Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05BAGHDAD3678
2005-09-07 21:03:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:  

DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER COMPLAINS OF SYRIA'S

Tags:  PREL SY IZ 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003678 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/30/2010
TAGS: PREL SY IZ
SUBJECT: DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER COMPLAINS OF SYRIA'S
ATTITUDE TOWARD IRAQ

REF: BAGHDAD 3668

Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR MICHAEL J. ADLER, FOR REASONS
1.4 (B) AND (D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003678

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/30/2010
TAGS: PREL SY IZ
SUBJECT: DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER COMPLAINS OF SYRIA'S
ATTITUDE TOWARD IRAQ

REF: BAGHDAD 3668

Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR MICHAEL J. ADLER, FOR REASONS
1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) In the course of a broader September 5 discussion
with poloffs (reftel),Deputy FM Albayati decried the Syrian
Government's attitude toward Iraq. Albayati said that during
a recent visit, a Syrian delegation refused to accept
responsibility for poor control of its border with Iraq,
seeking to deflect blame toward the U.S. and UK. Albayati
said the delegation rebuffed GOI efforts to discuss potential
Syrian measures aimed at preventing the entry of foreign
fighters into Iraq. Albayati commented disdainfully that
Syria is one of the most difficult countries in the world to
enter, yet claims that it is unable to control who departs
its territory across the Iraqi border.


2. (C) Albayati noted Syria's readiness to resort to
political blackmail in a variety of contexts. He recounted a
recent incident in which Syria threatened to withdraw all
border guards from the frontier if "four Syrian intelligence
officers", who had been arrested by Iraqi border guards, were
not immediately released. (He said that the individuals were
subsequently let go by the Iraqis.) As another example,
Albayati said the Syrians raised the possibility of
normalization of relations with Iraq and even asked for a
suitable Embassy site in the green zone. In response to
positive signals from Baghdad, however, the GOS drew back and
demanded a high level visit by either President Talabani or
PM Ja'afari to Damascus. Al-Bayati said that the Iraqis
would not agree to such a visit absent tangible improvements
in the border control situation.
Satterfield