SYRIA/LEBANON: SWISS OFFICIAL REPORTS ON DAMASCUS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BERN 002059

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR P, NEA, EUR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/2016
TAGS: PREL PTER MEPP SY LE IS SZ
SUBJECT: SYRIA/LEBANON: SWISS OFFICIAL REPORTS ON DAMASCUS
VISIT -- SHAR'A AND NASIF SUGGESTS SOME OPENNESS

REF: A. BERN 1947


B. STATE 172274

Classified By: Poloff Eric Lundberg, Reasons 1.4 b/d

1.(C) Swiss Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Middle East
specialist Nicolas Lang visited Syria the week of October 23,
meeting with Syrian Vice President Farouq al-Shar'a and
Syrian Political Intelligence chief General Muhammed Nasif.
According to Lang, Shar'a and Nasif claimed that Damascus
wanted to see an improvement in U.S.-Syrian relations. They
also underscored the Asad government's desire to re-integrate
into the "Sunni Arab World." Asked why Syria behaved in such
a counterproductive fashion if it desired regional
rapprochement, Lang observed that Damascus appeared to see
things going its way, as difficulties with Iraq and Iran
"demonstrated that Western policies needed to change."

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Don't Blame Us for Lebanon
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2.(C) Per reftel requests, Lang raised Syrian interference in
Lebanon. Shar'a and Nasif rejected the criticism as
"unfair." Casting aside the blame aimed at Damascus, the
officials argued that there was sufficient domestic
dissatisfaction with the Siniora government and Lebanese
electoral law was, stemming from many quarters including the
Shi'ia Druze, Michel Aoun's faction, and Sunnis not included
in the March 14 group.

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Bashir's "Hawkish Language" Worries Syrian Military?
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3.(C) Lang regretted that the Eid al-Fitr holiday prevented
him from seeing more Syrian officials. However, from
contacts close to the Syrian military, Lang detected a
growing unease among Syrian officials with Bashar al-Asad's
"hawkish language" stirring up the population against Israel.
According to Lang, Syrian military officials recognize the
sorry state of Syrian military hardware and, while Syria
could fire rockets and create damage, there was no way they
could win a battle against the Israeli Defense Force.

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Al-Mouallem Gaining Influence
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4.(C) Finally, Lang noted that Shar'a and Nasif increasingly
seemed comfortable as a team in these meetings with western
officials. He also observed that Syrian Foreign Minister
Walid al-Mouallem, though Sunni and not Alawi, was gaining
influence in Asad's inner circle. Lang mentioned that the
Syrian-American, Ibrahim Suliman, remains his key contact on
Syrian matters.

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Comment
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5.(C) As described in ref A, Lang believes that Syria would
be receptive a comprehensive peace settlement with Israel --
expressing some enthusiasm for the latest Saudi proposal.
However, Lang acknowledges that the Asad regime's
counterproductive behavior does not foster progress toward
these ends.
CONEWAY