SPAIN SEES ENGAGEMENT WITH SYRIA AS NECESSARY

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 002334

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR AND NEA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/16/2016
TAGS: PREL PTER USUN LE SY EU SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN SEES ENGAGEMENT WITH SYRIA AS NECESSARY

REF: STATE 150032

Classified By: CDA Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) In a Sept. 13 meeting with MFA Director General for
Middle East Alvaro Iranzo, PolCouns discussed reftel points
on Syria, stressed that the United States strongly
discourages high-level contacts with the SARG and made clear
that the USG is not asking third parties to deliver any
messages on its behalf. DCM reviewed points with Spanish
National Security Advisor Carles Casajuana Sept. 14 during
their initial meeting. MFA DG Iranzo said that Spain and
many other EU members see increasingly close Syrian contacts
with Iran as a new, negative development that requires a "new
reading" of the situation and engagement with Syria to try to
decouple Damascus from Tehran.


2. (C) Iranzo said that while Syria,s performance has been
dismal on many of the UNSC,s demands, there are a few
positive elements. Iranzo claimed that even the Israeli
government acknowledges that not one shot has been fired from
Syria into Israel for 25 years. He said that re-engagement
with Syria is necessary to ensure the stabilization of
Lebanon in accordance with UNSCR 1701 and to prevent
Hizbollah from re-arming, as well as to resolve the Sheba,a
farms question and to secure the release of kidnapped Israeli
soldier Shalit. Furthermore, he said, Spain wants to have
contacts with Syria now that it is sending 1200 troops to
UNIFIL near the Syrian border. He said the GOS also heard
from Lebanese President Siniora during FM Moratinos, recent
trip about the need for such dialogue. Iranzo added that
"all the Arabs" are saying that Syria will continue in
Iran,s orbit - however "against nature" it is for Syria to
be in line with Shi,ite Iran - unless something is done
about it. Iranzo cited all of these as reasons to engage
without retreating from our shared goals, and claimed this
thesis is gaining ground in the EU. Iranzo said that while
the results of dialogue had been very disappointing, the
toughest approach - Israel,s incursion - had not succeeded
in getting rid of Hizbollah, with 250 Katyushas launched at
Israel on the very last day of the conflict making this point
very graphic. This meant that not engaging Syria at higher
levels would have little impact.


3. (C) Iranzo stressed that Spain,s contacts with Syria,
such as FM Moratinos, recent "technical stop" in Damascus,
would continue, but he said that they represent a limited
dialogue in which Spain adheres fully, "with no nuance or
deviation," to the message of the international community for
Syria to comply fully with UNSCRs 1559, 1680 and 1701, which
call on Syria to disarm Hizbollah, secure the border with
Iraq, stop interfering in Lebanon, and comply with the Hariri
assassination investigation.


4. (C) Spanish National Security Advisor Casajuana echoed
these points briefly in response to DCM,s intervention. He
said that while Spain is well aware of Syria's worsening
behavior and is very dissatisfied, the GOS sees no better
alternative leadership in Syria to Assad. Casajuana noted
that having the Islamic movement in power would clearly be
worse for all of us. For this reason, the GOS believes there
is a need to maintain a level of dialogue with the senior
leadership of the Syrian government. Like Iranzo, Casajuana
insisted that Spain finds it necessary, with troops close to
the Syrian border to have some lines of communication with
the SARG, even while insisting on full Syrian compliance
with UNSCRs. Casajuana said that Spain would be willing to
deliver any messages the USG wanted to pass on to the
Syrians. DCM reiterated that the US is neither authorizing
nor seeking third parties to convey messages to the Syrians.

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LLORENS