Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DAMASCUS3451
2006-07-13 12:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Damascus
Cable title:
CHARGE URGES SARG TO PRESS HIZBALLAH FOR RELEASE
how-toVZCZCXRO7808 OO RUEHAG DE RUEHDM #3451 1941222 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 131222Z JUL 06 FM AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0328 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0117 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0119 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 003451
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PARIS FOR WALLER; LONDON FOR TSOU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2015
TAGS: PREL SY LE
SUBJECT: CHARGE URGES SARG TO PRESS HIZBALLAH FOR RELEASE
OF HOSTAGES, RESTRAINT
REF: STATE 114594
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Stephen A. Seche, per 1.4 b,d.
C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 003451
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PARIS FOR WALLER; LONDON FOR TSOU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2015
TAGS: PREL SY LE
SUBJECT: CHARGE URGES SARG TO PRESS HIZBALLAH FOR RELEASE
OF HOSTAGES, RESTRAINT
REF: STATE 114594
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Stephen A. Seche, per 1.4 b,d.
1. (C) Charge expressed the deep concern of the USG about
the current regional crisis and Syria's role in it to his
designated interlocutor at the MFA, Director of Protocol Amir
Smadi. Meeting the morning of July 13, Charge urged the SARG
in the strongest terms to exercise its influence on Hizballah
to press for the release of the two IDF soldiers taken
hostage yesterday, to exercise restraint, and to stop the
irresponsible shelling of northern Israel. Charge warned
that although Syria may feel that it can avoid being drawn
into the current crisis, this was not the case, given the
SARG's special relationship with Hizballah. The SARG needed
to play a positive role in helping to resolve the crisis and
preventing it from escalating, insisted the Charge.
2. (C) The Charge also urged the SARG to exercise its
influence with Hamas to have the Israeli hostage in Gaza
released. On a related note, Charge mentioned reftel points
and urged the SARG to press Qatar to delay seeking a vote on
its draft UNSC resolution.
3. (C) Smadi responded that the SARG is "taking all
measures" to contain the situation. When asked by the Charge
what those measures included, Smadi merely noted that the
SARG is making contact with a range of parties to avoid
further escalation. Smadi added that Egyptian FM Aboul Gheit
had visited Damascus the evening of July 12, spending about
three hours in meetings with President Asad and FM Mu'allim.
Smadi asked for the Charge's assessment of where the
situation was headed and expressed concern that Israel might
feel trapped and sense that there were no restraints on its
retaliatory response.
4. (C) The Charge responded that he could not speak to
Israeli intentions, reiterating that the USG believes Syria
is implicated in the current crisis and needed to use its
influence to help resolve it.
5. (C) Comment: Upon entering and departing MFA, Charge
noted the arrival of several COM's intent on demarching the
SARG on the need to help resolve the deepening crisis. Other
diplomatic contacts informed us that their ambassadors would
be doing likewise today. While the SARG is likely to feel
great satisfaction with what it will view as a fresh
diplomatic reminder of Syria's centrality in resolving such
Middle East crises, it is unlikely -- for now -- to provide
more than perfunctory assurances of its good will and
intentions to help resolve the crisis.
SECHE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PARIS FOR WALLER; LONDON FOR TSOU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2015
TAGS: PREL SY LE
SUBJECT: CHARGE URGES SARG TO PRESS HIZBALLAH FOR RELEASE
OF HOSTAGES, RESTRAINT
REF: STATE 114594
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Stephen A. Seche, per 1.4 b,d.
1. (C) Charge expressed the deep concern of the USG about
the current regional crisis and Syria's role in it to his
designated interlocutor at the MFA, Director of Protocol Amir
Smadi. Meeting the morning of July 13, Charge urged the SARG
in the strongest terms to exercise its influence on Hizballah
to press for the release of the two IDF soldiers taken
hostage yesterday, to exercise restraint, and to stop the
irresponsible shelling of northern Israel. Charge warned
that although Syria may feel that it can avoid being drawn
into the current crisis, this was not the case, given the
SARG's special relationship with Hizballah. The SARG needed
to play a positive role in helping to resolve the crisis and
preventing it from escalating, insisted the Charge.
2. (C) The Charge also urged the SARG to exercise its
influence with Hamas to have the Israeli hostage in Gaza
released. On a related note, Charge mentioned reftel points
and urged the SARG to press Qatar to delay seeking a vote on
its draft UNSC resolution.
3. (C) Smadi responded that the SARG is "taking all
measures" to contain the situation. When asked by the Charge
what those measures included, Smadi merely noted that the
SARG is making contact with a range of parties to avoid
further escalation. Smadi added that Egyptian FM Aboul Gheit
had visited Damascus the evening of July 12, spending about
three hours in meetings with President Asad and FM Mu'allim.
Smadi asked for the Charge's assessment of where the
situation was headed and expressed concern that Israel might
feel trapped and sense that there were no restraints on its
retaliatory response.
4. (C) The Charge responded that he could not speak to
Israeli intentions, reiterating that the USG believes Syria
is implicated in the current crisis and needed to use its
influence to help resolve it.
5. (C) Comment: Upon entering and departing MFA, Charge
noted the arrival of several COM's intent on demarching the
SARG on the need to help resolve the deepening crisis. Other
diplomatic contacts informed us that their ambassadors would
be doing likewise today. While the SARG is likely to feel
great satisfaction with what it will view as a fresh
diplomatic reminder of Syria's centrality in resolving such
Middle East crises, it is unlikely -- for now -- to provide
more than perfunctory assurances of its good will and
intentions to help resolve the crisis.
SECHE