PRIME MINISTER DELIVERS STRONG MESSAGE TO SYRIAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 004385 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/11/2013 TAGS: PREL TU SY IS KWBG SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER DELIVERS STRONG MESSAGE TO SYRIAN PRESIDENT ASSAD (U) CLASSIFIED BY DCM ROBERT S. DEUTSCH FOR REASONS 1.5(B) & (D). ¶1. (C) MFA Director General for Middle East Tahsin Burcuoglu briefed DCM July 11 on the July 10 telephone call between PM Erdogan and Syrian President Assad. Burcuoglu said that during the June visit of U/S Ziyal to Washington, Turkey had been asked by the U.S to pass a strong message to the Syrians. In Erdogan's call he told the Syrian President that they needed to adjust their attitude on Iraq to be supportive of the coalition; and on the Israeli/Palestinian issue to be supportive of the roadmap and the peace initiative. Furthermore he told Assad Syria needed to take steps against terrorism to demonstrate to the U.S. that they were in the camp of peace and stability. ¶2. (C) Assad's response was non-specific but positive, Burcuoglu said. Furthermore Assad promised to send Erdogan a more complete response probably in connection with the visit July 28-29 to Ankara of Syrian Prime Minister Muhammad Miro. Burcuoglu noted that the latter visit was intended to be more economic than political but he promised to inform us as soon the promised response was received. PEARSON