ITALY WELCOMES US CONCERN OVER HUMAN RIGHTS IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 002590

SIPDIS


USEU FOR POL - LITZENBURGER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/02/2014
TAGS: PHUM PREL SY IT HUMAN RIGHTS
SUBJECT: ITALY WELCOMES US CONCERN OVER HUMAN RIGHTS IN
SYRIA

REF: STATE 142629

CLASSIFIED BY: A/POLMINCOUNS GARY ROBBINS. REASON: 1.4 (B)(D)


1. (C) MFA SYRIA DESK OFFICER ALESSANDRA PASTORELLI TOLD
POLOFF THAT ITALY WELCOMES US CONCERNS OVER THE RECENT UPTICK
IN POLITICALLY RELATED DETENTIONS IN SYRIA. THE SUBJECT HAS
BEEN DISCUSSED IN DEPTH AT EU MIDDLE EAST WORKING GROUP
(COMEM) MEETINGS IN BRUSSELS. AT NEXT WEEK'S COMEM, ITALY
WILL RAISE THE CASE OF HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST AKTHAM NAISSA,
CURRENTLY UNDER DETENTION AND WHO, ITALY BELIEVES, IS
SUFFERING FROM POOR HEALTH. DURING ITS EU PRESIDENCY, ITALY
SENT OBSERVERS TO TRIALS OF HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS IN SYRIA,
AND IRELAND CONTINUED THE PRACTICE DURING ITS TENURE.


2. (C) PASTORELLI SAID THAT BASED ON THE MFA'S AND EU'S
EXPERIENCE DEALING WITH THE REGIME IN DAMASCUS, A FIRM BUT
QUIET APPROACH WAS MORE EFFECTIVE THAN HIGH PROFILE PUBLIC
STATEMENTS. SHE UNDERLINED THAT THE EU WILL CONTINUE TO USE
THE LEVERAGE EMBODIED IN THE BARCELONA PROCESS AND
NEGOTIATIONS FOCUSED ON THE EU-SYRIA ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT TO
HELP CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT MORE RESPECTFUL OF HUMAN RIGHTS
AND GENERAL DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES.

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2004ROME02590 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL