GOF SUPPORTIVE OF SECRETARY'S ORAL MESSAGE ON THE

S E C R E T PARIS 004349 SIPDIS RIYADH PLS PASS TO A/S WELCH E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2015 TAGS: PREL IZ SY FR SUBJECT: GOF SUPPORTIVE OF SECRETARY'S ORAL MESSAGE ON THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON IRAQ REF: STATE 114212 Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt, reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). ¶1. (S) We delivered the Secretary's oral message on the International Conference on Iraq to FM Douste-Blazy's Cabinet Advisor on Middle East and UN Affairs Christophe Guilhou and separately to MFA DAS-equivalent for Iraq/Iran/Arabian Gulf Affairs Antoine Sivan June 20. Guilhou welcomed the Secretary's message, and confirmed that the GoF had no SIPDIS intention of receiving Syrian officials on the margins of the June 22 Brussels meeting, nor had Syria requested any such meetings. Guilhou stressed that the GoF was maintaining its policy of limiting contact with the Syrian government to its bilateral embassy in Damascus. He conceded that the GoF had earlier considered reevaluating this policy, depending on the outcome of Lebanon's parliamentary elections, but the assassination of Lebanese journalist and French dual national Samir Kassir had hardened the GoF position against upgrading contact with Damascus. ¶2. (S) MFA DAS-equivalent Sivan expressed general GoF agreement with reftel points, particularly on the need for the international community to urge Iraqis to reject violence and support an inclusive political process. Sivan also concurred on the need for the international community to deliver tough messages to Damascus on the need to honor its commitments under UNSCR 1546 and do more to support Iraq. Sivan added, however, that it was also in Iraq's interest to try and build better ties with its neighbors. For this reason, the GoF would have preferred for Iraq's neighbors to have been included at the June 1-2 Cairo preparatory meeting for the International Conference, which would have more closely associated all of Iraq's neighbors, including Syria, with the goals of the gathering. WOLFF