SPAIN-SYRIA: ASAD VISIT TO MADRID

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 002101

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN-SYRIA: ASAD VISIT TO MADRID


Classified By: Political Counselor Kathleen M. Fitzpatrick for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: Spanish MFA Political Director Dezcallar
told us that Syrian President Asad during his June 1-2 visit
to Madrid indicated he was fully willing to "go all the way8
with Israel to achieve peace ) but on the basis of the
return of all Syrian territory. However, the Syrians said
that water and navigation rights related to Lake Tiberias
were not important to them; Syria wanted the symbolic
satisfaction of having all of its territory returned,
according to Dezcallar. The GOS also found it significant
that Asad had agreed to condemn "all forms of terrorism.8
On WMD, Dezcallar said that the Syrians agreed to
reinvigorate a Syria-Spain dialogue on the issue, and noted
that both sides had called for a "weapons of mass
destruction-free zone8 in the Middle East. Dezcallar
acknowledged that Asad gave nothing on securing the border
with Iraq. He said that Asad praised Spain's new "positive
image" in the Arab world since the Iraq troop withdrawal
decision. He averred that Spain,s new role might be
"useful" to the US with Syria or on other issues. End
summary


2. (C) On the heels of visits to Madrid by Israeli FM
Shalom and Palestinian PM Qorei, Syrian President Bashar Asad
paid a visit to Spain to meet with King Juan Carlos (who paid
a State visit to Syria in October, 2003),Spanish President
Zapatero and FM Moratinos. The Spanish press gave extensive
and favorable coverage to the visit, and Asad and Zapatero
issued a joint communiqu in which they agreed to broaden and
deepen Syrian-Spanish relations. The widely publicized
communiqu states their agreement that peace in the Middle
East could only be achieved through a "just and
comprehensive" solution, and reaffirms the principles of the
Madrid Middle East Peace Conference in October 1991 and
relevant UNSC resolutions.


3. (C) The communiqu also states that both states condemn
"all forms of terrorism," in particular the March 11
terrorist attacks in Madrid. Both sides vowed to renew their
commitment to cooperate and contribute whatever efforts
necessary to combat international terrorism under the
auspices of the United Nations. Both governments expressed
"solidarity with the Iraqi people8 and their desire for
return of full Iraqi sovereignty and independence. The
communiqu also calls on the international community to work
actively to achieve these objectives, with a central UN role
in all of these efforts. The two sides also agreed to work
toward making the Middle East a "Weapons of Mass Destruction
free zone" and to maintain a "frank and constructive"
dialogue on this issue. Spain also agreed to work to
conclude an EU-Syria association agreement.


4. (C) We discussed the Asad visit with MFA Political
Director Dezcallar on the margins of a discussion on the Iraq
UNSCR (septel). When asked whether the Spanish government
had pressed Asad on ending support for terrorism, Dezcallar
said he and his colleagues found it significant that Asad had
been willing to condemn "all forms of terrorism." He
believes this can help open a "channel of dialogue" with the
Syrians on this issue. Dezcallar noted Asad,s comment that
Spain,s decision to withdraw its troops in Iraq had given
Spain a new, more "positive" image in the Arab world. Spain
is taking an active role in the region, given FM Moratinos,
previous experience in the region as EU envoy, and Spain,s
new lines of dialogue could be "useful" to the U.S.,
Dezcallar said.


5. (C) Asked whether Spain had pressed Asad on Weapons of
Mass Destruction, Dezcallar said that Syria had agreed to
renew a dialogue with Spain on the issue, and that this could
also be helpful to us. He had no comment on the pledge of
support for a "Weapons of Mass Destruction-free zone" in the
Middle East. (There was no reference to Israeli nuclear
issues.)


6. (C) On the Iraq-Syria border, Dezcallar admitted that
Asad had addressed this issue only in general terms, and had
refused to acknowledged Syria,s own complicity in this area.
While Zapatero had publicly accepted Asad,s invitation to
visit Syria, Dezcallar downplayed this, saying that no dates
had been set and that "we shall see" when such a visit could
take place.


7. (C) Dezcallar highlighted Asad,s comments to his
Spanish interlocutors on the Middle East peace process and
relations with Israel. Dezcallar said Asad indicated Syria
was willing to "go all the way" with Israel to make peace,
but on the basis of return of all of Syrian occupied
territory. Dezcallar insisted that the Syrians gave a "clear
message" that they want peace, and were willing to forego
water and navigation rights over Lake Tiberias as long as the
200 kilometers of shoreline is returned to Syria. What is
important for Syria, Dezcallar said, is the symbolic
significance of the return of all of its territory.


8. (C) Comment: This has been an extremely busy "Middle
East8 period for the new Spanish government, with visits in
the last two weeks by Israeli FM Shalom, Palestinian PM
Qorei, Assistant Secretary of State Bill Burns, as well as
visits to the region and North Africa by MFA Deputy Foreign
Minister Bernardino Leon. Clearly the new government wants
to be a player on Middle East issues and believes, correctly
or not, that its Iraq decision has provided new found
"respect8 for Spain in the Arab/Muslim world. Further,
Moratinos will continue to remain active in his old EU
portfolio. It will be important for the USG to maintain
close contact with our Spanish interlocutors on Middle East
issues, in the hope of trying to avoid unhelpful messages or
signals.
ARGYROS