U.S. DELEGATION MEETS SYRIAN PRESIDENT, CALLS FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 000391 SIPDIS SIPDIS PARIS FOR ZEYA, LONDON FOR TSOU E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2015 TAGS: PREL KPAL SY SUBJECT: U.S. DELEGATION MEETS SYRIAN PRESIDENT, CALLS FOR DIALOGUE Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Stephen A. Seche for reasons 1.4 b/d ¶1. (C) Summary: A seven-member delegation, including former heads of U.S. missions, met separately February 1 with Syrian President Bashar al-Asad, FM Farouk al-Shar'a, and Hamas leader Khalid Mish'al, according to delegation members in a subsequent meeting with the Charge. The Asad meeting received top-of-the-fold coverage in the official SARG Arabic-language mouthpiece, Tishreen, which quoted former Ambassador Edward Peck on the need for USG-SARG dialogue and on his group's goal to add balance to the USG's Middle East policy. In the meeting with the Charge, CNI officials said President Asad expressed his desire to cooperate with the U.S. and his belief that dialogue is needed to resolve differences between the U.S. and Syria. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) A seven-member U.S. delegation from the Council for the National Interest (CNI) met separately February 1 with Syrian President Asad, FM Shar'a, and Hamas leader Mish'al, according to delegation members in a subsequent meeting with the Charge. ¶3. (U) The Asad meeting received top-of-the-fold coverage in the official SARG Arabic-language mouthpiece, Tishreen, and its English-language equivalent, the Syria Times. Tishreen reported that Asad and CNI members discussed U.S.-Syrian relations, terrorism, Iraq and the latest developments in the Palestinian arena. Tishreen also quoted CNI delegation head former U.S. Chief of Mission to Iraq and Mauritania Edward Peck on the need for USG-SARG dialogue and on his group's goal to add balance to the USG's Middle East policy. Tishreen also quoted Peck as saying that his group sometimes does not agree with USG policy and seeks dialogue with officials in many countries, as is the case with its visit to Syria. ¶4. (C) In the meeting with the Charge, CNI officials said President Asad expressed his desire to cooperate with the U.S. and his belief that dialogue is needed to resolve differences between the U.S. and Syria. CNI officials said that the Hamas leader came across as articulate and thoughtful. ¶5. (U) In addition to Peck, the CNI delegation included former U.S. Ambassador to Mauritius, Greece and Zimbabwe Robert Keeley, former U.S. Counselor in Saudi Arabia Eugene Bird, retired scientist Hassan Fouda, freelance videographer Chris Belcher, attorney Peter Viering and activist Elizabeth Viering. The CNI team observed the Palestinian Council elections as part of its 18-day trip to Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. They described to Charge their meetings with Sa'eb Erekat and with Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar. The group was scheduled to depart Syria for Lebanon on February 2. ¶6. (C) Comment: As it does with almost any American group that meets with the Syrian President or FM, the SARG is attempting to capitalize on CNI's visit to convince the public that the U.S. Administration's policy of isolation is observed only in the breach and that, more likely, a deal with the USG is in the works. SECHE