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." -------------- Don't Blame Us for Lebanon -------------- 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. -------------- -------------- Bashir's "Hawkish Language" Worries Syrian Military? -------------- -------------- 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. -------------- Al-Mouallem Gaining Influence -------------- 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. -------------- Comment -------------- 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