AUSTRIAN RESPONSE: SYRIAN-LEBANESE BORDER BLOCKAGE

C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 002544 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/28/2015 TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON ETRD SY AU SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN RESPONSE: SYRIAN-LEBANESE BORDER BLOCKAGE REF: STATE 136239 Classified By: Acting Economic-Political Counselor Michael R. DeTar for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) On July 28, Economic Unit Chief delivered reftel talking points to Ralph Scheide, Chief of the MFA's Near Eastern and Africa Division (DAS-equivalent). Scheide said that the GoA fully supported UNSCRs 1559 and 1595, and expected Syria to implement the resolutions. Scheide agreed that Syrian blockage and harassment along the Lebanese border was unacceptable. He pointed out that the European Union, in its July 18 GAERC Conclusions, had publicly called on Syria to allow for the smooth circulation of goods between the two countries. According to Scheide, the EU would continue to press Syria to stop blocking traffic on its border with Lebanon. Brown