TFLE01: SYRIA DAILY SITREP 15 FOR WEDNESDAY,

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 DAMASCUS 003806

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SIPDIS

PARIS FOR WALLER, LONDON FOR TSOU, AMMAN FOR KANESHIRO,
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E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/02/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PREF PHUM LE SY
SUBJECT: TFLE01: SYRIA DAILY SITREP 15 FOR WEDNESDAY,
AUGUST 2, 2006

REF: DAM 01187

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Michael H. Corbin for reasons 1.4 b/d


1. (U) Summary: Syria's President Asad was expected to meet
visiting Spanish FM Moratinos August 2 in Damascus, according
to Arabic regional media. Germany's FM linked Syrian
cooperation in ending fighting between Israel and Hizballah
to closer relations with the European Union, including
improved economic or scientific ties, according to the
Associated Press. Syria's Information Minister met August 1
in Rome with the Italian PM, according to the official Syrian
Arab News Agency (SANA). President Asad met visiting Iranian
FM Manouchehr Mottaki August 1 in Damascus, reviewing
Mottaki's talks with Lebanese officials and the French FM in
Beirut, SANA reported. The Consular Section's American
Citizen Services unit had 85 walk-in requests for assistance
on August 1, up from 65 the previous day. End Summary.

POLITICAL/MILITARY


2. (U) The following are political updates:

-- Visiting Spanish FM Miguel Angel Moratinos was expected to
meet with Syrian President Bashar al-Asad and FM Walid
Mu'allim August 2, in one of the first trips to Syria by a
high-level Western official since the assassination of former
Lebanese PM Rafik Hariri, according to Arabic regional media.
(Note: Moratinos met with FM Mu'allim in March during a
"refueling stop" at the Damascus Airport, as reported reftel.)

-- German FM Frank-Walter Steinmeier called on all key Middle
East players, including Syria, to end fighting between Israel
and Hizballah, according to an Associated Press account of
the FM's interview with a German newspaper. Steinmeier said
he was in contact with leaders in Damascus, and that he had
not linked an end to the fighting with the resolution of
Syria's dispute with Israel over the Golan. Steinmeier did
say a cooperative SARG could expect closer relations with the
European Union, including improved economic or scientific
ties, according to the AP.

-- President Asad met with visiting Iranian FM Manouchehr
Mottaki August 1 in Damascus, according to SANA. Mottaki
reviewed his talks with Lebanese officials and the French FM
in Beirut. This is the fourth high-level visit by an Iranian
official to Damascus since the fighting began in Lebanon.

-- Syrian Information Minister Mohsen Bilal met August 1 in
Rome with the Italian PM Romano Prodi to discuss the
Israel-Hizballah conflict, according to SANA. Bilal
emphasized the importance of reviving the peace process,
including the need to restore the Golan to Syria, SANA
reported.

-- Lebanese FM Fawzi Salloukh said during an August 1 stop in
Syria that Lebanon would reject any attempt to impose a UN
resolution seeking to halt the Israel-Hizballah conflict,
according to regional media. Salloukh said Lebanon was
coordinating with Syria "to make the world take notice of the
Arab position," according to press reports. Salloukh stopped
in Syria en route to a meeting of the Organization of the
Islamic Conference in Malaysia and was to travel to the
conference with Syria's Deputy FM Faisal Mikdad, according to
regional media.


3. (S) The following are military updates:

-- The Defense Attach reported August 1 that Syrian military
units were dispersed in or near garrison areas but far enough
away to survive an Israeli strike against known, normal
locations. NATO Attaches in Syria agreed during an August 1
meeting that the Syrian military had not made any provocative
moves and remained at high alert, with units seeking to
enhance their chances of survivability.

CONSULAR


4. (U) The following are consular updates:

-- The ACS unit had 85 walk-ins requesting assistance on
August 1, up from 65 the previous day. Demand for emergency
passports continued, contributing to a sense that

DAMASCUS 00003806 002 OF 002


Syrian-Americans are planning for contingencies.

ECONOMIC


5. (U) The following are economic updates:

-- The Damascus Chamber of Commerce has taken charge of
running the Zabadani Youth Camp, which is hosting about 2,000
Lebanese displaced by the Israel-Hizballah conflict, and, as
part of its effort, it has asked merchants to contribute
assistance, according to local media.

-- Separately, the National Day for the Support of the
Lebanese on July 31 raised the following: in Aleppo about USD
1.9 million; in Tartous USD 385,000; in Quneitra USD 33,7000
in cash and food; and in al-Tharwa in northeastern Raqqa
about USD 19,200, according to local press.
CORBIN