNCLASSIFIED | KCRM KJUS LE PREL SY |
07USUNNEWYORK856 | HARIRI SATISFIED WITH PACE OF UN EFFORTS TO SET UP [...] (C) Summary. During an October 8-9 visit to New York, Lebanese MP Sa'ad Hariri held meetings with UN SYG Ban Ki-Moon, other Secretariat officials, and UNSC members that focused largely on the need to speed up the set up of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. Ambassador Khalilzad met Hariri on [...] | 2007-10-11 22:04:00 | USUN New York | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER UNSC SY LE |
07USUNNEWYORK888 | UN LEGAL COUNSEL REPORTS CONTINUING PROGRESS ON [...] (C) BEGIN SUMMARY: UN Legal Counsel and Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs (OLA) Nicolas Michel updated Ambassador Wolff on October 17 on the UN's work to make the Special Tribunal for Lebanon operational soon. Michel reported that the selections panel for the judges and prosecutor w [...] | 2007-10-19 16:06:00 | USUN New York | CONFIDENTIAL | UNSC PGOV PREL PTER KCRM SY LE |
07USUNNEWYORK971 | LEBANON: UNSC AGREES THAT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS [...] (SBU) Summary. During a private meeting of the Security Council November 5, UNSC Resolution 1559 Special Envoy Terje Roed-Larsen reported that the political crisis that had "paralyzed" Lebanon since November 2006 had made it very difficult to achieve further progress towards the implementatio [...] | 2007-11-07 22:08:00 | USUN New York | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PTER KPKO SY LE IS |
07USUNNEWYORK978 | LEBANON TRIBUNAL: UN PLANS TO APPOINT [...] (C) Summary. During a meeting with USUN Legal Adviser and Poloff on November 7, UN Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) attorney Mark Quarterman and Department of Political Affairs (DPA) officer Alma Saliu reported that the SYG plans to appoint the next UNIIIC chief and prosecutor-elect during the w [...] | 2007-11-08 22:52:00 | USUN New York | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL PTER UNSC SY LE |
07USUNNEWYORK979 | UN DISCOUNTS BRAMMERTZ COMPLAINTS ABOUT LACK OF [...] (C) Summary. During a November 7 meeting to discuss efforts to set up the Special Tribunal for Lebanon with UN Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) attorney Mark Quarterman and UN Department of Political Affairs (DPA) officer Alma Saliu (septel),USUN Legal Adviser and Poloff mentioned that in the c [...] | 2007-11-08 22:56:00 | USUN New York | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL PTER UNSC SY LE |
07VATICAN8 | VATICAN: IRAQ AMBASSADOR ON IRAQ INTERNAL AFFAIRS [...] (C) Summary: Iraqi Ambassador to the Holy See Albert Yelda met with Embassy Officers along with a visiting Embassy Baghdad Officer December 29 to discuss a range of internal Iraqi matters. Yelda commented on the Saddam Hussein trial and execution, USG engagement with Syria, former PM Allawi, [...] | 2007-01-08 14:50:00 | Embassy Vatican | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER SY IZ VT |
07VIENNA1804 | DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO AUSTRIA: SEEKING REGIONAL [...] (S) Acting EconPol Counselor delivered reftel background and talking points on July 6 to Ralph Scheide, Head of the MFA's Middle East and Africa Division (A/S-equivalent). EconPol Counselor urged Austria to approach regional Arab governments to put diplomatic pressure on the SARG to do more t [...] | 2007-07-09 10:16:00 | Embassy Vienna | SECRET | PREL PTER AU SY IZ |
07VIENNA2326 | DEMARCHE TO AUSTRIA: TRAVEL BAN ON SYRIAN ACTIVIST [...] No summary [...] | 2007-08-31 16:08:00 | Embassy Vienna | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL KDEM SA SY AU |
07VIENNA2430 | EU BORDER MISSION FOR LEBANON: AUSTRIA IN THE EU [...] No summary [...] | 2007-09-18 13:24:00 | Embassy Vienna | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL IS LE SY EUN AU |
07VIENNA3005 | SYRAIN PRESIDENT ASAD'S DEC 17 MEETING WITH [...] No summary [...] | 2007-12-21 09:38:00 | Embassy Vienna | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SY AU |
07VILNIUS877 | LITHUANIAN PRIORITIES FOR THE DECEMBER 10 GAERC [...] (C) Summary. Lithuania will seek to include a statement on energy security in the summit conclusions at the GAERC meeting on December 10. FM Vaitiekunas will also emphasize the importance of helping Moldova and the inadequacy of the Black Sea Energy group for the countries in the European Nei [...] | 2007-12-10 13:26:00 | Embassy Vilnius | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM LE SY LH |
07WARSAW1944 | POLES THINK IT'S TOO EARLY FOR AN EU BORDER [...] No summary [...] | 2007-09-13 14:33:00 | Embassy Warsaw | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SY IS LE EUN |
08ABUDHABI222 | UAE PRIME MINISTER'S QUICK VISIT TO TEHRAN AND [...] (C) Summary: UAE Prime Minister, Vice President, and Ruler of Dubai Mohammed bin Rashid embarked on a sudden visit to Tehran and Damascus February 18, taking the Foreign Minister (an Abu Dhabi royal) in his entourage. Public explanations of the visit are benign and innocent, and we heard fr [...] | 2008-02-19 14:58:00 | Embassy Abu Dhabi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV OVIP IR SY AE |
08ABUDHABI424 | IAEA BOARD OF GOVERNORS MESA SEAT - UAE CONSIDERING [...] (S) Econchief took the opportunity of a April 3 meeting with MFA Director of International Organizations Yacub Al-Hosani to quietly urge the UAE to run for the open MESA seat on the IAEA Board of Governors. He applauded the UAE's desire to serve as a regional role model for the responsible de [...] | 2008-04-03 14:13:00 | Embassy Abu Dhabi | SECRET | KNNP ENRG PREL IAEA AORC SY AE |
08ABUDHABI668 | SYRIAN PRESIDENT VISITS UAE [...] (C) On his fourth official visit to Abu Dhabi as Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad met UAE President Khalifa June 1 for yet another "brotherly" discussion reportedly focused on closing Arab ranks on regional issues and seeking expanded investments in Syria. The visit follows within days of UAE [...] | 2008-06-03 03:36:00 | Embassy Abu Dhabi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SY AE |
08ABUDHABI856 | UAE Kazakhstan Candidacy for IAEA Board [...] (S) On July 21, CDA presented reftel demarche encouraging support for Kazakh candidacy for an IAEA Board of Governors seat (for which Syria is currently the only declared candidate) to MFA Asst U/S for International Cooperation Ambassador Mohammed Abdulrahim Abduljalil, who said he would consul [...] | 2008-07-28 12:57:00 | Embassy Abu Dhabi | SECRET | IAEA KNNP PREL KZ SY AE AORC |
08ABUJA2300 | NIGERIA: DEMARCHE DELIVERED, UNGA RESOLUTIONS [...] (C) PolOff delivered reftel demarche to Maria Laose, Director of the First United Nations Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on November 21. Laose maintained that the political realities of Nigeria's membership in the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and the fact that Preside [...] | 2008-11-24 10:10:00 | Embassy Abuja | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNGA IS PA LE SY NI |
08ACCRA337 | GHANA: DEMARCHE ON MARCH 14 BEIRUT CONFERENCE [...] No summary [...] | 2008-03-11 16:51:00 | Embassy Accra | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PINR PREF PREL PTER MASS PARM SY IS LE |
08ACCRA788 | ACCRA DEMARCHE ON SUPPORF FOR IAEA INSPECTION IN [...] (S) Ambassador Pamela E. Bridgewater delivered reftel demarche on June 23 to Ghanaian Deputy Foreign Minister Dr. Charles Brempong-Yeboah. Brempong-Yeboah expressed agreement with the measure and said that he would pursue the issue with Ghana's representative with the IAEA, Professor Adzei Beko [...] | 2008-06-23 18:08:00 | Embassy Accra | SECRET | KNNP PREL PARM SY |
08ADANA48 | TURKEY: HATAY BUSINESS LEADERS SANGUINE ON INCREASING [...] (U) SUMMARY. Prominent members of Hatay's business community are hopeful about increasing trade and commerce with Syria through the province's two border gates. Syria's recent reduction of a border fuel tax augers well for improved trade conditions for Turkish transporters, although truck c [...] | 2008-11-26 13:20:00 | Consulate Adana | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD PREL SY |
08AITTAIPEI1467 | TERRORISM FINANCE: DESIGNATION OF FIVE INDIVIDUALS AND TWO [...] (U) Per reftel, Taiwan's Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) issued a formal instruction on October 3, 2008, providing all banking institutions with information on an additional five individuals and two entities pursuant to E.O. 13438 for threatening the peace and stability of Iraq and the G [...] | 2008-10-14 10:18:00 | American Institute Taiwan, Taipei | UNCLASSIFIED | EFIN KTFN PTER ETTC PREL UNSC ECON IZ IR SY TW |
08AITTAIPEI1482 | TERRORISM FINANCE: DESIGNATION OF FIVE INDIVIDUALS AND TWO [...] Per reftels, the Central Bank of the ROC (Taiwan) has searched, but not found, any bank record of foreign exchange receipts from or payment to the following five individuals and two entities designated by the U.S. Department of the Treasury on September 16, 2008 pursuant to E.O. 13438 for thre [...] | 2008-10-17 09:03:00 | American Institute Taiwan, Taipei | UNCLASSIFIED | EFIN KTFN PTER ETTC PREL UNSC ECON IZ IR SY TW |
08AITTAIPEI607 | TAIWAN RESPONSE TO NON-PAPER: POSSIBLE EXPORT TO [...] (S) On April 30, AIT received the Bureau of Foreign Trade (BOFT) of the Taiwan Ministry of Economic Affairs' response to reftel non-paper. An unofficial AIT translation of BOFT's response follows: 2. (S) BEGIN TRANSLATION Subject: Please find BOFT's findings regarding a Syrian-base [...] | 2008-05-02 07:55:00 | American Institute Taiwan, Taipei | SECRET | ETTC MTCRE PARM PREL TW SY AE |
08ALGIERS1241 | ALGERIA: UNGA RESOLUTIONS WITH ANTI-ISRAEL BIAS [...] No summary [...] | 2008-11-23 14:01:00 | Embassy Algiers | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL UNGA IS PA LE SY AG |
08ALGIERS1327 | ALGERIAN MFA WARY ON EVE OF ASAD VISIT [...] (S) Ambassador delivered reftel demarche December 21 to the MFA Director General for Arab Affairs on the eve of Syrian President Bashar al-Asad's expected visit. On foreign fighters, DG Abdelhamid Bouzaher said that the flow into Iraq had declined in recent years from a 2003-05 peak. He added [...] | 2008-12-22 16:42:00 | Embassy Algiers | SECRET | PREL PTER SY AF IC LE AG |
08ALGIERS1328 | ALGERIAN MFA WARY ON EVE OF ASAD VISIT [...] No summary [...] | 2008-12-22 17:04:00 | Embassy Algiers | SECRET | PREL PTER SY AF IC LE AG |
08ALGIERS587 | ALGERIA RESPONSE ON LEBANON BUILDING ON ARAB [...] (C) During a May 20 reception, Ambassador collared Algerian Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci and relayed reftel demarche message. Ambassador said the U.S. strongly supports the Arab league mediation of the Lebanon crisis and the agreement announced in Beirut on May 15. Medelci said that Alg [...] | 2008-05-21 12:12:00 | Embassy Algiers | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL LE SY AG |
08ALGIERS694 | MFA ON ASAD'S TRAVELS, LEBANON [...] (C) The Algerian foreign ministry is not aware of any imminent visit to Algeria by Syrian President Bashar al-Asad, according to Counselor Nassima Baghli and North America Director Abdellah Laouari. Laouari told us on June 15 that the MFA was aware of Asad's recent visit to Tripoli, along wit [...] | 2008-06-15 16:31:00 | Embassy Algiers | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SY LE AG |
08AMMAN1666 | STAFFDEL DISCUSSES PEACE PROCESS, REGIONAL EVENTS, [...] (C) Summary: During a week-long visit to Jordan organized by the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a ten-member U.S. congressional staffdel met with a variety of senior figures, including Prime Minister Nader Al-Dahabi, Royal Court Chief Bassem Awadallah, Advisor to the Chief of Defense [...] | 2008-06-03 15:00:00 | Embassy Amman | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ECON KIRF KPAL IS SY IZ IR LE JO |
08AMMAN2225 | JORDAN ON IAEA BOG: FOCUSING ON ARAB GROUP PROCESS [...] (C) Charge delivered reftel demarche to Foreign Minister Salah Al-Bashir on July 20. Bashir, who had just returned from a lengthy overseas trip, did not offer a substantive response but noted that Jordan's independence of action could be limited by Arab Group protocol. He wondered out loud w [...] | 2008-07-24 11:35:00 | Embassy Amman | CONFIDENTIAL | IAEA KNNP PREL KZ SY JO |
08AMMAN2262 | IAEA BOG: JORDAN MFA BELIEVES THAT SYRIA HAS ARAB [...] (C) Jamal Al-Shamayleh, Director of Foreign Minister Bashir's private office, told PolCouns on July 29 that it appeared the Arab League had already endorsed Syria's candidacy for the MESA seat on the IAEA Board of Governors. Reading from a June 28 communique from the Jordanian Embassy in Vienn [...] | 2008-07-29 14:51:00 | Embassy Amman | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL IAEA KNNP AORC SY JO |
08AMMAN228 | JORDAN AND SYRIA SIGN 12 AGREEMENTS TO BOOST BILATERAL [...] (U) Jordan and Syria signed 12 agreements designed to strengthen bilateral relations following up on the 12th session of the Joint Jordanian-Syrian Higher Committee which concluded December 31. The agreements address economic integration, trade, agriculture, water, health, industry, transport [...] | 2008-01-22 14:59:00 | Embassy Amman | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECIN EAGR PREL SENV JO SY |
08AMMAN2328 | IAEA BOG: JORDAN CANNOT THROW ITS HAT INTO THE RING [...] (C) In an August 6 meeting with Charge, Foreign Minister Salah Al-Bashir affirmed that Syria has the Arab League's (AL) endorsement for the IAEA BOG MESA seat, putting Jordan in "an extremely awkward position" were it to nominate itself at this point. He also cited strong regional perceptions [...] | 2008-08-06 14:14:00 | Embassy Amman | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL IAEA KNNP AORC SY JO |
08AMMAN265 | CODEL PRICE DISCUSSES JORDANIAN POLITICAL REFORM, [...] (C) Summary: During the January 9-11 visit to Jordan of Codel Price (comprising Representatives David Price, Harold Rogers, Dennis Rehberg, James Moran, Michael Simpson, and Eleanor Holmes Norton, all of the House Appropriations Committee),the group and their staffers met with Chief of the [...] | 2008-01-24 15:21:00 | Embassy Amman | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KPAL JO IS SY IZ |
08AMMAN3171 | JORDAN TIP INTERIM ASSESSMENT [...] (SBU) Summary: Over the past six months, Jordan made steady progress on measures to combat trafficking-in-persons. Progress includes an increase in trafficking-related cases being tried, the approval of a joint labor inspector and police investigation unit, the creation of a Humanitarian and L [...] | 2008-11-23 06:24:00 | Embassy Amman | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL PHUM KTIP KCRM KWMN IZ IS SY ID |
08AMMAN3184 | JORDAN EXPLAINS THE DIFFICULTY IT FACES IN [...] (SBU) Pol Chief delivered on November 23 reftel demarche and talking points to Ayman Aamiry, director of international organizations at Jordan's MFA. Aamiry listened closely to the talking points and accepted the list of 2007 resolutions with an anti-Israeli bias. He noted that the message "h [...] | 2008-11-24 15:19:00 | Embassy Amman | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNGA IS PA LE SY JO |
08AMMAN3189 | GOJ LEADERS TALK AID, REFORM, PALESTINIANS, LEVANT [...] (C) Summary: NEA Deputy Assistant Secretary of State David Hale, who was in Amman to participate in the U.S.-Jordan Political Dialogue (Ref A),spent November 18 in separate meetings with King Abdullah, Royal Court Chief Nasser Al-Lozi, Foreign Minister Salah Al-Bashir, Senate President Zeid [...] | 2008-11-25 07:31:00 | Embassy Amman | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KWBG KPAL SY IS LE AE MO JO |
08AMMAN409 | Jordan Prepares for Potential Summer Drought - Again [...] (SBU) Summary: The Secretaries General of the Ministry of Water and Irrigation (MWI) and the Jordan Valley Authority conveyed to ESTH Officer in separate January 24 meetings a clear sense of an impending summer water crisis. Lower than average rainfall has led to Jordanian dams being filled a [...] | 2008-02-07 14:31:00 | Embassy Amman | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | SENV EAGR EAID PGOV PREL JO SY IS |
08AMMAN433 | KING NEITHER ACCEPTS NOR DECLINES INVITATION TO [...] (S) On February 10, shortly after the departure from his office of visiting Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem, the King briefed the Ambassador alone on the discussion. The purpose of the visit was to extend formally an invitation to the King to attend a March Arab League summit in Damas [...] | 2008-02-10 15:11:00 | Embassy Amman | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL KPKO JO SY LE |
08AMMAN532 | UNHCR HIGH COMMISSIONER REVIEWS HIS TRIP TO THE [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: UNHCR High Commissioner Antonio Guterres highlighted UNHCR's pleasure with the growing "consolidation of asylum space in the region" for Iraqi refugees in a February 18 meeting with the diplomatic and donor communities in Amman. The "relation of confidence" UNHCR has developed [...] | 2008-02-20 05:44:00 | Embassy Amman | CONFIDENTIAL | PREF PREL PHUM SOCI EAID JO IZ SY LE |
08AMMAN691 | JORDAN: MARCH 5-6 ARAB LEAGUE MINISTERIAL DEMARCHE [...] (C) Polcouns delivered ref A demarche March 3 to Jamal Al-Shamayleh, director of the Foreign Minister's private office. Note: FM Bashir is currently in the United States accompanying King Abdullah on his official visit. Jordan's Ambassador to Egypt Omar Rifai will lead the Jordanian delegatio [...] | 2008-03-04 09:08:00 | Embassy Amman | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL JO LE SY KV AL IZ |
08AMMAN76 | STAFFDEL DIAMOND DISCUSSES PEACE PROCESS, SYRIA, [...] (C) Summary: During the visit of Staffdel Diamond to Jordan January 6-7, the group discussed the peace process, Jordanian relations with Syria, Iraqi refugee issues, and nuclear energy with Jordanian officials. Interlocutors stressed the need for concrete steps that would create immediate t [...] | 2008-01-09 07:45:00 | Embassy Amman | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KPAL ENRG JO IS SY |
08ANKARA1057 | TURKISH GENERALS SPEAK OUT ON MIDDLE EAST [...] (C) Summary: At a June 5-6 symposium on the Middle East in Istanbul organized by the Turkish General Staff's (TGS) Strategic Studies Research Center, TGS Chief General Buyukanit provided a pessimistic outlook on the Middle East in remarks characterized by implicit criticism of the West. Buyuk [...] | 2008-06-09 03:52:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV TU IZ IR IS SY |
08ANKARA107 | TURKEY: PRESIDENT GUL IN DAMASCUS 1/19 [...] (C) SUMMARY: Turkish officials told us President Gul plans a one-day visit to Damascus January 19 in connection with a cultural event the SARG is organizing, but will urge Asad to play a positive role in Lebanon. Visiting NEA PDAS Satterfield urged that Gul push Asad hard to allow presidenti [...] | 2008-01-19 16:59:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL TU LE SY |
08ANKARA1150 | TURKEY: ISRAEL-SYRIA PEACE TALKS' DOMESTIC [...] (C) Summary: Since the media began reporting on the latest round of Israel-Syria peace talks, Turkey's regional leadership role has resonated particularly well with its domestic audience, at a time when the government could use a foreign policy success. The talks are the first major victory f [...] | 2008-06-20 13:24:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL IS SY TU |
08ANKARA1155 | TURKEY: REPORTED FORCED DEPORTATION OF IRANIAN [...] (C) Post raised US concerns over reports of forced repatriations by Turkey to Iraq per reftel at various levels of the MFA. Ambassador has done so twice with MFA U/S Ertugrul Apakan. Apakan was initially only slightly aware of the incident from having to approve MFA press guidance and said h [...] | 2008-06-23 07:56:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREF PREL IR IZ SY TU |
08ANKARA120 | TURKISH ADVISOR ON GUL VISIT TO DAMASCUS [...] (c) Turkish Presidency/PM foreign affairs advisor Ahmet Davutoglu briefed Ambassador January 22 regarding President Gul's visit January 19 to Damascus. As noted ref a, the proximate cause was a Syrian invitation to an "Arab Cultural Capital of 2008" event. According to Davutoglu, Gul decided [...] | 2008-01-22 15:57:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM LE SY TU |
08ANKARA1265 | SCENESETTER FOR NSA HADLEY'S VISIT TO TURKEY [...] (C) Summary. US-Turkish relations have been transformed in the nearly three years since your last visit in 2005. You come right after Erdogan's visit to Baghdad (July 10),Boyden Gray's visit here (July 11) and President Bush's July 11 condolence call to President Gul over the Istanbul consul [...] | 2008-07-14 16:55:00 | Embassy Ankara | SECRET | PREL PGOV ENRG ECON IZ SY IS IR AF PK CY TU |
08ANKARA1293 | TURKEY APPROACHES MEDITERRANEAN UNION WITH CAUTION [...] (C) Summary: Despite PM Erdogan's last minute decision to attend the Mediterranean Union Summit July 13-14, the GOT remains highly skeptical of the organization's viability, as well as French intentions. Turkey's MFA successfully negotiated a series of concessions in the final communiqu to e [...] | 2008-07-18 13:19:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV FR TU IS SY |
08ANKARA1754 | TURKISH PETROLEUM CONFERENCE TARGETS UPSTREAM INVESTMENT IN [...] (SBU) Summary. The purpose of Turkish Petroleum's "Northern Arabian Plate Oil and Gas Summit" (NAPOGS 2008) October 8-10 was to share information about ongoing or planned upstream development in Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. The conference targeted participation of energy ministers and nati [...] | 2008-10-09 09:24:00 | Embassy Ankara | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ENRG TU IZ IR SY |
08ANKARA1791 | TERRORISM FINANCE: DESIGNATION OF FIVE INDIVIDUALS [...] On October 14, we shared reftel information with Can Oguz, Office of the Special Envoy for Iraq, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Oguz thanked us for the information, said he would promptly share it with the appropriate parties, and made no substantial additional comment. Visit Ankara's [...] | 2008-10-15 15:07:00 | Embassy Ankara | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KTFN EFIN PTER ETTC PREL UNSC TU IZ IR SY |
08ANKARA2045 | TURKEY WELCOMES U.S. CT DIALOGUE PROPOSAL, URGES [...] (S) Summary. S/CT Dell Dailey urged Turkey November 14 to agree to an annual high-level counterterrorism (CT) dialogue, pressed it to use its influence with Syria to halt the transit of foreign terrorists and asked it to positively respond to earlier U.S. information-sharing proposals. Inter [...] | 2008-11-25 12:12:00 | Embassy Ankara | SECRET | PTER PREL PGOV IZ SY EU TU |
08ANKARA2174 | TURKEY/ISRAEL/SYRIA: OLMERT REMAINS POSITIVE ON [...] (C) SUMMARY. Israeli PM Olmert visited Ankara December 22 in what was billed a "farewell" call, meeting privately with PM Erdogan (we believe PM foreign policy advisor Davutoglu translated) and, with delegations, President Gul. Syria and Gaza dominated the agenda. According to Israeli Embass [...] | 2008-12-24 15:33:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PBTS PGOV PTER IS SY TU |
08ANKARA237 | TURKEY: SUPPORTS LEBANON, NOW AND ALWAYS, BUT [...] (C) We conveyed reftel points on support for Lebanon February 8 to MFA Department Head for Middle East Kerem Kiratli and Lebanon/Syria Desk Officer Cem Ulusoy. Kiratli said he would convey the substance of the demarche to Deputy Under Secretary Sinirlioglu and Under Secretary Apakan. He emph [...] | 2008-02-11 06:33:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | KDEM PGOV PREL PHUM EFIN EINV LE SY TU |
08ANKARA238 | TURKEY: CONDEMNING ARREST AND ARRAIGNMENT OF [...] (SBU) We conveyed the substance of reftel demarche urging condemnation of the SARG's arrest and detention of democracy activists in Syria February 8 to MFA Department Head for Middle East Kerem Kiratli and Lebanon/Syria Desk Officer Cem Ulusoy. Kiratli undertook to convey the substance of the [...] | 2008-02-11 06:33:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KMPI TU SY |
08ANKARA692 | TURKEY: A NONPROLIFERATION PARTNER ON ITS OWN TERMS [...] (C) Summary: As the only NATO ally bordering Iran and Syria, Turkey plays a pivotal role in our nonproliferation efforts in the region. Turkey shares our nonproliferation goals, but is also sensitive to its relations with neighbors. Turkey is frequently called upon by the U.S. and others to [...] | 2008-04-11 14:21:00 | Embassy Ankara | SECRET | KNNP PREL PARM ETTC TU IR SY |
08ANKARA780 | TURKEY CONDITIONS CLEARANCE FOR SUSPECT NORTH [...] No summary [...] | 2008-04-25 13:30:00 | Embassy Ankara | SECRET | PREL PARM KNNP NK SY TU |
08ANKARA965 | TURKEY: STOPPING THE FLOW OF FOREIGN FIGHTERS TO [...] (C) Summary. Turkey is acutely aware of the Al Qaeda Network (AQN) threat and is actively collecting against it, an MFA official told us May 20. Turkey cannot, however, engage in broad "profiling" of young male travelers. Urged to consider new border security and information-sharing arrange [...] | 2008-05-21 13:35:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PREL ASEC IZ SY TU |
08ASHGABAT520 | TURKMENISTAN: UPDATED SCHEDULE OF FLIGHT OF [...] No summary [...] | 2008-04-25 10:34:00 | Embassy Ashgabat | SECRET | PARM PREL KNNP KN SY |
08ASTANA1283 | KAZAKHSTAN STILL MULLING IAEA MESA SEAT [...] (S) On July 17, DCM delivered reftel points to Deputy Foreign Minister for Multilateral Affairs Nurlan Danenov and Director of Multilateral Affairs Office Balibai Sadikov. He stressed the high-level of commitment by the USG to this issue and our willingness to engage at the highest levels, if [...] | 2008-07-18 02:46:00 | Embassy Astana | SECRET | PREL KNNP IAEA AORC SY KZ |
08ASTANA2421 | PREVENTING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SYRIA'S TECHNICAL [...] (SBU) We delivered reftel points and non-paper requesting support on preventing the implementation of Syria's technical cooperation project on December 9 to Sergey Savelyev, Deputy Director of the MFA,s Department of Multilateral Cooperation. Savelyev said he would report back to us any comm [...] | 2008-12-09 09:54:00 | Embassy Astana | CONFIDENTIAL | KNNP MNUC PARM IAEA TRGY SY KZ |
08ASTANA797 | (S) KAZAKHSTAN - DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON UPDATED [...] (S) Pol-Econ Chief delivered reftel demarche regarding the latest schedule of a North Korean flight of proliferation concern to MFA Americas Department head Talgat Kaliyev on April 25. Kaliyev said he would immediately relay the information to the appropriate Kazakhstani government agencies. [...] | 2008-04-25 06:07:00 | Embassy Astana | SECRET | KNNP PREL PARM KZ KN SY IR |
08ASTANA849 | KAZAKHSTAN DENIES OVERFLIGHT TO FLIGHT OF [...] (S) Ministry of Foreign Affairs Advisor for International Security Faizrakhmam Kassanov told Poloff on April 29 that Kazakhstan denied overflight to the North Korean airliner subject of reftel C. According to Kassanov, North Korea presented the Government of Kazakhstan a diplomatic note reque [...] | 2008-04-29 12:20:00 | Embassy Astana | SECRET | KNNP PREL KZ KN SY IR |
08ASTANA988 | KAZAKHSTAN: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON IAEA BOARD OF [...] (S) Per reftel demarche, the Ambassador discussed Kazakhstan's putting itself forward as a candidate for the IAEA BOG's MESA seat with Industry and Trade Minister Vladimir Shkolnik on May 26. Shnolnik was supportive of the idea in principle, and suggested the USG follow-up with the MFA. Pol- [...] | 2008-05-27 07:10:00 | Embassy Astana | SECRET | IAEA KNNP PREL AORC KZ SY |
08ATHENS1070 | GREECE/SYRIA: GREEK VIEWS ON DEALING WITH THE SARG [...] (C) A/Pol Counselor delivered ref A points on the Syrian Arab Republic Government (SARG) on 7/24 to George Ayfandis, acting Director of the MFA A-6 Directorate for Arab Countries and the Middle East. Ayfandis said that Greece shared U.S. concerns about the SARG, highlighting, in particular, S [...] | 2008-07-25 13:31:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV SY LE EU RS TU NO SW |
08ATHENS1346 | MFA SECRETARY GENERAL: NO TO IRAN AND SYRIA ON [...] (S) MFA Secretary General Agathocles told DCM on 9/19 that Greece opposes the possible election of Syria or Iran to the IAEA Board of Governors (BOG). He said that there is a "common view" within the EU that they should not be elected; however, many in the EU consider Afghanistan "not ready" [...] | 2008-09-22 11:29:00 | Embassy Athens | SECRET | PREL IAEA PARM MNUC SR KV AF SY IR GR |
08ATHENS165 | GREEK DFM LEADING DEL TO SYRIA [...] (S) SUMMARY: In a series of conversations with MFA interlocutors over the last few days, Ambassador and DCM have emphasized that a planned trip by DFM Petros Doukas as head of a Greek trade delegation to Syria later this week was a bad idea that sent the wrong message to Damascus. Doukas repl [...] | 2008-02-04 16:16:00 | Embassy Athens | SECRET | GR PGOV PREL SY |
08ATHENS168 | GREECE TO TELL SYRIA: KEEP OUT OF LEBANON [...] (S) On February 5, DepPolCouns delivered ref c points on the arrest of Syrian democracy activists to MFA A6 Middle East Directorate deputy head Giorgos Ayfantis, who said he would pass them to DFM Doukas prior to his trip to Damascus later this week (ref b). On Feb 4, DepPolCouns delivered ref [...] | 2008-02-05 15:25:00 | Embassy Athens | SECRET | GR PREL SY KMPI LE |
08ATHENS30 | GREECE: SHIELD S15-A-06: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON [...] No summary [...] | 2008-01-07 15:07:00 | Embassy Athens | SECRET | PREL PARM ETTC SY GR |
08ATHENS330 | GAERC DEMARCHE: GREECE EXPECTS "NO DECISIONS" [...] No summary [...] | 2008-03-06 12:44:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EU ZL PK AFIN ZI IR GG IS SY LE |
08ATHENS338 | GAERC DEMARCHE: GREECE EXPECTS "NO DECISIONS" [...] No summary [...] | 2008-03-07 13:28:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EU ZL PK AFIN ZI IR GG IS SY LE |
08ATHENS341 | GAERC DEMARCHE: GREECE EXPECTS "NO DECISIONS" [...] No summary [...] | 2008-03-07 13:29:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EU ZL PK AFIN ZI IR GG IS SY LE |
08ATHENS346 | GAERC DEMARCHE: GREECE EXPECTS "NO DECISIONS" [...] No summary [...] | 2008-03-07 13:29:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EU ZL PK AFIN ZI IR GG IS SY LE |
08ATHENS369 | LEBANON: GREECE UNLIKELY TO ATTEND MARCH 14 BEIRUT [...] (C) A/Political Counselor delivered reftel points on encouraging attendance at the March 14, 2008 convention in Beirut to Georgos Ayfantis, Deputy Director of the MFA A6 Directorate for Arab Countries and the Middle East. Ayfantis said Athens was unaware of the convention, but after hearing [...] | 2008-03-11 08:31:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREF PREL PTER MASS PARM SY IS LE |
08ATHENS458 | GOG RESPONSE TO U.S. POINTS ON MARCH GYMNICH AGENDA [...] (SBU) Poloff delivered subject demarche on March 25 to Ms. Antonia Katzourou in the MFA's A11 Directorate for Common Foreign and Security Policy. While Katzourou appreciated the opportunity to review U.S. positions, she emphasized that the March 28-29 Foreign Ministers' Gymnich meeting will be [...] | 2008-03-27 13:09:00 | Embassy Athens | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV PHUM IS SY GR EUN ZL LE RS CH |
08ATHENS63 | GREEKS SHARE U.S. NON-PROLIFERATION CONCERNS ABOUT POTENTIAL [...] (S) On January 14, 2008, A/Political Counselor delivered ref A points on the possible sale of camouflage systems to Iran by the Greek firm XXXXXXXXXXXX S.A. to MFA First Counselor Dionyssios Kyvetos, the lead Greek MFA non-proliferation official. Kyvetos responded that following our previous [...] | 2008-01-16 15:36:00 | Embassy Athens | SECRET | PREL PARM ETTC SY IR GR |
08ATHENS698 | LEBANON: GREECE SEES USEFUL ROLEIN OPEN CHANNEL [...] (S) DCM and DepPolCouns delivered ref A points on supporting the Arab League's efforts in Lebanon to, resectively, Director of the Foreign Minister's Cabinet Kostas Chalastanis and Deputy Head of the MFA's A6 Middle East irectorate Giorgos Ayfantis. On the question of designating Hizballah as [...] | 2008-05-20 14:51:00 | Embassy Athens | SECRET | PGOV PREL SY IR GR |
08ATHENS804 | UPDATE ON POTENTIAL SALES TO IRAN AND SYRIA [...] (S) On 2 June poloff met with Loukas Tsokos, First Secretary at the MFA D1 Directorate of UN and International Organizations at the latter's request to discuss GOG findings on potential sales to Iran and Syria by Greek firm, XXXXXXXXXXXX. Tsokas said XXXXXXXXXXXX's main product was fishing ne [...] | 2008-06-09 14:18:00 | Embassy Athens | SECRET | ETTC PARM PREL GR IR SY PGOV |
08ATHENS845 | GREEK MFA ON JUNE GAERC ISSUES [...] (C) On June 11, DepPolCouns discussed issues likely to be taken up at the June 16-17 EU Foreign Ministers' meeting (GAERC) with Greek MFA European Correspondent Antonia Katzourou (ref A). Her responses below are keyed to likely agenda items: -- IRAN: Katzourou noted that EU foreign policy c [...] | 2008-06-13 14:01:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL PGOV IR IZ IS SY CU GR |
08ATHENS96 | GREECE WANTS TO SUPPORT SYRIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL [...] (S) DepPolCouns discussed reftel s said the GOG would look for a wayperhaps in the fQoumoutsakos. 2. (S) Ayfantis believed this was a good time to "kick" Syria "so they'll adjust course." He explained that Greece was upset by the Syrian use of the Turkish-controlled northern Cypriot port o [...] | 2008-01-23 13:25:00 | Embassy Athens | SECRET | PREL KMPI GR SY |
08BAGHDAD1019 | MCNS ON MARCH 30 REVIEWS BASRAH, BAGHDAD, NINEWA [...] (S REL AUS UK) SUMMARY: With PM Nouri al-Maliki still in Basra, Deputy PM Barham Salih chaired the March 30 Ministerial Committee on National Security (MCNS) foreshadowed by the sound of indirect fire (IDF) impacting in the International Zone as participants arrived at the meeting. The Commit [...] | 2008-04-02 14:49:00 | Embassy Baghdad | SECRET | MOPS MARR PGOV PREL PTER SY IZ |
08BAGHDAD1100 | DFM ABBAWI ON BORDER SECURITY WORKING GROUP [...] (S) SUMMARY AND REQUEST: In an April 7 call on Deputy Foreign Minister Labeed Abbawi, Pol-Mil M/C discussed the upcoming Border Security Working Group, Iraq's preparations for the event, and what it could accomplish. Both agreed that a commitment to stopping the flow of weapons to criminal m [...] | 2008-04-09 07:38:00 | Embassy Baghdad | SECRET | PBTS PREL PTER IR IZ KU SY TU |
08BAGHDAD1112 | APRIL 6 MCNS: BASRAH NEXT STEPS, SADR CITY [...] (S REL AUS UK) SUMMARY: The April 6 session of the Ministerial Committee on National Security (MCNS) featured upbeat assessments of the result of the GoI security operation in Basra, along with agreement on the need for job creation, development, and humanitarian initiatives to stabilize the [...] | 2008-04-09 18:23:00 | Embassy Baghdad | SECRET | MOPS MARR PGOV PREL PTER SY IZ |
08BAGHDAD1134 | GOI DELEGATION PREPARES FOR BORDER SECURITY [...] (S) On April 10, Pol-Mil M/C, DHS Attach, MNF-I analysts, and PolMilOffs attended a meeting with the GOI delegation to the Border Security Working Group (BSWG) in order to provide them with an intelligence briefing and USG recommendations for their course of action in Damascus (the latter deliv [...] | 2008-04-12 12:29:00 | Embassy Baghdad | SECRET | PBTS PREL PTER IR IZ SY |
08BAGHDAD1468 | MCNS ON MAY 4 REVIEWS BASRA SITUATION, BORDER [...] (S REL AS UK) SUMMARY: Prime Minister Maliki chaired the May 4 Ministerial Committee on National Security (MCNS) that reviewed the Basrah situation, resources for MOI's Directorate of Border Enforcement (DBE),equipping and training MOD and MOI through Foreign Military Sales (FMS),and a Natio [...] | 2008-05-11 16:32:00 | Embassy Baghdad | SECRET | MOPS MARR PGOV PREL PTER SY IZ |
08BAGHDAD1503 | MCNS ON MAY 11 REVIEWS SADR CITY AND MOSUL [...] (S REL AS UK) SUMMARY: Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki chaired the May 11 Ministerial Committee on National Security (MCNS). The committee reviewed military operations in Sadr City (Baghdad) and in Mosul (Ninewa Province). Operations will continue in Sadr City, Maliki declared, until the crim [...] | 2008-05-14 11:33:00 | Embassy Baghdad | SECRET | MOPS MARR PGOV PREL PTER SY IZ |
08BAGHDAD1693 | NSC JUNE 1 REVIEWS ONGOING OPERATIONS, AMNESTY [...] (S REL MCFI) Summary: Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki chaired June 1 the National Security Council (NSC) that reviewed security operations in Basra, Sadr City, and Mosul. (Note: Deputy PM Barham Salih, National Security Advisor Mowaffak Rubaie, and Minister of State for National Security Shirwan [...] | 2008-06-04 11:30:00 | Embassy Baghdad | SECRET | MOPS MARR MASS PREL PTER SY IZ |
08BAGHDAD1918 | DFM ABBAWI DISCUSSES DEVELOPMENTS IN BILATERAL [...] (S) SUMMARY: In a June 18 tour d'horizon, Deputy Foreign Minister Labeed Abbawi told Pol-Mil M/C that Iraq's relationship with Syria was stalled due to Syrian mistrust and that Libya had not responded to Iraq regarding its hold on the 1267 designations of several Syria-based Al Qaeda in Iraq [...] | 2008-06-23 14:04:00 | Embassy Baghdad | SECRET | PREL PTER AE DA JO IR IZ SY SZ |
08BAGHDAD2163 | IMPROVING IRAQI BORDER SECURITY: A WORK IN PROGRESS [...] (S) SUMMARY: Border security continues to be a focus of both GOI and Coalition attention as the security situation improves and Iraq takes increasing responsibility for its own affairs. Al Qaeda in Iraq's reliance on transnational networks is increasing as its operating space and popularity [...] | 2008-07-11 14:25:00 | Embassy Baghdad | SECRET//NOFORN | PBTS PREL PTER IR IZ SY |
08BAGHDAD2381 | IRAQ NON-COMMITTAL ON KAZAKHSTAN [...] (S) POLMIL MinCouns delivered reftel points to Deputy Foreign Minister Labid Majeed Abbawi July 27. Abbawi allowed that it would not be a good idea for Syria to be elected once more to the IAEA Board of Governors, especially while under investigation for its own activities. Abbawi said he wou [...] | 2008-07-29 15:04:00 | Embassy Baghdad | SECRET | IAEA KNNP PREL AORC KZ SY IZ |
08BAGHDAD241 | MALIKI REAFFIRMS DESIRE FOR CABINET SHAKE-UP, [...] (S) SUMMARY: During the weekly security meeting on January 24 with the Ambassador, Prime Minister Maliki reaffirmed his desire to reduce the number of cabinet posts and form a national unity government with ministers from a broad spectrum of parties including Tawafuq and Iraqiyya. He express [...] | 2008-01-28 02:44:00 | Embassy Baghdad | SECRET | MARR MCAP MOPS PGOV PINS PNAT PTER IZ JO SY |
08BAGHDAD267 | OPERATIONS IN MOSUL DOMINATE JANUARY 27 MCNS [...] (S REL MNF-I) Following brief remarks from MOD on Army escorts for fuel deliveries, Prime Minister Maliki moved the discussion from the scheduled topics to the situation in Ninewa province, especially in Mosul (ref. A). MOD painted a picture of disorganized security forces in Mosul and outlin [...] | 2008-01-29 17:37:00 | Embassy Baghdad | SECRET | MOPS MARR PGOV PREL PTER PHUM SY IZ |
08BAGHDAD2729 | IRAQI NSC ON AUGUST 17 REVIEWS MOSUL [...] (S/REL MCFI) Summary: Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki chaired the August 17 meeting of the National Security Council (I-NSC) that focused on reconstruction efforts in Mosul, MOD's logistics modernization, and protection of infrastructure. The Council also reviewed operations in Diyala, protec [...] | 2008-08-25 10:51:00 | Embassy Baghdad | SECRET | MOPS MARR MASS PREL PTER SY IZ |
08BAGHDAD2784 | IRAQI NSC ON AUGUST 24 REVIEWS READINESS OF [...] (S/REL MCFI) Summary: The National Security Council (I-NSC),chaired by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, focused its discussions August 24 on the readiness of the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) to provide security for Iraq and command and control of Ports of Entry (POEs). The council also heard [...] | 2008-08-29 13:52:00 | Embassy Baghdad | SECRET | MOPS MARR MASS PREL PTER SY IZ |
08BAGHDAD2997 | BAYJI OIL REFINERY DEALING WITH HFO AND CORRUPTION [...] (C) Summary: On September 10, 2008, senior Ministry of Oil (MoO) officials, accompanied by Embassy and MNF-I staff, visited Bayji Oil Refinery (BOR) and discussed the situation at the refinery, including measures to cope with a build-up of heavy fuel oil (HFO) levels, which currently restrict [...] | 2008-09-17 11:06:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG EPET ETRD IZ PREL SY TU |
08BAGHDAD3022 | NSC SEPTEMBER 14 REVIEWS NINEWA SECURITY [...] (S/REL MCFI) Summary: Deputy Prime Minister (D/PM) Barham Salih chaired the September 14 meeting of the Iraqi National Security Council (I-NSC). The Council heard short follow-up reports from the MOD on Civil-Military Operations Centers, from the MOI on continued difficulties in securing fund [...] | 2008-09-19 12:36:00 | Embassy Baghdad | SECRET | MOPS MARR MASS PREL PTER SY IZ |
08BAGHDAD3045 | DIPLOMATIC UPDATE: MOMENTUM ON ARAB AMBASSADORS, [...] (C) Summary: According to a senior MFA official, Syria's appointment of an ambassador to Iraq might set the stage to enable the two countries to engage on security and other issues. The official is hopeful that the Syrian ambassador-designate's intelligence background will advance Neighbor [...] | 2008-09-22 12:58:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL IZ IR SY |
08BAGHDAD3096 | NSC REVIEW SEPTEMBER 21, 2008: SECURITY OPTICS, [...] (S/REL MCFI) Summary. The September 21 meeting of the Iraqi National Security Council (I-NSC) opened with the Ministry of the Interior asserting its control of the Petroleum Security Police (PSP). Emphasizing his desire both to improve optics in the international zone for the Iraqi public, [...] | 2008-09-25 16:11:00 | Embassy Baghdad | SECRET | MOPS MARR MASS PREL PTER SY IZ |
08BAGHDAD3106 | IRAQ NEIGHBORS PROCESS: UNAMI PLANNING FOR [...] (C) Summary: GOI preparations are moving forward for an expanded neighboring countries ministerial in Baghdad this fall but, according to a senior UNAMI advisor, the Neighbors Process is a weak mechanism that falls short of its goals. This is due, he said, to the lack of a coherent Iraqi re [...] | 2008-09-26 11:58:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EPET PREF IZ TU SY JO |
08BAGHDAD3325 | I-NSC OCTOBER 12 REVIEWS SITUATION IN MOSUL, [...] (S/REL MCFI) Summary. The October 12 meeting of the Iraqi National Security Council (I-NSC) opened with the Prime Minister setting aside the prepared schedule and calling for a briefing on the situation of reported Christian persecution in Mosul City, Ninewa. All members of the NSC wanted to [...] | 2008-10-15 06:37:00 | Embassy Baghdad | SECRET | MOPS MARR MASS PREL PTER SY IZ |
08BAGHDAD3383 | PM DEMANDS ACTION TO PROTECT CHRISTIANS IN MOSUL [...] (S) Summary. In an uncharacteristically short meeting of the Iraqi National Security Council (I-NSC),Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki demanded quick action by the Government of Iraq (GOI) to end the intimidation and fear that had driven thousands of Christians from their homes in Ninawa Provinc [...] | 2008-10-22 08:23:00 | Embassy Baghdad | SECRET | IZ KIRF MARR MASS MOPS PREL PTER SY |
08BAGHDAD3454 | GOI DISCUSSES COMPENSATION FOR DISPLACED [...] (S) Summary. Prime Minister al-Maliki opened the October 26 meeting of the Iraqi National Security Council (NSC) with an appeal for Iraqi and Coalition Forces to do everything to avoid use of excessive force while continuing to conduct operations against insurgents. The NSC went on to discus [...] | 2008-10-29 14:00:00 | Embassy Baghdad | SECRET | MOPS MARR MASS PREL PTER SY IZ |
08BAGHDAD3504 | IRAQI NSC MEETING ON NOV 2 REVIEWS SITUATION IN [...] (S) Summary. At the November 2, 2008 meeting of the Iraqi National Security Council, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki received the reconstruction report for Mosul. The report indicated that while many infrastructure projects were planned, implementation was slow and the province appeared una [...] | 2008-11-04 16:10:00 | Embassy Baghdad | SECRET | MOPS MARR MASS PREL PTER SY IZ |
08BAGHDAD3671 | IRAQI NSC DISCUSSES NTM-I AND OTHER ISSUES AT [...] (S) Summary. At the November 16, Iraqi NSC meeting, NSA Rubaie unexpectedly raised the future of the NATO Training Mission Iraq (NTM-I). When the NSC became bogged down on the issue of the wide range of other possible areas of cooperation proposed by NATO in addition to the training already [...] | 2008-11-20 10:18:00 | Embassy Baghdad | SECRET | MOPS MARR MASS PREL PTER SY IZ |
08BAGHDAD3736 | IRAQ BORDER SECURITY WORKING GROUP OVERSHADOWED BY [...] (C) SUMMARY: The third session of the Iraq Neighbors Border Security Working Group (BSWG) produced little forward motion toward practical measures to improve security on or within Iraq's borders, although its final communiqu did include some proposed measures that will be helpful if implemente [...] | 2008-11-26 17:15:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER IZ SY TU IR |
08BAGHDAD3747 | IRAQI NSC DISCUSSES TRILATERAL MEETING WITH U.S. [...] (S) Summary. At the November 23 meeting of the Iraqi National Security Council (NSC),with Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Rafi Essawi sitting in as chair for the Prime Minister, the Council received a report from Minister of State for National Security Affairs Shirwan Waeili on the recent U.S.- [...] | 2008-11-28 16:57:00 | Embassy Baghdad | SECRET | MOPS MARR MASS PREL PTER SY IZ |
08BAGHDAD375 | FEBRUARY 3 MCNS EXAMINES SECURITY IN MOSUL AND [...] (S REL AS UK) Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki opened the meeting by outlining the agenda and asking for a report from MOD on the security situation in Mosul and the outcome of the Crisis Action Cell (CAD) held in Mosul on Saturday, February 2. The MCNS also discussed reform of the administrati [...] | 2008-02-09 09:48:00 | Embassy Baghdad | SECRET | MOPS MARR PGOV PREL PTER SY IZ |
08BAGHDAD4033 | IRAQI NSC DISCUSSES INSURGENT FINANCING, AGREEMENT [...] (S) Summary. At the December 21, 2009 meting of the Iraqi National Security Council (NSC),Prime Minister (PM) Nouri al-Maliki received a detailed report from the Minister of Defense (MoD) on the internal sources of financing for Al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) and other insurgent organizations. Accor [...] | 2008-12-26 14:38:00 | Embassy Baghdad | SECRET | MOPS MARR MASS PREL PTER SY IZ |
08BAGHDAD448 | MCNS ON FEBRUARY 10 DISCUSSED AIRPORT SECURITY, [...] (S REL UK AS) In a meeting chaired by D/PM Barham Salih, the MCNS received a concise, well-organized briefing on 2007 force generation results for the Iraqi Army, discussed at length the administrative direction and security command at the Baghdad International Airport (BIAP),and briefly revi [...] | 2008-02-15 13:26:00 | Embassy Baghdad | SECRET | MOPS MARR PGOV PREL PTER SY IZ |
08BAGHDAD502 | MCNS FEBRUARY 17 DISCUSSES IRAQI PSDS, FORCE [...] (S REL UK AS) The weekly MCNS discussed supervision and management of Personal Security Details (PSDs),force generation success for the Ministry of Interior (MOI) forces, needs of the Directorate of Border Enforcement (DBE),security for elections and the approaching visit of Iranian Presiden [...] | 2008-02-21 13:57:00 | Embassy Baghdad | SECRET | MOPS MARR PGOV PREL PTER SY IZ |
08BAGHDAD509 | NEIGHBORS PROCESS: UNAMI ROLLS UP ITS SLEEVES [...] (C) SUMMARY: At his February 20 introductory call at Embassy Baghdad, Ambassador Gerard Sambrana, Special Political Advisor to SRSG de Mistura, exchanged views on the Neighbors Process with PolMil M/C and PolCouns. Sambrana communicated de Mistura,s commitment to try to improve the "process" [...] | 2008-02-22 09:50:00 | Embassy Baghdad | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EG IR IZ KU TU UN SY |
08BAGHDAD570 | MCNS ON FEBRUARY 24 DISCUSSES TURKISH INCURSION, [...] (S/REL AS UK) Deputy Prime Minister (D/PM) Barham Saleh opened the February 24 Ministerial Committee on National Security (MCNS) meeting with a discussion of the Turkish incursion into northern Iraq (ref. A). National Security Advisor (NSA) Muwaffaq Rubaie presented a list of intelligence col [...] | 2008-02-27 13:52:00 | Embassy Baghdad | SECRET | MOPS MARR PGOV PREL PTER SY IZ TU |
08BAGHDAD769 | MCNS MARCH 9: SECURITY OPERATIONS IN MOSUL, [...] (S REL MNFI) LTG Jalal Tawfiq Riyadh, Ninewa Operations Command and former commander of the Iraqi Army 9th Division, presented a well-organized and thorough brief on preparatory measures for tackling Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) in Ninewa province. The MCNS dealt again with instructions to the Mini [...] | 2008-03-14 14:32:00 | Embassy Baghdad | SECRET | MOPS MARR PGOV PREL PTER SY IZ |
08BAGHDAD806 | DFM ABBAWI ON BORDER SECURITY WORKING GROUP, THE [...] (S) SUMMARY: In a March 16 call on Pol-Mil M/C, Iraqi DFM Labeed Abbawi discussed preparations for the next Border Security Working Group in Damascus and Iraqi participation in the Arab League Summit. PM Maliki would lead Iraq's delegation to the latter in what Abbawi attempted to portray as [...] | 2008-03-17 14:07:00 | Embassy Baghdad | SECRET | PBTS PREL PTER EG IR IZ LE RU SY |
08BAGHDAD880 | MCNS MARCH 16 DISCUSSES BASRAH SECURITY, TAJI [...] (U) The March 16 Ministerial Committee on National Security (MCNS) focused on dealing with security in Umm Qasr port and Basrah Province, implementation of the 2008 budget, and mine action. MNF-I briefed on the now operational Taji Maintenance Facility. End Summary. Umm Qasr/Basrah Securit [...] | 2008-03-23 15:55:00 | Embassy Baghdad | SECRET | MOPS MARR PGOV PREL PTER SY IZ |
08BAGHDAD890 | CORRECTED COPY (REFTEL): MCNS MARCH 16 DISCUSSES [...] (U) The March 16 Ministerial Committee on National Security (MCNS) focused on dealing with security in Umm Qasr port and Basrah Province, implementation of the 2008 budget, and mine action. MNF-I briefed on the now operational Taji Maintenance Facility. End Summary. Umm Qasr/Basrah Securit [...] | 2008-03-24 16:19:00 | Embassy Baghdad | SECRET | MOPS MARR PGOV PREL PTER SY IZ |
08BAGHDAD900 | CORRECTED COPY (REFTEL): MCNS MARCH 16 DISCUSSES [...] (U) The March 16 Ministerial Committee on National Security (MCNS) focused on dealing with security in Umm Qasr port and Basrah Province, implementation of the 2008 budget, and mine action. MNF-I briefed on the now operational Taji Maintenance Facility. End Summary. Umm Qasr/Basrah Securit [...] | 2008-03-25 16:07:00 | Embassy Baghdad | SECRET | MOPS MARR PGOV PREL PTER SY IZ |
08BAGHDAD904 | MCNS MARCH 16 DISCUSSES BASRAH SECURITY, TAJI [...] (U) The March 16 Ministerial Committee on National Security (MCNS) focused on dealing with security in Umm Qasr port and Basrah Province, implementation of the 2008 budget, and mine action. MNF-I briefed on the now operational Taji Maintenance Facility. End Summary. Umm Qasr/Basrah Securit [...] | 2008-03-25 16:07:00 | Embassy Baghdad | SECRET | MOPS MARR PGOV PREL PTER SY IZ |
08BAGHDAD921 | NSA RUBAIE ON UPCOMING DIPLOMATIC OUTREACH [...] (S) SUMMARY: In a March 21 meeting with the Ambassador, Iraqi National Security Advisor Mowafuq Rubaie reviewed a series of upcoming diplomatic engagements including his trip to Saudi Arabia, possible PM attendance at the Arab League Summit, the Prime Minister's trip to Brussels, and the Expan [...] | 2008-03-26 02:10:00 | Embassy Baghdad | SECRET | PGOV PREL PTER IR IZ KU SA SY |
08BAGHDAD968 | RUBAIE ON CURRENT SECURITY AND POLITICAL SITUATION [...] (S) SUMMARY: During a March 28 call on National Security Advisor Mowafuq Rubaie, the Ambassador discussed the current security situation in Baghdad, Basrah, and the southern provinces, all of which were the scenes of intensified conflict with criminal elements associated with Moqtada al-Sadr [...] | 2008-03-29 13:30:00 | Embassy Baghdad | SECRET | MOPS PGOV PREL PTER EG IR IZ JO SA SY |
08BAKU701 | DEMARCHE ON IAEA BOARD OF GOVERNORS MESA SEAT [...] No summary [...] | 2008-07-23 09:33:00 | Embassy Baku | SECRET | IAEA KNNP PREL KZ SY AORC AJ |
08BAKU714 | DEMARCHE ON IAEA BOARD OF GOVERNORS SEAT DELIVERED [...] No summary [...] | 2008-07-31 05:23:00 | Embassy Baku | CONFIDENTIAL | IAEA KNNP PREL KZ SY AORC AJ |
08BANGUI242 | OPPOSING ANTI-ISRAEL BIAS DEMARCHE DELIVERED [...] (SBU) Ambassador Cook delivered reftel demarche to CAR MFA Dieudonne Kombo-Yaya in a lengthy conversation regarding the CAR's voting record within the United Nations General Assembly in a meeting on December 17. 2. (SBU) The MFA noted that he had worked on Israeli and Palestinian issues for [...] | 2008-12-17 15:33:00 | Embassy Bangui | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL UNGA IS PA LE SY CT |
08BEIJING1203 | VISITING STAFFDEL MEETS NORINCO OFFICIALS [...] (C) NORINCO Vice President He Xiaodong told Senate Foreign Relations Committee staff members Frank Januzzi and Puneet Talwar that NORINCO can serve as an educator and lobbyist on the subject of export control compliance. VP He said NORINCO unilaterally stopped exporting "explosives" to Syria a [...] | 2008-03-31 08:27:00 | Embassy Beijing | CONFIDENTIAL | MNUC PARM PHSA PREL CH IR SY |
08BEIJING1311 | (S) CHINA URGED TO INVESTIGATE MISSILE-RELATED [...] (S) PolOff urged China to take immediate steps to investigate the transfer of missile-related material by a Chinese company to Syria, including via a North Korean intermediary, in a meeting with MFA Arms Control and Disarmament Department Missile Division Deputy Director Wang Daxue on April 8. [...] | 2008-04-08 08:20:00 | Embassy Beijing | SECRET | PARM MTCRE PREL ETTC CH KN SY |
08BEIJING1600 | APRIL 24 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: ZIMBABWE ARMS SHIPMENT, [...] Key points at the April 24 MFA press briefing were: -- A Chinese cargo ship will return to China with arms intended for Zimbabwe. -- An EU resolution critical of China's involvement in Africa is "irresponsible" and "groundless." -- The Syria-DPRK nuclear issue should not affect the Six-P [...] | 2008-04-24 11:05:00 | Embassy Beijing | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV KOLY CH FR KN JA SY PA XG ZI |
08BEIJING1653 | PRC WILL INVESTIGATE DPRK MISSILE PARTS SHIPMENT [...] (S) PolOff urged MFA Arms Control and Disarmament Department Missile Division Third Secretary He Yi to investigate reftel shipment of missile parts transiting China from the DPRK to Syria. PolOff told He Yi that we believe the shipment is still in Ningbo, but is likely to depart for Syria ver [...] | 2008-04-29 07:16:00 | Embassy Beijing | SECRET | KNNP PARM PREL MNUC CH KN SY |
08BEIJING2648 | (S) CHINA PROVIDES RESPONSE TO U.S.-RAISED [...] (S) Summary. MFA Arms Control and Disarmament Department Missile Division Director Zhang Junan briefed Poloffs on June 27 regarding the PRC's response to twelve proliferation-related cases raised by the United States. Zhang provided additional information on four cases and otherwise largely r [...] | 2008-07-07 10:42:00 | Embassy Beijing | SECRET | PARM PREL MTCRE ETTC CH IR SY |
08BEIJING2676 | CHINA WOULD SUPPORT LIBYAN DRAFT OF SETTLEMENTS [...] (C) PolOff on July 9 delivered to MFA reftel points urging China to instruct its UN Mission to join the United States in asking the Arab Group not to present its draft UN Security Resolution on Israeli settlements before negotiations are complete. MFA International Organizations and Conference [...] | 2008-07-09 08:31:00 | Embassy Beijing | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC IS SY LE CH |
08BEIJING2681 | CHINA ASKED TO INVESTIGATE THE SALE TO PAKISTAN OF [...] (S) PolOff delivered reftel message asking China to investigate the February 2008 sale of a fiber coil winding machine and integrated optical chips to Pakistan's Advanced Engineering and Research Organization (AERO) to MFA Arms Control and Disarmament Department Missile Division Deputy Directo [...] | 2008-07-09 10:02:00 | Embassy Beijing | SECRET | PARM PREL MTCR ETTC CH SY |
08BEIJING4078 | OCTOBER 28 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: SUDAN HOSTAGE CRISIS, SYRIA [...] Key points at the October 28 afternoon MFA press briefing were: -- China condemns the killing of five kidnapped Chinese citizens in a rescue attempt by the Sudanese government. -- China "opposes any deed which harms another country's sovereignty and territorial integrity," said the spoke [...] | 2008-10-28 22:47:00 | Embassy Beijing | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV PBTS PHUM PTER ECON EFIN SU SY KN |
08BEIJING4289 | CHINA ON UNGA RESOLUTIONS WITH ANTI-ISRAEL BIAS [...] (C) PolOff on November 21 conveyed to MFA reftel points urging China to oppose UNGA resolutions with anti-Israel bias. MFA International Organizations and Conferences Department UN Division Deputy Director Sun Xiaobo said that China would consider the U.S. views but noted that China has in th [...] | 2008-11-21 08:35:00 | Embassy Beijing | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNGA IS PA LE SY CH |
08BEIJING4523 | CHINA WILL NOT ASSIST WITH SYRIA NUCLEAR PLANT [...] (C) PolOff conveyed reftel points and nonpaper requesting that China not assist Syria in implementing its technical cooperation project for a nuclear power plant feasibility study to MFA Arms Control and Disarmament Department Nuclear Division Deputy Director Dai Huaicheng on December 12. Dai [...] | 2008-12-12 08:40:00 | Embassy Beijing | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM MNUC KNNP TRGY IAEA CH SY |
08BEIJING4573 | CHINA ON SUPPORT FOR THE SPECIAL TRIBUNAL FOR [...] (C) PolOff on December 11 conveyed to MFA International Organizations and Conferences Department United Nations Division Deputy Director Shen Bo reftel points urging China to make a generous contribution to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) and to press UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to [...] | 2008-12-17 10:19:00 | Embassy Beijing | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER UNSC EUN LE SY CH |
08BEIRUT1022 | LEBANON: PM SINIORA WARNS AGAINST HIZBALLAH'S [...] (C) PM Siniora is pleased with the final cabinet formation and does not foresee difficulties in the preparation of the ministerial statement. However, he remains concerned about Hizballah's growing stature, particularly in light of the upcoming prisoner exchange between Lebanon and Israel. He [...] | 2008-07-15 14:54:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS SY LE |
08BEIRUT1023 | LEBANON: FRANCE BEHIND SYRIA'S OVERTURES TO [...] (C) Reporting on the July 12-13 meetings in Paris between President Michel Sleiman, French President Sarkozy, and Syrian President Bashar Asad, French Embassy PolOff said that France is interested in pursuing rapprochement with Syria. Sarkozy prodded Asad into agreeing to re-establish diplomati [...] | 2008-07-15 15:39:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC FR IS SY LE |
08BEIRUT1049 | LEBANON: PRESIDENT SLEIMAN INTENDS TO GO TO SYRIA [...] (C) Lebanese President Michel Sleiman plans to visit Damascus as soon as a week following Syrian FM Walid Moallem's July 21 visit to Lebanon, and hopes to move forward quickly in establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries. Sleiman expressed his satisfaction with the new cabin [...] | 2008-07-18 15:17:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS SY LE |
08BEIRUT1050 | LEBANON: CABINET STATEMENT WITHIN DAYS, SAYS [...] (C) Newly appointed Minister of State Nassib Lahoud of March 14 expressed confidence that parliament would approve its ministerial statement by July 24. Lahoud is a member of the committee charged with drafting the statement, which met for the first time the day before. March 14 had prepared [...] | 2008-07-18 16:02:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS SY LE |
08BEIRUT1068 | LEBANON: PRESIDENT SLEIMAN ACCEPTS INVITATION TO [...] (U) On July 21 Lebanese President Sleiman accepted an invitation from Syrian FM Moallem on behalf of President Bashar Asad to visit Damascus. Moallem traveled to Beirut to deliver the invitation, and later made a press statement reiterating Syria's support for establishing diplomatic relati [...] | 2008-07-22 17:54:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS SY LE |
08BEIRUT1075 | LEBANON: JUMBLATT WARY OF SYRIAN INTENTIONS, [...] (C) Druze leader Walid Jumblatt remains skeptical of Syrian intentions toward Lebanon and continues to press for expedited action on the Special Tribunal as the only way to pressure Damascus, especially in light of recent French overtures toward Syria. Agreeing that released Lebanese prisoner [...] | 2008-07-23 15:16:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS SY LE |
08BEIRUT108 | LEBANON: AMBASSADOR FAREWELL CALL ON LEBANESE ARMY [...] (C) In a January 12th farewell office call, a confident Lebanese Army Commander Michel Sleiman discussed the ongoing investigation of General Francois Al-Hajj's assassination, the current political impasse, a new but improbable Presidential candidate, and his mandatory resignation date as Army [...] | 2008-01-24 13:47:00 | Embassy Beirut | SECRET | PGOV PREL PTER PARM SY IS LE |
08BEIRUT1084 | LEBANON: FM SALLOUKH IS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT [...] (C) Having fully resumed his role as foreign minister, Minister Fawzi Salloukh spoke of Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem's July 21 visit to Beirut as a "positive step forward" in establishing diplomatic relations with Syria. Salloukh, a member of the cabinet committee charged with draftin [...] | 2008-07-24 15:45:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC SY LE |
08BEIRUT1086 | LEBANON: TELECOM MINISTER PUSHES PRIVATIZATION, [...] (C) In a July 24 courtesy call by Charge Grant, newly appointed Minister of Telecommunications Gebran Bassil said that the GOL has been slow in its privatization of the mobile telecommunications market, but reaffirmed his belief that privatization in the sector is necessary. Bassil also reque [...] | 2008-07-24 16:38:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ECON ECPS EINV UNSC LE SY |
08BEIRUT1095 | LEBANON: MARCH 14 TRYING TO BUILD A UNIFIED MESSAGE [...] (C) In a July 23 meeting with A/DCM, March 14 Secretary General (SYG) Fares Souaid was pleased to show off his coalition's new office space and signaled optimism about the creation of a common platform as unifying force for March 14 coalition. Souaid argued that while some slight differences [...] | 2008-07-25 15:59:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC LE SY |
08BEIRUT1100 | LEBANON: SAUDIS GIVING SAAD ONE LAST CHANCE, SAUDI [...] (C) Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Khoja told Charge July 25 that the March 14 majority must win the 2009 parliamentary elections to avoid an Iranian takeover of the country. Critical of majority leader Saad Hariri, Khoja said the Saudi leaders had told Saad recently that they would provide signi [...] | 2008-07-28 08:05:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS SY LE |
08BEIRUT1103 | LEBANON: MINISTERIAL STATEMENT 95 PERCENT [...] (C) Minister of State Nassib Lahoud, a member of the committee currently drafting the cabinet's ministerial statement, said the statement was "95 percent done." Hizballah's weapons remained the primary stumbling block, with the majority holding firm on keeping language that would acknowledge [...] | 2008-07-28 14:47:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS SY LE |
08BEIRUT1112 | LEBANON: MAJORITY LEADER SAAD HARIRI NOT IN [...] (C) Majority leader Saad Hariri accuses Syria and Hizballah of masterminding recent violence in Tripoli as part of an effort to discredit Saad and impose Syria's agenda on Lebanon. As usual, Saad complained about what he perceives as an ambivalent U.S. policy toward Syria, warning that March [...] | 2008-07-29 17:04:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS SY LE |
08BEIRUT1113 | LEBANON: NEW INDEPENDENT SHIA MINISTER CALLS FOR [...] (C) In a courtesy call by Charge Grant, newly appointed non-Hizballah Shia Minister Ibrahim Shamseddine praised Saad Hariri's recent trip to Iraq as an important step in improving Arab-Iraqi relations and reducing Iranian influence over Lebanese Shia. He stressed his own independence and abil [...] | 2008-07-29 17:27:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS SY LE |
08BEIRUT1116 | LEBANON: JUMBLATT MAY MAKE A DEAL WITH DRUZE [...] (C) Saleem Hamadeh, advisor to opposition Druze leader and Youth and Sports Minister Talal Arslan, predicted that Arslan's rival Druze leader Walid Jumblatt would make a deal with Arslan in order to maximize the number of seats he could win in the 2009 parliamentary elections. Hamadeh did not [...] | 2008-07-30 16:27:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR SY LE |
08BEIRUT1133 | LEBANON: SCENESETTER FOR VISIT OF GENERAL DAVID [...] (C) General Petraeus, Welcome to Lebanon. Your visit provides another excellent opportunity to reinforce our message of strong, continued U.S. government support for a sovereign, independent, and democratic Lebanon. Your visit continues a series of high-level USG contacts since President Sle [...] | 2008-08-01 18:03:00 | Embassy Beirut | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC LE MARR MOPS SY |
08BEIRUT1135 | LEBANON: MINISTERIAL DECLARATION EXPECTED AUGUST [...] (C) Several Cabinet sources confirmed to us today that they expect the draft of Lebanese cabinet's ministerial statement to be completed by the night of August 1. Tareq Mitri, Minister of Information and a member of the drafting committee allied with March 14 and PM Siniora, told Charge and S [...] | 2008-08-01 18:40:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PTER PREF KDEM IS LE SY |
08BEIRUT1139 | LEBANON: MINISTERIAL STATEMENT: RESISTANCE [...] (C) The ministerial committee charged with drafting the government's policy statement reached an agreement on August 1, and the full cabinet is expected to approve the statement on August 4. The statement is an improvement over the previous 2005 ministerial statement in that it gives increase [...] | 2008-08-04 18:18:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS SY LE |
08BEIRUT1145 | LEBANON: MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT FOCUSED ON FOREST [...] (C) Newly appointed Minister of Environment Tony Karam discussed his priorities for the ministry with Charge in a August 4 courtesy call. First, Karam intends to work with civilian groups to enforce current environmental protection laws. Second, he would like to create an elite firefighting [...] | 2008-08-05 14:28:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINR ECON EAID SENV UNSC LE SY |
08BEIRUT1149 | LEBANON: FINANCE MINISTER CHATAH SAYS MINISTERIAL [...] (C) Finance Minister Mohamad Chatah, former advisor to PM Siniora, views the 2008 ministerial statement as an improvement over 2005, in that it elevates the status of the state and puts limits on Hizballah. Remarkably, he notes, the statement was drafted without foreign interference. The big [...] | 2008-08-05 17:41:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS SY LE |
08BEIRUT1161 | LEBANON: AOUNIST MP HINTS AT CONSENSUS IN 2009 [...] (C) Michel Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) MP Ibrahim Kanaan told Charge FPM is "satisfied" with the cabinet statement. He said the kerfluffle over fellow FPM MP Gebran Bassil's remarks about reviewing Paris III were taken out of context and exploited. Kenaan said he is turning his atte [...] | 2008-08-07 17:55:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC LE SY |
08BEIRUT1169 | LEBANON: GEARING UP FOR THE NATIONAL DIALOGUE [...] (C) Parliament begins debate on the government policy statement on August 8, with the confidence vote expected a few days thereafter. President Sleiman travels to Damascus August 13-14, after which time he is expected to convene the National Dialogue. Preparations are under way; Baabda Palace [...] | 2008-08-08 15:45:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS SY LE |
08BEIRUT1171 | LEBANON: MINISTER HARIRI ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT HER [...] (C) In an August 8 courtesy call by Charge, Minister of Education Bahiya Hariri told us that she hopes to create standardized curricula for Lebanon's public schools. In addition, she plans to push for greater community involvement in the educational process. A longtime MP from the southern c [...] | 2008-08-08 17:08:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC SCUL SOCI LE SY |
08BEIRUT1173 | LEBANON: TIME IS RIGHT FOR ACTION ON DETAINEES IN [...] (C) Following Israel's July 16 release of Lebanese prisoners including Samir Kantar, the issue of Lebanese detainees (also referred to as "enforced disappearances") in Syria has risen to the forefront in Lebanon. President Sleiman told visiting MNF-I Commander General David Petraeus on August [...] | 2008-08-11 08:53:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM PINR AI UNSC SY LE |
08BEIRUT1187 | LEBANON: HIZBALLAH WILL PRESS FOR ACTION AGAINST [...] (C) Majority leader Saad Hariri warned that Hizballah would soon pressure the GOL to take action against Israeli overflights. He was reacting to recent tough statements from Israel about the official GOL cabinet statement linking Hizballah's "resistance" to the authority of the Lebanese state [...] | 2008-08-13 16:56:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS SY LE |
08BEIRUT1197 | LEBANON: MARCH 14 SECRETARIAT PERCEIVES MARCH 8 [...] (C) March 14 Secretary General (SYG) Fares Souaid and member Samir Franjieh report that March 14 is preparing to capitalize on what it perceives as a split between the "Syrian March 8" and "Iranian March 8" in an attempt to attract voters -- especially Christian voters who usually support Mich [...] | 2008-08-14 16:16:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC LE SY |
08BEIRUT1198 | LEBANON: CONSPIRACY THEORIES AND CONDEMNATIONS [...] (SBU) Leaders from across Lebanon's political spectrum condemned the August 13 civilian bus bombing in the northern city of Tripoli that resulted in the deaths of several Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) soldiers, among others. So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Several t [...] | 2008-08-14 16:23:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC LE MARR MOPS SY |
08BEIRUT1201 | LEBANON: SLEIMAN VISIT TO DAMASCUS: DEVIL IN THE [...] (C) According to his diplomatic advisor, President Sleiman reportedly is pleased with his August 13-14 visit to Damascus, although he had hoped for more on the issue of Lebanese detainees in Syria. The advisor believes that work will begin soon on establishing diplomatic relations and borders [...] | 2008-08-18 07:41:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS SY LE |
08BEIRUT1220 | LEBANON: DRUZE (OPPOSITION) MINISTER: U.S. SHOULD [...] (C) An affable Minister of Youth and Sports Talal Arslan welcomed the recent Damascus meeting between Presidents Sleiman and Asad as a positive step in putting the Lebanese-Syrian bilateral relationship back on a good track. Thanking the U.S. for its military assistance, Arslan said the list o [...] | 2008-08-19 14:29:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS SY LE |
08BEIRUT1225 | LEBANON: GEMAYEL DOWNBEAT ON RAPPROCHEMENT WITH [...] (C) Former president Amine Gemayel reacted pessimistically August 19 to outcomes from President Sleiman's August 13-14 visit to Syria. He assessed Syria was willing to make minor concessions to Lebanon only to improve Syria's reputation within Lebanon. Gemayel criticized the international co [...] | 2008-08-19 16:54:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR LE SY |
08BEIRUT1249 | LEBANON: LEBANON'S SALAFISTS GROUPS: NEITHER [...] (C) Many in Lebanon were surprised when Shia-dominated Hizballah signed a memorandum of understanding on August 18 with some Salafist Sunni groups in the northern city of Tripoli, ostensibly to reduce Shia-Sunni tensions that had produced violent clashes and deaths there. Then, the next day, [...] | 2008-08-25 16:31:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC LE MARR MOPS SY |
08BEIRUT1262 | LEBANON: GEMAYEL WITH HALE: CLEAR USG SUPPORT FOR [...] (C) In a August 27 meeting, former president and Kataeb party leader Amine Gemayel told visiting NEA DAS David Hale that a clear message from the U.S. would be critical for Lebanon in its struggle against Iranian and Syrian attempts to destabilize the country. Gemayel supported the idea of i [...] | 2008-08-29 09:10:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR IS LE SY |
08BEIRUT1266 | LEBANON: WITH DAS HALE, SINIORA CRITICIZES U.S. [...] (C) In an August 27 meeting with NEA Deputy Assistant Secretary David Hale, Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora complained that the U.S. has not come through on its assistance promises and that USG assistance has been dwarfed by Iranian support for Hizballah. He said U.S. and Israeli mistak [...] | 2008-09-02 08:07:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PINR UNSC MARR IS IR SY LE |
08BEIRUT1269 | LEBANON: FM SALLOUKH RECEIVES AMBASSADOR'S [...] (C) On August 27, the Ambassador presented copies of her credentials to Minister of Foreign Affairs Fawzi Salloukh. In a subsequent meeting with the Ambassador and visiting NEA DAS David Hale, Salloukh asked the USG to place pressure on Israel to implement its share of UNSCR 1701. He emphasize [...] | 2008-09-02 08:54:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR IS LE SY |
08BEIRUT1273 | LEBANON: GEAGEA WARNS DAS HALE THAT ISRAEL IS [...] (C) In an August 29 meeting with visiting NEA DAS David Hale, Lebanese Forces (LF) leader Samir Geagea stressed the importance of resolving the Israeli-Palestinian issue to facilitate resolution of other regional issues. He said Israel is making a huge mistake by publicly criticizing the Leb [...] | 2008-09-02 09:56:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER UNSC PINR MARR IS IR FR SY LE |
08BEIRUT1274 | LEBANON: MARCH 14 MEMBERS TO DAS HALE: HELICOPTERS [...] (C) In separate meetings August 28 and 29 with visiting NEA DAS David Hale, March 14 leaders welcomed U.S. commitments in Lebanon but expressed frustration that the U.S. had not yet provided helicopters to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF). Without helicopters, March 14 members claimed, the LAF [...] | 2008-09-02 10:20:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS SY IS LE |
08BEIRUT1278 | LEBANON: MARCH 14 DRUZE MP REMINDS DAS HALE THAT [...] (C) March 14 MP Marwan Hamadeh expressed concerns about ongoing affronts to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and Israeli actions benefiting Hizballah and Syria during his August 29 meeting with visiting NEA Deputy Assistant Secretary David Hale. Hamadeh predicted Hizballah would either delay t [...] | 2008-09-02 12:26:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS SY LE |
08BEIRUT128 | LEBANON: NBPP: GERMANS DO NOT IMPRESS DURING [...] (C) European Commission officials in Lebanon harshly criticized German management of the Northern Border Pilot Program (NBPP). The EC insisted that the Germans extend their mandate on the NBPP for an additional three months and outlined a clear set of expectations for achievements. However, a [...] | 2008-01-28 16:43:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL MASS MCAP SY IS LE |
08BEIRUT1280 | LEBANON: FRENCH, EGYPTIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS HAVE [...] (C) The purpose of French FM Kouchner's August 25-6 visit to Beirut seems to have been to reassure the Lebanese, just prior to Sarkozy's September 3rd visit to Damascus, that France's ongoing rapprochement with Syria will not harm Lebanon. Kouchner told the Lebanese that France will move care [...] | 2008-09-02 13:21:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | EG FR LE MARR MOPS PGOV PREL PTER SY |
08BEIRUT1284 | LEBANON: HARIRI TO DAS HALE: ISRAEL HURTING US BY [...] (C) Majority leader Saad Hariri told visiting NEA DAS David Hale that Israel is hurting the forces of moderation in Lebanon through actions such as agreeing to a prisoner swap with Hizballah, "opening doors" for Syrians as it negotiates with them and making threatening statements regarding Leb [...] | 2008-09-03 07:36:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS SY IS FR |
08BEIRUT1285 | LEBANON: WITH DAS HALE, AOUN ALLY ELIE SKAFF [...] (C) Minister of Agriculture Elie Skaff defended both his and Michel Aoun's alliance with Hizballah in an August 30 meeting with visiting NEA DAS Hale. Skaff argued that the West had abandoned the weak and divided Christians of Lebanon, forcing them to make internal alliances. Skaff strongly q [...] | 2008-09-03 07:37:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR IS LE SY |
08BEIRUT1286 | LEBANON: NEA DAS HALE URGES THAT PRESIDENT SLEIMAN [...] (C) NEA DAS David Hale, accompanied by DCM and Poloffs, stressed to two of President Michel Sleiman's senior staff and an unofficial advisor the importance of Sleiman visiting Washington before or after his address to the UNGA in September. For their part, the advisors expressed concerns abou [...] | 2008-09-03 08:34:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC LE MARR MOPS SY |
08BEIRUT1287 | LEBANON: A PRAGMATIC CHATAH CONCERNED ABOUT MARCH [...] (C) Minister of Finance Mohamad Chatah expressed concern to visiting NEA DAS David Hale that there were only eight months until the 2009 parliamentary elections and March 14 was still having trouble developing its message. He suggested March 14's message needed to include a broad, comprehensi [...] | 2008-09-03 08:34:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC ECON LE MARR MOPS SY |
08BEIRUT1288 | LEBANON: WITH DAS HALE, VETERAN SUNNI FIGURE [...] (C) In his August 30 meeting with visiting NEA DAS David Hale, Minister of Culture and respected leader of the Sunni community Tammam Salaam stressed the need for progress in the Israeli/Palestinian peace process to defuse extremism in the region. Praising Hizballah's quick admission of culpa [...] | 2008-09-03 08:35:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR EAID UNSC MARR IR SY IS |
08BEIRUT1289 | LEBANON: WITH DAS HALE, UNSCOL SHARES CONCERNS [...] (C) In an August 31 meeting with visiting NEA DAS David Hale,officials of the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL) discussed the 2009 parliamentary elections, the National Dialogue, LIBAT II, Sheba'a Farms, UNMACC's funding crisis, and the August 28 downing by Hizballah of a Lebanese Ar [...] | 2008-09-03 08:35:00 | Embassy Beirut | SECRET | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS IS SY LE |
08BEIRUT1296 | LEBANON: LAF HELICOPTER ATTACK A HIZBALLAH ERROR? [...] (C) On August 28, a Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) helicopter operating in Hizballah-controlled territory was shot down, resulting in the death of an LAF officer. Details surrounding the incident remain unclear, although the LAF has begun a full investigation. Hizballah did not deny responsibil [...] | 2008-09-04 11:12:00 | Embassy Beirut | SECRET | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS SY IS LE |
08BEIRUT1300 | LEBANON: MFA PROVIDES LITLE COMMENT TO UNGA, ARAB [...] C) Poloff delivered points on Kosovo, the Arab League Ministerial, and the UN Third Committee on Human Rights to Oussama Khachab, Head of the Americas Desk at the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on September 4. Khachab said he would relay the points to other offices within the Foreign Mi [...] | 2008-09-04 15:11:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINR PHUM UNGA UN LE SY IS IZ KV |
08BEIRUT1310 | LEBANON: AMBASSADOR PRESENTS CREDENTIALS TO [...] (C) Ambassador presented her credentials to President Michel Sleiman in a ceremony at Baabda Palace on September 4 that also included Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh and MFA Chief of Protocol George Siam. A/DCM, DATT, Pol/Econ Chief, Consul, and ARSO Officer also attended the half-hour event, [...] | 2008-09-05 14:39:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS SY LE |
08BEIRUT1312 | LEBANON: MARCH 14 LEADERS AGREE TO RUN UNIFIED [...] (C) March 14 leaders, meeting as a group for the first time since August 3, agreed to run unified lists in the spring 2009 elections, a major step forward for a coalition whose leaders have found it difficult to look above partisan interests to the greater goal of maintaining the parliamentary [...] | 2008-09-05 15:41:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS SY LE |
08BEIRUT1320 | LEBANON: HARIRI'S VISIT TO TRIPOLI- THE BEGINNING [...] (C) In a surprise three-day visit to the northern city of Tripoli, Sunni majority leader Saad Hariri encouraged rival factions in Tripoli to reconcile and overcome their differences. In an effort to lead by example, Hariri held talks with Alawite leader and former MP Ali Eid and former Prime [...] | 2008-09-08 15:48:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC LE SY |
08BEIRUT1326 | LEBANON: INDEPENDENT SHIA GEARING UP FOR 2009 [...] (C) Lokman Slim, an independent Shia organizer and Director of NGO Hayya Bina, told the Ambassador on September 5 that the March 14 coalition needs to take the independent Shia portfolio more seriously. Slim surmised that Shia independents could have a real possibility of winning parliamentar [...] | 2008-09-09 16:39:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR PHUM EAID LE IZ SY |
08BEIRUT1329 | LEBANON: PRESIDENT SLEIMAN ANNOUNCES SEPTEMBER 16 [...] (U) At a September 9 iftar he hosted at Baabda Palace, President Michel Sleiman announced that the National Dialogue would begin on September 16. Both the majority and opposition reacted positively in public to the announcement and confirmed their readiness to participate in the dialogue. H [...] | 2008-09-10 17:18:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS SY LE |
08BEIRUT1332 | LEBANON: GEMAYEL URGES WASHINGTON SHOCK TREATMENT [...] (C) While at the Embassy to renew his visa, former President Amine Gemayel stopped by for a meeting with Ambassador and ConOff on September 10. Gemayel discussed his upcoming trip to the United States, the National Dialogue, the 2009 parliamentary elections, Syria, Israel, and possible talkin [...] | 2008-09-11 15:42:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC SY IS LE |
08BEIRUT1343 | LEBANON: MINISTER BAHIYA HARIRI FOCUSED ON "BACK [...] (C) Minister of Education Bahiya Hariri told the Ambassador on September 11 that if the Ministry of Education could make significant progress during the next school year, which coincides with the same ten-month period of the current national unity government, then she believed Lebanon would be [...] | 2008-09-15 06:13:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINR EAID UNSC SCUL SOCI LE SY |
08BEIRUT1347 | LEBANON: ARMY COMMANDERS LAMENT DEMINING PROBLEMS [...] (C) In a September 10 meeting, Brigadier General (BG) Mohammed Fehmi, Commander of the Lebanese Mine Action Center (LMAC),stated that lack of further funding for demining activities in southern Lebanon was a grave concern and expressed sincere hope that the U.S. would "push LMAC's needs" fo [...] | 2008-09-15 13:15:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS IS SY LE |
08BEIRUT1348 | LEBANON: BELLEMARE ANXIOUS FOR MORE USG ASSISTANCE [...] (S/NF) In a September 12 meeting with the Ambassador, Daniel Bellemare, Commissioner of the UN Independent International Investigative Commission (UNIIIC) made three specific requests for USG assistance and additional requests for USG action. First, he asked that the USG provide intelligence [...] | 2008-09-15 14:18:00 | Embassy Beirut | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL PTER PGOV PINR UNSC LE SY |
08BEIRUT1349 | LEBANON: SAAD HARIRI GRATEFUL FOR U.S. SUPPORT, [...] (C) In a September 13 meeting with the Ambassador, Majority leader Saad Hariri reported on his successful effort to broker a reconciliation between opposing groups in Tripoli and his trip to the Bekaa Valley, noting that his efforts would continue in other areas of Lebanon. He warned that in [...] | 2008-09-15 14:23:00 | Embassy Beirut | SECRET | PGOV PREL PTER UNSC IS SY LE |
08BEIRUT1352 | LEBANON: ASSASSINATION OF OPPOSITION MEMBER [...] (C) The September 10 assassination of Saleh Aridi, a Druze opposition figure, is seen by many as an attempt to derail reconciliation efforts among Lebanon's political leaders. The immediate impact, however, appears to have been to solidify Druze solidarity, with rival party leaders standing si [...] | 2008-09-15 16:02:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS SY LE |
08BEIRUT1358 | LEBANON: SLEIMAN LAUNCHES NATIONAL DIALOGUE [...] (C) President Michel Sleiman launched the National Dialogue on September 16. As expected, this first session produced no significant results. The next session is scheduled for November 5. In his opening remarks, Sleiman stressed the need for dialogue and reconciliation, cited Israel as Leba [...] | 2008-09-16 15:39:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS SY LE |
08BEIRUT1359 | LEBANON: TELECOM MINISTER GUNG HO ON [...] (C) In a September 15 meeting with the Ambassador, Minister of Telecommunications Gebran Bassil, an ally of Michel Aoun in the March 8/Aoun opposition, said it would be wrong to discuss only the national defense strategy and the future of Hizballah's weapons at the National Dialogue without a [...] | 2008-09-16 15:47:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ECON EFIN ECPS SY LE |
08BEIRUT1366 | LEBANON: JUMBLATT FORESEES PARALLEL TRACKS OF [...] (C) March 14 Druze leader Walid Jumblatt stressed that recent talks with Hizballah and rival Druze leader Talal Arslan were limited exclusively to security matters to defuse Shia/Druze tensions. Should majority leader Saad Hariri decide to meet with Hizballah SYG Hassan Nasrallah, however, Ju [...] | 2008-09-17 15:03:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS SY LE |
08BEIRUT1368 | LEBANON: FIRST NATIONAL DIALOGUE SESSION MEETS LOW [...] (C) Most participants characterized the first session of the re-launched National Dialogue as calm and positive; one contact said it was "more than a photo op, but less than a dialogue." Hizballah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah welcomed the dialogue, but insisted on expanded participation [...] | 2008-09-17 17:02:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS LE SY |
08BEIRUT1374 | LEBANON: INFORMATION MINISTER SAYS "MUTUAL SUSPICION AND MISTRUST" COULD DELAY ELECTIONS [...] (C) Minister of Information Tareq Mitri told the Ambassador on September 16 that there is a possibility that the 2009 elections could be delayed because mutual suspicion and mistrust continue to plague the national unity government. Mitri cautioned that recent events touted as "reconciliation" (i.e [...] | 2008-09-18 14:17:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR ECPS UNSC SY LE |
08BEIRUT1375 | LEBANON: HARIRI TO MEET NASRALLAH SOON? [...] (C) Rumors are growing of an imminent meeting between majority leader Saad Hariri and Hizballah SYG Hassan Nasrallah, especially after Druze leader Walid Jumblatt's representatives met with Hizballah officials earlier in the week to discuss security issues. However, Hariri's advisor Ghattas K [...] | 2008-09-18 14:42:00 | Embassy Beirut | SECRET | PREL PGOV PTER PINR SA SY IR LE |
08BEIRUT1378 | LEBANON: HIZBALLAH'S ARMS WEIGH ON SLEIMAN AS HE [...] (C) Advisor and confidant to President Sleiman BG (retired) Fares Soufia said Sleiman was looking forward to his upcoming visit to the United States and appreciated continuing U.S. support and assistance. Sleiman was working hard to promote reconciliation within Lebanon and therefore was meet [...] | 2008-09-19 07:32:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS SY LE |
08BEIRUT1379 | LEBANON: UN DIRECTOR BUTTENHEIM SHARES CONCERNS [...] (C) In a September 17 Embassy meeting, visiting UN DPA Director of Asia and Pacific Affairs Lisa Buttenheim discussed the National Dialogue, 2009 parliamentary elections, border security, Sheba'a Farms and the UN International Independent Investigative Council (UNIIIC). She noted that PM Sinio [...] | 2008-09-19 14:51:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS IS SY LE |
08BEIRUT1386 | LEBANON: DEFENSE MINISTER MURR ON SLEIMAN TRIP, [...] (C) Minister of Defense Elias Murr told us he had been briefing President Sleiman regularly to prepare Sleiman for his upcoming meetings in Washington. He complained September 20 about Saad Hariri's demand that Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) Commander Kahwagi place Sunni officers in key LAF Inte [...] | 2008-09-22 13:49:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS IS SY LE |
08BEIRUT1389 | LEBANON: CHALLENGE HIZBALLAH BY FIXING THE DRUG [...] (C) Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) Vice President Duraid Yaghi said September 19 one-third of the population of his hometown of Baalbek does not support Hizballah, although it is in an area of strong Hizballah influence. However, according to Yaghi, continued unemployment and increased cul [...] | 2008-09-22 15:04:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SNAR PTER PINR EAID SOCI UNSC NAS SY LE |
08BEIRUT1390 | LEBANON: SCENESETTER FOR OCTOBER 5-6 JOINT [...] (C) The expansion of the U.S.-Lebanese military partnership represents a historic opportunity to bolster the cause of democracy, peace and stability in Lebanon and the Middle East. The Government of Lebanon (GOL) has demonstrated a commitment to strengthening our military-to-military ties. T [...] | 2008-09-22 15:33:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR MOPS PGOV PINR PREL PTER UNSC IS LE SY |
08BEIRUT1393 | LEBANON: GOL, GERMANY PLAN TO EXPAND BORDER [...] (C) On September 18, a UK Embassy contact briefed PolOff on a recent meeting between the UK DCM and PM Siniora, in which Siniora said that the GOL was ready to extend the German led Northern Border Pilot Project (NBPP) to the east, but that Syria would use its contacts within GOL's security a [...] | 2008-09-23 08:25:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | EAID MARR MCAP PBTS PGOV PINR PREL EC LE SY |
08BEIRUT1406 | LEBANON: CHRISTIAN RECONCILIATION UNLIKELY, [...] (SBU) Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea apologized for mistakes made by the Lebanese Forces during the 1975-90 civil war and called for unity and reconciliation during his September 21 speech before tens of thousands of supporters at a ceremony honoring Lebanese Forces members killed during t [...] | 2008-09-25 14:20:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC LE MARR MOPS SY |
08BEIRUT1414 | BEIRUT CORE EAC MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 29, 2008 [...] (S) At 0900 hours of September 29, 2008, CDA William Grant convened a meeting of the Core Emergency Action Committee (EAC) to discuss the embassy's security posture/move policy in light of the bombing earlier in the day in the northern city of Tripoli. The following Core EAC members were prese [...] | 2008-09-29 11:44:00 | Embassy Beirut | SECRET//NOFORN | ASEC CASC LE MOPS PTER SY |
08BEIRUT1417 | LEBANON: PRESIDENT SLEIMAN PLEASED WITH U.S. VISIT [...] (C) Two of President Michel Sleiman's Senior Advisors who accompanied him on his first official trip to the United States reported that the President was pleased with his visit, and with the clear message he received of continuing U.S. political and military support for Lebanon. The advisors [...] | 2008-09-29 14:28:00 | Embassy Beirut | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS SY LE |
08BEIRUT1423 | LEBANON: DRUG ERADICATION HALTED IN 2006 HAS NOT [...] (C) The Internal Security Forces' (ISF) Counternarcotics Chief said the ISF had to halt its drug eradication efforts in the Bekaa valley agricultural region in 2006 because of the war with Israel and the program has not resumed because police and military personnel were needed to deal with vi [...] | 2008-10-01 14:46:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SNAR PTER PINR EAID SOCI UNSC NAS SY LE |
08BEIRUT1430 | LEBANON: DEMARCHE DELIVERED, NO SUBSTANTIVE [...] No summary [...] | 2008-10-02 13:03:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL PARM PGOG PHUM UNGA CDG LE IS SY |
08BEIRUT1441 | BEIRUT EAC MEETING OF OCTOBER 3, 2008 [...] (S) At 1030 hours of October 3, 2008, DCM convened a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) to discuss the embassy's security posture in light of the latest threat information. The following EAC members were present during the meeting: DCM, POL, RAO, RSO, AID, DAO, ODC, MGMT, CONS, an [...] | 2008-10-03 15:13:00 | Embassy Beirut | SECRET//NOFORN | ASEC CASC LE MOPS PTER SY |
08BEIRUT1450 | BEIRUT EAC MEETING OF OCTOBER 7, 2008 [...] (S) DCM convened a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on October 7 to discuss the embassy's security posture in light of the latest threat information and security arrangements for the upcoming Made in America Expo in Beirut October 9-11 and related events. The following EAC memb [...] | 2008-10-07 17:13:00 | Embassy Beirut | SECRET//NOFORN | ASEC CASC LE MOPS PTER SY |
08BEIRUT1451 | LEBANON: UNIIIC COMMISSIONER HAPPY WITH USG [...] (SBU) This is an action request. See paragraph 10. SUMMARY ------- 2. (S/NF) In an October 3 meeting with the Ambassador, Daniel Bellemare, Commissioner of the UN Independent Investigative Commission (UNIIIC),was generally pleased with USG assistance to date, and repeated a single requ [...] | 2008-10-07 17:21:00 | Embassy Beirut | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC SY LE |
08BEIRUT1454 | LEBANON: WITH DAS HALE, MP MICHEL MURR DESCRIBES [...] (C) In an October 7 meeting with visiting NEA DAS David Hale, independent MP Michel Murr remarked he was unconcerned about recent Syrian troop buildup at the northern Lebanese-Syrian border, attributing the maneuver to a Syrian desire to intimidate Salafists in northern Lebanon. Murr revealed [...] | 2008-10-08 11:00:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC IS KPAL SY LE |
08BEIRUT1455 | LEBANON: WITH DAS HALE, GEAGEA WORRIED ABOUT [...] (C) On October 4, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea expressed his concern to visiting NEA DAS David Hale that the Syrian troops currently deployed at the northern border with Lebanon planned to invade northern Lebanon under the pretext of fighting terrorism. Downplaying the terrorist threat, [...] | 2008-10-08 11:00:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MOPS SY LE |
08BEIRUT1456 | LEBANON: NEA DAS HALE TO JUMBLATT: NO CHANGE IN [...] (C) NEA Deputy Assistant Secretary David Hale reassured Druze leader Walid Jumblatt that, despite recent meetings between Secretary Rice and Assistant Secretary David Welch with Syrian Foreign Minister Moallem, there was no change in U.S. policy towards either Syria or Lebanon. DAS Hale also [...] | 2008-10-08 11:00:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS SY LE |
08BEIRUT1469 | LEBANON: FORMER DEPUTY SPEAKER TELLS NEA DAS HALE [...] (C) Former Deputy Speaker of Parliament Elie Ferzeli told visiting NEA DAS David Hale on October 5 that creating solidarity among the Lebanese people was the most important challenge currently facing Lebanon. To achieve that goal, Ferzeli suggested that fighting fundamentalist terrorism in al [...] | 2008-10-10 15:00:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS LE SY |
08BEIRUT1471 | LEBANON: WITH DAS HALE, BERRI STRESSES LEBANON [...] (C) Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri told visiting NEA DAS David Hale on October 7 that while he worried about the presence of fundamentalists and Al-Qaeda in north Lebanon, he dismissed the concerns of some Lebanese politicians regarding Syria's increased troop presence at the northern Leban [...] | 2008-10-10 15:01:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR LE SY IS |
08BEIRUT1472 | LEBANON: ELECTION LAW FLAWED, BUT RIGHT MOVE, [...] (C) On October 7, Minister of Interior Ziyad Baroud told visiting NEA DAS David Hale that he was disappointed that many electoral reforms did not make it into the final law that parliament passed on September 29, but termed the new law as still encouraging. However, he added that providing s [...] | 2008-10-10 15:10:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS IS LE SY |
08BEIRUT1473 | LEBANON: WITH MARCH 14, DAS HALE STRESSES U.S. [...] (C) March 14 leaders shared their concerns about regional developments with visiting NEA Deputy Assistant Secretary David Hale, especially perceived western (especially French) rapprochement with Syria and possible focus of the next U.S. administration on Iran, at Lebanon's expense. The March [...] | 2008-10-10 15:22:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS SY LE |
08BEIRUT1474 | LEBANON: SLEIMAN MAKES CASE FOR NEW LAF WEAPONS; [...] (C) In an October 7 meeting with DAS David Hale and the Ambassador, President Michel Sleiman presented the case for U.S. provision of precision weaponry to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to fight terrorists. He said Syrian President Bashar Asad had assured him Syrian troops deployed on the S [...] | 2008-10-14 14:32:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PINR UNSC MOPS SY LE |
08BEIRUT1478 | LEBANON: MINISTER LAHOUD SAYS SLEIMAN'S SAUDI TRIP [...] (C) Minister of State Nassib Lahoud on October 15 told the Ambassador that he hopes the U.S. strong support of Lebanon's sovereignty continues after the U.S. presidential elections. Lahoud accompanied President Sleiman on his October 12 and 13 visit to Saudi Arabia. He said Saudi King Abdull [...] | 2008-10-15 05:00:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC LE MARR MOPS SY |
08BEIRUT1480 | LEBANON: GEMAYEL, WITH DAS HALE, STRESSES ECONOMIC [...] (SBU) Former President and Kataeb party leader Amine Gemayel described his efforts to solidify his Kataeb party base, coordinate with other March 14 coalition members, and develop an election strategy in a meeting with visiting NEA DAS Hale and the Ambassador. Gemayel cited social and economi [...] | 2008-10-15 10:38:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC LE MARR MOPS SY |
08BEIRUT1489 | LEBANON: HARIRI CONCERNED ABOUT ISRAEL AND [...] (C) In a wide-ranging October 15 discussion with the Ambassador, majority leader Saad Hariri said he anticipated meeting Hizballah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah "soon," explaining that such a meeting would fulfill his own political agenda by giving other Shia a green light to enter into d [...] | 2008-10-15 16:59:00 | Embassy Beirut | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC SY IS IR RS LE |
08BEIRUT1498 | LEBANON: UNIFIL COMMANDER ASKS FOR HELP IN [...] (C) Force Commander General Claudio Graziano, speaking on October 9 at a regular United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mission update briefing to the diplomatic corps, described the withdrawal of Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) from northern Ghajar as a critical step towards successful [...] | 2008-10-20 15:24:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS IS SY LE |
08BEIRUT1499 | LEBANON: ARMY DESTROYS ITS FIRST MANPAD [...] (C) On October 16, Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) demolition experts destroyed their first MANPAD (Man-Portable Air Defense System),a Russian made SA-7 (serial# 9()54M-04-73-04774, 9M32M-04774). This demolition reflects an agreement with the Department of State's Office of Weapons Removal and Ab [...] | 2008-10-20 15:26:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER UNSC MARR MOPS IS SY LE |
08BEIRUT15 | LEBANON: GEAGEA TIES SUCCESS OF HALF PLUS ONE TO [...] (C) Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea told the Ambassador on January 3 that March 14 is at a crossroads: either its members continue supporting the Siniora government, making small adjustments to the cabinet and consequently remain in a presidential vacuum, or they elect a president with a h [...] | 2008-01-04 15:16:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM PTER SY LE |
08BEIRUT1513 | LEBANON: AOUNIST DEPUTY PM CAUSES DRAMA AT CABINET [...] (C) In an October 22 meeting with the Ambassador, Cultural Affairs Minister (and prominent Beirut Sunni community leader) Tamam Salam recounted the previous night's cabinet meeting, claiming it went well except for Deputy PM Issam Abou Jamra's dramatics. According to Salam, Abou Jamra insiste [...] | 2008-10-22 16:09:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC SY IS LE |
08BEIRUT1515 | LEBANON: GHAJAR AND SHEBAA ON THE MIND OF NEW UN [...] (C) New UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams stressed the need for urgent progress on Ghajar, warning that should the Israelis fail to respond to UNIFIL's proposal for withdrawal, the next UNSCR 1701 report would be tough on Israel during an October 22 call on Ambassador. Confir [...] | 2008-10-23 13:45:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS SY LE |
08BEIRUT1520 | LEBANON: PARLIAMENT PASSES LAW ON CONSTITUTIONAL [...] (C) In the first meeting of its fall regular session, parliament passed a law on the Constitutional Council, Lebanon's highest court, paving the way for an end to the judicial vacuum that has existed since 2005. The ten-member Council, which has the power to rule on challenges to electoral re [...] | 2008-10-24 14:25:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR SY LE |
08BEIRUT1526 | LEBANON: GEAGEA STRUGGLING WITH MARCH 14 ALLIES [...] (C) Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea told the Ambassador October 24 that he and his March 14 allies were still negotiating their candidate lists for the 2009 parliamentary elections. Geagea said he was having the most difficulty convincing Saad Hariri and Walid Jumblatt that the Christian [...] | 2008-10-24 23:01:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC LE SY |
08BEIRUT1538 | LEBANON: OPPOSITION MARADA LEADER CALLS FOR [...] (C) Christian opposition Marada leader Suleiman Franjieh suggested on October 27 that direct talks between Lebanon (partnered with Syria) and Israel would lead to resolution of the issue of Hizballah arms, and that Lebanese-Syrian collaboration was necessary for border security. Stressing the [...] | 2008-10-29 12:20:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR SY LE |
08BEIRUT1541 | LEBANON: HARIRI-NASRALLAH MEETING MEETS SAAD'S [...] (C) Nader Hariri, advisor to Saad Hariri, told Poloff and Senior Political LES October 29 that the meeting between March 14's leader, Saad Hariri, and Hizballah leader, Hassan Nasrallah, achieved Hariri's primary objective: to calm Sunni-Shia tensions. The October 26 meeting was, reportedly, [...] | 2008-10-29 16:32:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC LE SY |
08BEIRUT1542 | LEBANON: FATE OF SYRIAN-LEBANESE HIGHER COUNCIL [...] (SBU) The future of the Syrian-Lebanese Higher Council remains unknown after Lebanon and Syria formally established diplomatic relations October 16, 2008. The Higher Council is the umbrella organization created under a 1991 treaty to administer and implement coordinated foreign, economic, and [...] | 2008-10-29 16:33:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC LE SY |
08BEIRUT1543 | BEIRUT EAC MEETING OF OCTOBER 29, 2008 [...] (S) Ambassador Sison convened a meeting of Embassy Beirut's Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on October 29, 2008 to review security preparations for U.S Election Night events. The following EAC members were present: AMB, DCM, RSO, MGMT, INL, CONS, RAO, PD, POL/ECON. 2. (S) Embassy Beirut' [...] | 2008-10-29 16:48:00 | Embassy Beirut | SECRET//NOFORN | ASEC CASC LE MOPS PTER SY |
08BEIRUT1554 | LEBANON: UNIIIC CHIEF WARNS A/S HOOK OF POSSIBLE [...] (S) On October 30, UNIIIC Commissioner Daniel Bellemare warned visiting IO A/S Brian Hook that, while he was fully prepared for the transition to the Special Tribunal and would not seek an extension, the Registrar in The Hague may need UNIIIC to request a "technical extension of a few months" [...] | 2008-10-31 07:24:00 | Embassy Beirut | SECRET | PREL PGOV PTER PINR KJUS UNSC SY LE |
08BEIRUT1557 | LEBANON: UNSCOL ENCOURAGES A/S HOOK TO URGE GOL TO [...] (C) New UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL) Michael Williams told visiting Assistant Secretary Brian Hook and the Ambassador October 30 that the GOL needs to take control of all of its territory. Williams said that in the south, Hizballah is the dominant force; and absent a real GOL p [...] | 2008-10-31 08:34:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPPS LE SY IS |
08BEIRUT1563 | LEBANON: JUMBLATT WITH A/S HOOK: JUSTICE AND [...] (C) Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, in an October 30 meeting with visiting Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs Brian Hook and Ambassador, stressed justice and stability as priorities for the outcome of the Special Tribunal. Jumblatt repeatedly ceded authority for March 14 [...] | 2008-10-31 15:57:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC LE SY |
08BEIRUT1575 | LEBANON: NEED FOR EXPORT CONTROLS, CUSTOMS TRAINING [...] (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraphs 15 and 16. 2. (C) GOL officials tell us there are few, if any, rules or regulations in place to halt or interdict potentially illicit radiological, biological or chemical material and other strategic goods that can be used in WMD devel [...] | 2008-11-04 15:42:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | ETTC MARR PBTS PGOV PINR PREL LE SY |
08BEIRUT1577 | LEBANON: A/S HOOK TOURS THE BLUE LINE; MEETS WITH [...] (C) On October 31, A/S for International Relations Affairs Brian Hook, Ambassador, PolMilOff and Defense Attach toured the Blue Line in a UNIFIL helicopter, overflying Sheba'a farms and Ghajar, and met at length with UNIFIL Commander Graziano. Graziano has developed a detailed UNIFIL plan for [...] | 2008-11-04 16:20:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | MARR MASS MCAP PGOV PREL PTER PARM PINR SY |
08BEIRUT1582 | LEBANON: BOUTROS HARB URGES INDEPENDENT LIST, EVEN [...] (C) March 14 MP Boutros Harb, on the eve of the U.S. presidential elections, expressed hope that the "Lebanese message" would be well-understood by the new U.S. administration. During his November 4 meeting with the Ambassador, Harb said March 14 had agreed to reach a unified position on cand [...] | 2008-11-05 15:42:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC LE SY |
08BEIRUT1584 | LEBANON: NEW GOL BORDER PLAN DISAPPOINTS DONORS [...] (C) In an October 31 meeting, PM Siniora told international donors that the GOL planned to create a national border force to operate along Lebanon's border with Syria. He acknowledged that parliamentary approval would be needed to proceed with such a plan. However, Siniora felt this was a m [...] | 2008-11-05 15:56:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | EAID MARR MCAP PBTS PGOV PINR PREL EC LE SY |
08BEIRUT16 | LEBANON: MURR, CONVINCED STREET VIOLENCE IS [...] (C) Citing sources close to March 8 and noting that Hizballah's Wafiq Safa met with Michel Aoun for three hours, Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Elias Murr told the Ambassador on 1/4 that he expected March 8-prompted street action to break out and turn violent by the end of Januar [...] | 2008-01-05 12:02:00 | Embassy Beirut | SECRET | PREL PTER PGOV KDEM LE SY |
08BEIRUT1603 | LEBANON: PRESIDENT'S ADVISOR ADVOCATES ELECTIONS [...] (C) Ambassador Naji Abi Assi, advisor to President Michel Sleiman, suggested that the new U.S. administration pursue regional peace in the Middle East, noting that Lebanon stood to benefit greatly from Arab rapprochement. Regarding Lebanon's spring 2009 parliamentary elections, Abi Assi stres [...] | 2008-11-07 16:55:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC IS SY LE |
08BEIRUT161 | LEBANON: SAAD WAKES UP TO 2009 PARLIAMENTARY [...] (C) March 14 majority leader Saad Hariri blamed Libya and Qatar for undermining Lebanon at the January 27 Arab League meeting, with the preservation of Lebanese Armed Forces Commander Michel Sleiman's presidential candidacy the only positive result, in his view. He predicted that, without tou [...] | 2008-02-01 16:46:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PARM SY IS LE |
08BEIRUT1612 | LEBANON: RECOMMENDATION ON INTERNATIONAL ELECTION [...] (C) After consulting with Lebanese governmental contacts, local NGOs and international donors, Embassy Beirut recommends that USAID provide funding to support an international observation team through the National Democratic Institute (NDI). With extensive experience in Lebanon working with d [...] | 2008-11-10 16:15:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREF OVIP ASEC SY LE |
08BEIRUT1613 | LEBANON: UNSCOL SEES MINIMAL PROGRESS ON GHAJAR; [...] (C) Briefing the Ambassador on his recent trips to Israel and Syria, UN Special Coordinator Michael Williams relayed that Israel will neither accept nor reject UNIFIL's proposal for withdrawal from Ghajar by the November 22 deadline. Williams relayed that Israeli PM Ehud Olmert is focusing all [...] | 2008-11-10 16:49:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS SY IS LE |
08BEIRUT1614 | LEBANON: SCENESETTER FOR UNDER SECRETARY OF [...] (C) Under Secretary Clapper: Welcome to Lebanon. Your trip provides an excellent opportunity to reinforce the message of strong U.S. government support for Lebanon. The expansion of the U.S.-Lebanese military partnership represents an historic opportunity to bolster the cause of democracy, [...] | 2008-11-10 19:24:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR MOPS PGOV PINR PREL PTER UNSC IS LE SY |
08BEIRUT1615 | LEBANON: JUMBLATT AND HAMADEH ON INDEPENDENT BLOC [...] (C) Druze leader Walid Jumblatt and March 14 MP Marwan Hamadeh discussed ongoing negotiations for election blocs and contentious cabinet atmospherics during dinner with the Ambassador on November 8. Jumblatt said he planned to offer his own national defense strategy during the next National D [...] | 2008-11-10 19:35:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC LE SY |
08BEIRUT1633 | LEBANON: FORMER LEBANESE AMBASSADOR TO THE U.S. ON [...] (C) Former Lebanese Ambassador to the U.S. Simon Karam discussed Lebanon's upcoming elections, political reforms, and Hizballah's role in both on November 11. Expressing resignation over the current majority's lack of unity, Karam said Hizballah would not tolerate election results not in its [...] | 2008-11-14 11:34:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS LE SY |
08BEIRUT1637 | LEBANON: SEEMINGLY HEALTHY PATRIARCH STILL WORKING [...] (C) Maronite Patriarch Sfeir, in a November 13 meeting with the Ambassador, expressed measured optimism that the Maronite League's continuing efforts to reconcile Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea and Marada party leader Suleiman Franjieh will be successful. Praising President Michel Sleima [...] | 2008-11-14 16:18:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC SY LE |
08BEIRUT1638 | LEBANON: OPPORTUNITIES TO INFLUENCE THE 2009 [...] (C) Although March 14 is working to fine-tune its campaign messaging and tactics, a March 14 victory in the spring 2009 parliamentary elections is, by the moderate coalition's own admission, by no means guaranteed. March 14 contacts tell us their hope is to win an absolute majority (65 out of [...] | 2008-11-14 17:10:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR SY LE |
08BEIRUT1641 | LEBANON: UNSCOL BEMOANS SLOW PROGRESS ON 1701, [...] (C) UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL) Michael Williams expressed concern on November 15 that the Lebanese might be slowing on establishing diplomatic ties with Syria. He also expressed concern regarding progress on UNSCR 1701. Williams thought it possible that emerging GOL hesitation [...] | 2008-11-17 16:09:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC LE SY |
08BEIRUT1659 | LEBANON: MILIBAND URGES LEBANESE TO ACT ON RANGE [...] (C) British Foreign Secretary David Miliband addressed three main topics with Lebanese interlocutors in his November 18-19 visit: Syria, Iran, and the Middle East Peace Process. On Syria, he told the Lebanese that the UK is not naive and is not selling out with moves such as his trip to Damascu [...] | 2008-11-20 14:55:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS IS SY LE |
08BEIRUT166 | LEBANON: NEW UNIIIC COMMISSIONER SAYS FAILURE IS [...] (C) New UNIIIC Commissioner and Prosecutor-Designate Daniel Bellemare believes time is running out for the Special Tribunal and "failure is not an option." UNIIIC was "clearly making process," but needs member states' urgent assistance in putting together the pieces of the puzzle and increasin [...] | 2008-02-04 15:11:00 | Embassy Beirut | SECRET | PGOV PREL PTER PARM SY IS LE |
08BEIRUT1664 | LEBANON: FEMALE POLITICIANS AND CIVIL SOCIETY [...] (SBU) Participants in a recent MEPI U.S. election observer program, representing women from both March 14 and the opposition, said education on political participation is needed to change Lebanese women's perception of politics as a "dirty game." At a November 19 lunch hosted by the Ambassad [...] | 2008-11-21 14:35:00 | Embassy Beirut | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC LE SY |
08BEIRUT1666 | LEBANON: BLOOMFIELD PROMOTES MANPADS DESTRUCTION [...] (C) Ambassador Lincoln P. Bloomfield, Jr., Special Envoy for Man Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS),addressed the need for control of MANPAD weapons with Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) Commander General Kahwaji, took a tour of LAF munitions storage depots, and met with several Lebanese interl [...] | 2008-11-24 06:55:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS LE SY |
08BEIRUT167 | LEBANON: MARCH 14: HIGH HOPES FOR SPECIAL TRIBUNAL [...] (C) March 14 leaders have stepped up their own lobbying efforts recently to convince key countries to contribute to the Special Tribunal, reportedly securing commitments from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, and Russia. Many view the Tribunal as the primary -- if not only -- vehicle for ending [...] | 2008-02-04 15:18:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV PREL PTER PARM PHUM SY LE |
08BEIRUT1671 | LEBANON: GEAGEA REJECTS TALKS WITH ISRAEL, PUSHES [...] (C) In a November 20 meeting with the Ambassador and NEA/ELA Office Director Nicole Shampaine, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said the GOL should impose a weapons ban given the recent clashes between Christian groups in north Lebanon. He said March 14 has had a consistent national platfo [...] | 2008-11-24 16:37:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER LE IS SY |
08BEIRUT1679 | LEBANON: INDEPENDENT CHRISTIANS NEED SPACE TO RUN [...] (C) In a November 21 dinner with the Ambassador and visiting NEA/ELA Office Director Nicole Shampaine, former MP Saleh Honein, businessman Neemat Frem, Dr. Paul Charbel, and Richard Jreissati, all Christians considering running as independent candidates in contested districts during the spring [...] | 2008-11-25 12:26:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC LE SY |
08BEIRUT1682 | LEBANON: AOUN EXPLAINS HIS DEFENSE STRATEGY, [...] (C) In a November 20 meeting with the Ambassador and visiting NEA/ELA Office Director Nicole Shampaine, Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) Leader Michel Aoun talked briefly about his upcoming trip to Syria, which he confirmed would take place before the end of the 2008. He said the recent wave of [...] | 2008-11-25 14:12:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL LE SY IS |
08BEIRUT1687 | LEBANON: NOVEMBER 26 ARAB LEAGUE MINISTERIAL [...] No summary [...] | 2008-11-26 13:41:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS LE SY |
08BEIRUT1691 | LEBANON: NASSIB LAHOUD ON SHIA SEEKING A NEW [...] (C) In a November 25 call on the Ambassador, Minister of State Nassib Lahoud described a Hizballah goal of "rewriting" the Taif Accord to allow the election of the president by popular vote. Until this long-term change is achieved, Lahoud expects the group will continue to demand veto authori [...] | 2008-11-26 15:56:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS LE SY |
08BEIRUT1696 | LEBANON: 63RD UNGA: DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO INCREASE [...] No summary [...] | 2008-11-28 09:50:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS LE SY |
08BEIRUT1698 | LEBANON: PRESIDENT SLEIMAN DECLINES IRAN'S OFFER [...] (C) During President Michel Sleiman's November 24-25 trip to Tehran, the Iranians had made a general offer of military support to Lebanon, and Sleiman diplomatically declined, Sleiman's Diplomatic Advisor Naji Abi Assi told us in a readout of the trip. Ayatollah Khamenei expressed his respec [...] | 2008-11-28 12:29:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS SY IR IS |
08BEIRUT1699 | LEBANON: JUMBLATT PLEASED WITH HIS U.S. VISIT [...] (C) In a November 25 meeting, Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) leader Walid Jumblatt told the Ambassador that his trip to the United States had been a success, and he was pleased to hear that the U.S. continued to support the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. He worried that Kataeb Party leader [...] | 2008-11-28 12:42:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS LE SY IS |
08BEIRUT1700 | LEBANON: FRENCH PM VISITS TO SHOW POLITICAL, [...] (C) French PM Francois Fillon's November 20-21 visit to Beirut seems to have been a somewhat pro forma demonstration of France's continued interest and support for Lebanon. During the visit, France agreed to provide weapons for the Lebanese Armed Forces aging Gazelle helicopters, following thr [...] | 2008-11-28 13:32:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS SY LE |
08BEIRUT1701 | LEBANON: SCENESETTER FOR CENTCOM COMMANDER GENERAL [...] (C) General Petraeus: Welcome back to Lebanon. Your trip provides an excellent opportunity to reinforce the message of strong U.S. support for a sovereign, democratic, and stable Lebanon to reassure Lebanon's moderates that a change in the U.S. Administration does not equal a change in U.S. [...] | 2008-11-28 14:56:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR MOPS PGOV PINR PREL PTER UNSC IS SY LE |
08BEIRUT1715 | LEBANON: INFO MINISTER SAYS SLEIMAN DIRECTS [...] (C) Information Minister Tarek Mitri informed the Ambassador that President Sleiman has assumed a more active role in the formation of foreign policy than his predecessors, without challenges from the Cabinet. Sleiman firmly controls the Lebanon-Syria portfolio, Mitri said, but added that the [...] | 2008-12-02 16:21:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINR UNSC LE SY |
08BEIRUT1722 | LEBANON: TASHNAQ AVAILABLE FOR COURTING, SAAD NOT [...] (C) Tashnaq has not decided with whom it will ally for the 2009 elections and is open to any option that will help it meet its goal of winning a five MP bloc, a senior Tashnaq MP told DCM. During the recent trip by a Tashnaq delegation to Syria, president Assad was very interested in Lebanese [...] | 2008-12-04 15:42:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREL UNSC MARR MCAP MOPS IR LE SY |
08BEIRUT1729 | LEBANON: HARIRI ON OPPOSITION ATTACKS ON SUNNIS [...] (C) Ambassador and DCM met December 4 with Parliamentary Majority Leader Saad Hariri, who said opposition March 8's fanning of anti-Sunni sentiment was not succeeding politically. He claimed that Michel Aoun's trip to Syria would backfire on Aoun, and said it was a "fact" that Aoun was receiv [...] | 2008-12-05 18:26:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER LE SY QA |
08BEIRUT1730 | LEBANON: SINIORA, WITH GENERAL PETRAEUS, CALLS FOR [...] (C) In a December 2 meeting, Commander, U.S. Central Command David Petraeus underscored to Prime Minister Fouad Siniora the U.S. commitment to Lebanon and to strengthening the Lebanese Armed Forces. Siniora emphasized the need for U.S. involvement in the Middle East peace process. On Ghajar, [...] | 2008-12-08 16:38:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS LE IS SY |
08BEIRUT1731 | LEBANON: SLEIMAN AFFIRMS: NO MILITARY DEAL WITH [...] (C) President Michel Sleiman told the Ambassador that during his late November trip to Tehran, Iran did not offer military assistance to Lebanon and he did not ask for any. He said he detected disagreement between Iran and Syria over Syria's contacts with Israel. He was negative about advanci [...] | 2008-12-08 16:38:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINR MASS UNSC LE SY IS IR |
08BEIRUT1732 | LEBANON: MICHEL MURR WANTS TO LURE MARCH 8 [...] (C) Greek Orthodox MP Michel Murr told the Ambassador December 5 that he hoped to draw candidates away from the opposition March 8 alliance to his independent candidate list for the 2009 parliamentary elections. Not wanting to harm Saad Hariri's March 14, Murr said he was not targeting potent [...] | 2008-12-08 16:38:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC LE SY |
08BEIRUT1745 | LEBANON: UNSCOL DISCUSSES HIZBALLAH, TIGHT [...] (C) In a December 9 meeting with visiting CENTCOM Assessment Team members and the Ambassador, UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL) Chief of Staff Jack Christofides, PolChief Diego Zorrilla, and Poloff Rami Shehadeh provided a broad assessment of Lebanese politics after the Doha Accord. [...] | 2008-12-10 16:37:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS LE SY |
08BEIRUT1748 | LEBANON: DEFENSE MINISTER SAYS AN AOUN VICTORY [...] (C) In a December 10 meeting with the Ambassador, Defense Minister Elias Murr assessed that President Michel Sleiman, annoyed at the royal treatment Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun received during his trip to Syria, feels threatened by the prospect of a decisive Aoun victory in the [...] | 2008-12-11 19:17:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS RS LE SY |
08BEIRUT175 | LEBANON: PM SINIORA URGES CLEAR USG STATEMENT OF [...] (C) During Ambassador Sison's introductory call on February 6, Prime Minister Fouad Siniora urged the USG to issue a "clear position of support" for the Arab League Initiative (ALI),which he described as "the only game in town right now" to resolve Lebanon's political crisis. He said USG sil [...] | 2008-02-06 19:41:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL MASS MCAP SY IS LE |
08BEIRUT1752 | LEBANON: PRESIDENT CARTER WELCOMED POLITELY BY POLITICOS, [...] (SBU) Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and an accompanying delegation presented a proposal to Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and Interior Minister Ziad Baroud to send a team to observe the 2009 parliamentary elections. Baroud welcomed Carter's proposal, but noted that it required cabinet appro [...] | 2008-12-12 15:11:00 | Embassy Beirut | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL UNSC LE SY |
08BEIRUT1758 | LEBANON: SLEIMAN WITH CODEL ACKERMAN SAYS [...] (C) In a December 13 meeting with visiting Codel Ackerman, President Michel Sleiman emphasized the need for a comprehensive regional peace agreement in order, "with time", to disarm Hizballah. Sleiman noted that Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and UNIFIL presence south of the Litani since 2006 wa [...] | 2008-12-16 11:26:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS LE SY |
08BEIRUT1759 | LEBANON: SINIORA TELLS CODEL ACKERMAN SOLVING [...] (C) In a December 13 meeting with CODEL Ackerman, Prime Minister Siniora pushed for the U.S. to find an equitable solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict. Solving the Palestinian problem, he said, would solve other regional and world problems. Siniora said Lebanon sought an "excellent relation [...] | 2008-12-16 11:31:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS LE SY |
08BEIRUT1760 | LEBANON: MARCH 14 OFFICIALS TELL CODEL ACKERMAN [...] (C) In a December 13 meeting, March 14 members expressed to Codel Ackerman their determination to win the spring 2009 parliamentary elections, and said the U.S. should support Lebanon rather than any single party. Rather than electoral politics, however, the bulk of the meeting was taken up wi [...] | 2008-12-16 11:34:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC IS LE SY |
08BEIRUT1761 | LEBANON: CODEL ACKERMAN GIVES HARIRI STRONG [...] (C) Codel Ackerman delivered a strong message of U.S. bipartisan support for Lebanon during its meeting with majority leader Saad Hariri. Rep. Ackerman said that with the administration change in Washington, there would be no change in U.S. support for Lebanon. In particular, the USG will c [...] | 2008-12-16 14:56:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MASS MCAP LE SY IR |
08BEIRUT1770 | LEBANON: ON GHAJAR, UN SEES NEED TO ACT, SAYS [...] (C) Milos Strugar, UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Senior Political Adviser said that because progress had stalled on UNIFIL's proposal that Israel transfer the northern half of Ghajar to Lebanese control, the UN was taking proactive steps to keep the proposal from floundering. The next [...] | 2008-12-18 14:38:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS LE SY |
08BEIRUT1773 | LEBANON: WITH DAS HALE, MIKATI CALLS HIZBALLAH A [...] (C) Former Prime Minister Najib Mikati told visiting NEA DAS Hale and the Ambassador that Sunni leader Saad Hariri, with whom Mikati acknowledged seeking an electoral alliance, would win the Tripoli district in Lebanon's 2009 parliamentary elections. Mikati said he would refuse the position o [...] | 2008-12-19 15:08:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS LE SY |
08BEIRUT1774 | LEBANON: DEMARCHE REQUEST UNESCO DIRECTOR-GENERAL [...] (C) PolOff delivered reftel demarche to Oussama Khachab, Head of the Americas Desk at the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on December 19. Khachab displayed interest in the subject. He noted there could be many more qualified candidates than Hosni and suggested a former Lebanese Minister [...] | 2008-12-22 04:51:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | CDG IS LE PARM PGOV PHUM PREL SY UNGA |
08BEIRUT1779 | LEBANON: WITH DAS HALE, MARONITE PATRIARCH [...] (C) Maronite Patriarch Sfeir fears a divided bloc of Christian voters will lead to March 8 gains in the spring parliamentary elections, but said his role was only to speak out for the principles of freedom, and to not be "out front" on delivering political messages. He was unsure if Christian [...] | 2008-12-22 14:33:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR KPAL LE SY |
08BEIRUT1780 | LEBANON: DEFMIN MURR EXPLAINS RUSSIANS' "SURPRISE" [...] (C) In a December 22 meeting with the Ambassador, Defense Minister Elias Murr struggled to explain that the Russians "surprised" him with a grant aid offer of 77 free T-72 or T-90 tanks and 130 mm mortars, among other equipment, to which he reportedly declined and made the "completely unrealis [...] | 2008-12-22 15:41:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS RS LE SY |
08BEIRUT1782 | LEBANON: WITH DAS HALE, UNSCOL SOMEWHAT OPTIMISTIC [...] (C) UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams relayed to visiting NEA DAS David Hale that ultimately, the GOL was looking for a "clean withdrawal" by Israel from Ghajar with no future Israeli involvement of any kind. Williams reported that the Syrians seemed "serious" about negotiati [...] | 2008-12-23 07:20:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS IS LE SY |
08BEIRUT1783 | LEBANON: HARIRI TELLS DAS HALE RUSSIAN MIGS ARE [...] (C) In a December 17 dinner with visiting NEA Deputy Assistant Secretary David Hale and the Ambassador, Parliamentary Majority Leader Saad Hariri said the Russian deal to provide ten MiG-29 aircraft to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF),provided with no strings attached, threatened Hizballah and [...] | 2008-12-23 07:52:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MASS MCAP LE SY RU |
08BEIRUT1788 | SINIORA SWEET ON CONSTITUTIONAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS, [...] (C) Flush with March 14's victory in parliament's election of Constitutional Council members on December 18, PM Siniora and aide Rola Noureddine met with visiting NEA Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) David Hale, Ambassador, and NEA Lebanon Desk Officer Matthew Irwin on December 19. Siniora br [...] | 2008-12-23 13:40:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV MASS PREL UNSC MARR LE SY IS |
08BEIRUT1793 | LEBANON: SLEIMAN TELLS DAS HALE TO "WAIT AND SEE" [...] (C) In a December 19 meeting with visiting NEA DAS David Hale and the Ambassador, President Michel Sleiman said everyone should &wait and see8 what comes out of the Russian MiG-29 offer to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF). He said the entire GOL had been surprised by the offer, and the LAF wou [...] | 2008-12-24 09:10:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS IS LE SY |
08BEIRUT1794 | LEBANON: BERRI ON U.S. MILITARY ASSISTANCE; SAYS [...] (C) Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri questioned NEA DAS David Hale as to why the U.S. had not provided high-profile military hardware to Lebanon. Berri said he welcomed the Russian offer of MiG-29s, provided it came without conditions or costs. The U.S. did not view the Russian offer as com [...] | 2008-12-24 09:12:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS LE SY IS |
08BEIRUT1795 | LEBANON: UNSCOL WILLIAMS ON ISRAELI INTENT TO [...] (C) Returning from Israel December 23, UN Special Coordinator on Lebanon (UNSCOL) Michael Williams relayed to the Ambassador that Israel demonstrated a "serious intent" to complete negotiations over the transfer of northern Ghajar to Lebanon. He noted a "genuine commitment" on the part of Isr [...] | 2008-12-24 10:54:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC MARR MOPS LE SY |
08BEIRUT1799 | LEBANON: GEAGEA DESCRIBES SLOW BUT STEADY PROGRESS [...] (C) Lebanese Forces (LF) head Samir Geagea received visiting NEA Deputy Assistant Secretary David Hale, Ambassador, and NEA Lebanon Desk Officer Matthew Irwin on December 19. Geagea detailed progress in March 14's electoral preparations, including a plan to back independent Christian candidat [...] | 2008-12-30 10:22:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MASS IS SY LE |
08BEIRUT1800 | LEBANON: AN ENTHUSIASTIC JUMBLATT TALKS ELECTORAL [...] (C) Druze leader Walid Jumblatt received visiting NEA Deputy Assistant Secretary David Hale, Ambassador, and NEA Lebanon Desk Officer Matthew Irwin on December 18. Jumblatt delved into the details of intra-March 14 discussions on electoral strategy and candidate selection. He agreed that the [...] | 2008-12-30 10:34:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER SY LE |
08BEIRUT181 | LEBANON: BERRI NOT OPTIMISTIC ABOUT MOUSSA VISIT [...] (C) The Ambassador paid an introductory call on Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, one day before Arab League Secretary General Moussa's return to Beirut. The Speaker did not appear optimistic that Moussa's visit would lead to a breakthrough in the ongoing impasse over the presidential election, [...] | 2008-02-07 13:39:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PARM PINR SY IS LE |
08BEIRUT182 | LEBANON: FM SALLOUKH WELCOMES AMBASSADOR SISON [...] (C) Ambassador Sison made introductory protocol calls on MFA Chief of Protocol Georges Siam and then FM Fawzi Salloukh on February 6. Salloukh said that the Ambassador, although officially a Charge d'Affaires, would be considered as a "full-fledged Ambassador, with all the rights and privilege [...] | 2008-02-07 17:12:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL MASS MCAP SY IS LE |
08BEIRUT183 | LEBANON: JUMBLATT PESSIMISTIC ON ARAB LEAGUE, [...] (C) The Special Tribunal, the Arab League initiative and Amr Moussa's return to Lebanon, preparations for the February 14 commemoration of the assassination of PM Rafiq Hariri, and Hizballah arms were among the topics of conversation at a February 7 lunch hosted for the Ambassador by Druse lead [...] | 2008-02-07 17:30:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PARM PINR SY IS LE |
08BEIRUT190 | LEBANON: MARCH 14 GAINING MOMEMTUM [...] (C) Key March 14 players told the Ambassador March 14 would insist on presidential elections first in talks with visiting Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa (whose departure has now been postponed until February 9). They remained confident in the support of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LA [...] | 2008-02-08 15:47:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PARM PINR SY IS LE |
08BEIRUT191 | LEBANON: SCENESETTER FOR VISIT OF U/S DEFENSE ERIC [...] (C) Under Secretary Edelman: Welcome back to Lebanon. Your trip provides another excellent opportunity to reinforce the message of strong U.S. government support for Lebanon. Since your last visit in October 2007, Lebanon has sunk further into a political crisis. There have been more car bo [...] | 2008-02-08 15:56:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL MASS MCAP SY IS LE |
08BEIRUT193 | LEBANON: DEFMIN ON DEMONSTRATIONS, QATAR/UNIFIL [...] (C) In a February 8th introductory meeting at the MinDef's home, MinDef Elias Murr warmly welcomed the Ambassador and laid the ground work for continued, close coordination and cooperation with the USG. Murr looks forward to the upcoming visit of USDP Edelman and what that entails for supportin [...] | 2008-02-08 16:06:00 | Embassy Beirut | SECRET | PGOV PREL PTER PARM SY IS LE |
08BEIRUT195 | LEBANON: ARAB LEAGUE SYG MOUSSA REPORTS NO [...] (C) Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa, just minutes before departing Beirut, told the Ambassador that, although he was unable to report a breakthrough in the ongoing political impasse, he was not disappointed in his visit. There had been very open and serious discussions, he said, which [...] | 2008-02-09 12:13:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PARM PINR SY IS LE |
08BEIRUT196 | LEBANON: UN SPECIAL COORDINATOR FOR LEBANON [...] (C) UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Geir Pedersen, who ends his three year tour of duty in Lebanon next week, provided a frank and fairly pessimistic assessment of Lebanon's state of affairs for the newly arrived Ambassador. In his opinion, the current political crisis will last for months, [...] | 2008-02-09 12:25:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL UNSC PTER SY IS LE |
08BEIRUT198 | LEBANON: A/FM MITRI ON IRAQI REFUGEES, ARAB LEAGUE [...] (C) The Ambassador paid an introductory call on Acting Foreign Minister Tariq Mitri as Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa was once again in Beirut seeking to mediate a resolution to the presidential election deadlock between the majority and the opposition. Mitri was not hopeful that [...] | 2008-02-11 08:15:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | CASC EAID IS KPAL LE PGOV PREF PREL SA SY |
08BEIRUT2 | LEBANON: SLEIMAN SEES AOUN AS "DANGEROUS" AND [...] (C) In a 1/2 meeting with the Ambassador, LAF Commander -- and presidential front-runner -- Michel Sleiman came across as both bemused and exasperated by the presidential limbo. While skeptical that elections would occur on 1/12, he denied rumors he would pull out of the race. Dismissing p [...] | 2008-01-02 14:50:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER KDEM LE SY QA SA |
08BEIRUT203 | LEBANON: ARMY COMMANDER SAYS AMR MOUSSA WILL [...] (C) In a February 8th introductory office call, Lebanese Army Commander Michel Sleiman warmly welcomed Ambassador. Sleiman did not think that the February 7-9 trip by Arab League SYG Amr Moussa would accomplish anything other than a framework for more discussions. Sleiman gave a brief overvie [...] | 2008-02-11 10:57:00 | Embassy Beirut | SECRET | PGOV PREL PTER PARM SY IS LE |
08BEIRUT205 | LEBANON: MARCH 14 ORGANIZING BETTER; ESTABLISHES [...] (C) At long last, the March 14 pro-government coalition has set up a secretariat for internal coordination to develop strategies to boost public (both domestic and international) support and create a unified public relations message. March 14 leaders already have begun an intensive diplomatic [...] | 2008-02-11 12:55:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV PREL PTER PARM PHUM PINR SY IS LE |
08BEIRUT207 | LEBANON: PATRIARCH SAYS SYRIA TO BLAME FOR [...] (C) In a February 8 introductory call by the Ambassador, Maronite Patriarch Boutros Sfeir said that Lebanon, especially the Christian community, was divided and he blamed Syria and Iran for the division. The Patriarch said the key element of the Arab League initiative is the call for the imme [...] | 2008-02-11 14:17:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PGOV PREL PTER LE SY |
08BEIRUT208 | LEBANON: WATER DISPUTE ALONG LEBANESE/ISRAELI [...] (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 5 SUMMARY ------- 2. (C) During a February 6 International Donor Coordination meeting, Lillah Fearnley, a UNIFIL Civil Affairs Officer, briefed the group on a growing water dispute that is raising tensions between Lebanese and Israeli [...] | 2008-02-11 16:10:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | EAID MASS PBTS PGOV PREL IS LE SY |
08BEIRUT209 | LEBANON: UK AND UNIFIL SEEK FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR [...] (C) International donor country representatives working with Lebanon's security sector met on February 6 to discuss a number of items pertaining to security sector reform and stabilization. Items ranged from a UK recommendation for the funding of a newly trained Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) "P [...] | 2008-02-11 16:20:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | EAID MASS PBTS PGOV PREL IS LE SY |
08BEIRUT215 | LEBANON: HARIRI URGES STRONGER U.S. PRESSURE ON [...] (C) Increased pressure on Syria was the dominant theme of the Ambassador's first meeting with majority leader Saad Hariri. The opposition, supported by Syria and Iran, was pursuing a long-term strategy to gradually take over the country, he claimed. Bilateral and international assistance was [...] | 2008-02-12 17:08:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV PREL PTER PARM PHUM PINR SY IS LE |
08BEIRUT223 | LEBANON: ARMY COMMANDER DISCUSSES DISCIPLINARY [...] (C) In a February 13th office call with Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (USDP) Edelman, Lebanese Army Commander Michel Sleiman reviewed the themes of Army unity, good morale in the Army, and the positive role model for sectarian cooperation the Army provides to Lebanon (Reftel A). Sleima [...] | 2008-02-13 16:31:00 | Embassy Beirut | SECRET | PGOV PREL PTER PARM SY IS LE |
08BEIRUT226 | LEBANON: AMBASSADOR RECEIVES OVERVIEW OF GOL'S [...] (C) During an introductory call on February 13, the Ambassador received an overview of the GOL's programs to assist the Palestinian refugee community from Ambassador Khalil Makkawi, President of the Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue Committee (LPDC). Ambassador Makkawi outlined short-term goals, [...] | 2008-02-13 16:43:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KPAL PREF SY IS LE |
08BEIRUT236 | MINISTER OF INTERIOR WELCOMES ENHANCED COOPERATION [...] (U) SUMMARY: In a February 13, 2008 introductory meeting pro-Hariri Interior Minister Hassan As-Sabaa welcomed Ambassador and communicated his strong interest in the active collaboration between the USG and the MOI in security related matters. He stressed the continuing need for further assis [...] | 2008-02-14 16:16:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL NAS PTER IS SY LE |
08BEIRUT24 | LEBANON: AOUN SAYS MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY [...] (C) In a January 4 meeting with Ambassador, Michel Aoun said the Hizballah-led March 8-Aoun opposition would not agree to ending the presidential vacuum until the pro-government March 14 bloc agrees to a package deal comprised of a one-third blocking minority in cabinet for the opposition, agr [...] | 2008-01-07 14:29:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER PARM FR IS LE SY |
08BEIRUT251 | LEBANON: PM GRATEFUL TO RECEIVE PRESIDENT'S STRONG [...] (C) Under Secretary of Defense Edelman delivered the President's personal letter to Prime Minister Fouad Siniora during their meeting in Beirut on February 12. The Prime Minister was grateful for the letter, saying he was pleased to see such "strong and firm support on many important issues." [...] | 2008-02-15 12:48:00 | Embassy Beirut | SECRET//NOFORN | PGOV PREL UNSC PTER SY IS LE |
08BEIRUT255 | LEBANON: GEAGEA PLEASED WITH 2/14 RALLY, PLEADS [...] (C) In his first meeting with Charge Sison, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, pleased with the results of the February 14 rally, said he believed the March 14 bloc had proven it is a popular movement able to rally its supporters and speak with a unified voice. He predicted that the Arab Le [...] | 2008-02-15 18:47:00 | Embassy Beirut | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV PREL PTER PARM PHUM PINR SY IS LE |