DEMARCHE ON ISOLATING SYRIA AT UNGA

S E C R E T ABU DHABI 003801 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/ELA, AND IO/UNP E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2015 TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER SY TC SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON ISOLATING SYRIA AT UNGA REF: A. STATE 159137 ¶B. ABU DHABI 3700 Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison. Reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (S) In a September 4 call on Abdullah Rashid Al Noaimi, U/S for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador delivered ref A demarche and argued that Syria must be isolated at the UNGA Summit in order to send a strong message that Syria will be held accountable for its abysmal record on support for terrorist and the insurgency in Iraq, interference in the internal affairs of Lebanon, Palestinian extremist groups and human rights. ¶2. (S) Ambassador underscored that all nations should focus on "isolation, not engagement" with regard to Syria. She cited Iraqi FM Zebari's call on Syria to honor member states' obligations to prevent the movement of extremist elements into Iraq and the failure of Syria to heed this call. While acknowledging Syria's role as a transit point into Iraq and common US-UAE goals vis-a-vis Syria, Al Noaimi responded that the UAEG preferred an approach which would "help" President Bashar Al Asad free himself of the "old guard" surrounding him, rather than to isolate him. The Ambassador responded that isolation, not engagement, was the best way to send the clearest, most direct message that current Syrian actions will not be tolerated. ¶3. (S) Al Noaimi noted that UAE's UNGA high level event attendee, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, would likely engage Syria, referring to Sheikh Abdullah's July 31 meeting with Bashar in Damascus. If this was to be the case, said Ambassador, the US urged the UAEG to convey the message that Syria's behavior was not/not acceptable. Al Naoimi nodded agreement and conceded that Bashar had "not done enough." SISON