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