Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05KUWAIT4903
2005-11-27 13:59:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
MFA UNDERSECRETARY SAYS SYRIAN PRESIDENT'S
how-toVZCZCXRO7864 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHMOS DE RUEHKU #4903 3311359 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 271359Z NOV 05 FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1903 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 004903
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ARPI; LONDON FOR TSOU; PARIS FOR ZEYA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/26/2015
TAGS: PREL PTER PGOV SY KU
SUBJECT: MFA UNDERSECRETARY SAYS SYRIAN PRESIDENT'S
WILLINGNESS TO CHANGE HAMPERED BY THOSE AROUND HIM
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 004903
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ARPI; LONDON FOR TSOU; PARIS FOR ZEYA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/26/2015
TAGS: PREL PTER PGOV SY KU
SUBJECT: MFA UNDERSECRETARY SAYS SYRIAN PRESIDENT'S
WILLINGNESS TO CHANGE HAMPERED BY THOSE AROUND HIM
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
1. (C) During a November 27 meeting, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs Undersecretary Khaled Al-Jarallah shared his views on
the recent Syrian decision to send officials to Europe in for
questioning by the Mehlis commission. Al-Jarallah said the
SARG's decision to cooperate was the right one. Al-Jarallah
commented that he suspected that President Bashar al Asad's
willingness to cooperate but may feel constrained by the
potential reactions of hard-liners in the regime. He
speculated that al Asad would be even more cooperative if he
had some "guarantee of support" from the international
community. Al-Jarallah was unsure how to convey such
expressions of support, but felt strongly that al Asad needed
sustained encouragement to behave in a positive way with
regard to global issues, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,
Iraq, and Lebanon. Greater cooperation would prevent the
creation of a vacuum that would be detrimental to the entire
region.
2. (C) The Ambassador countered that the international
community has been clear about what it sought from Syria:
positive changes by the regime, not regime change.
Unfortunately, there is not enough evidence that al Asad was
willing to change and was focused on the long-term.
Al-Jarallah agreed that change was needed and said the Syrian
President seemed confused about which path to take. His
statements during his CNN interview were positive, but he
gave a very negative speech to the Syrian parliament.
Al-Jarallah said that the December 7-8 summit of the
Organization of the Islamic Conference in Mecca presented an
opportunity for regional leaders to share their concerns with
al Asad.
*********************************************
Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/
You can also access this site through the
State Department's Classified SIPRNET website
*********************************************
TUELLER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ARPI; LONDON FOR TSOU; PARIS FOR ZEYA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/26/2015
TAGS: PREL PTER PGOV SY KU
SUBJECT: MFA UNDERSECRETARY SAYS SYRIAN PRESIDENT'S
WILLINGNESS TO CHANGE HAMPERED BY THOSE AROUND HIM
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
1. (C) During a November 27 meeting, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs Undersecretary Khaled Al-Jarallah shared his views on
the recent Syrian decision to send officials to Europe in for
questioning by the Mehlis commission. Al-Jarallah said the
SARG's decision to cooperate was the right one. Al-Jarallah
commented that he suspected that President Bashar al Asad's
willingness to cooperate but may feel constrained by the
potential reactions of hard-liners in the regime. He
speculated that al Asad would be even more cooperative if he
had some "guarantee of support" from the international
community. Al-Jarallah was unsure how to convey such
expressions of support, but felt strongly that al Asad needed
sustained encouragement to behave in a positive way with
regard to global issues, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,
Iraq, and Lebanon. Greater cooperation would prevent the
creation of a vacuum that would be detrimental to the entire
region.
2. (C) The Ambassador countered that the international
community has been clear about what it sought from Syria:
positive changes by the regime, not regime change.
Unfortunately, there is not enough evidence that al Asad was
willing to change and was focused on the long-term.
Al-Jarallah agreed that change was needed and said the Syrian
President seemed confused about which path to take. His
statements during his CNN interview were positive, but he
gave a very negative speech to the Syrian parliament.
Al-Jarallah said that the December 7-8 summit of the
Organization of the Islamic Conference in Mecca presented an
opportunity for regional leaders to share their concerns with
al Asad.
*********************************************
Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/
You can also access this site through the
State Department's Classified SIPRNET website
*********************************************
TUELLER