SPAIN: MORATINOS MEETINGS IN DAMASCUS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 002630

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/17/2016
TAGS: PREL SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN: MORATINOS MEETINGS IN DAMASCUS

REF: A. LLORENS-ALLEGRONE TELCON OF 10/13


B. MADRID 1564

MADRID 00002630 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Political Counselor Kathy Fitzpatrick; reasons 1.4 (B) a
nd (D)


1. (C) A senior member of Foreign Minister Miguel Angel
Moratinos' staff called in Political Counselor on 10/17 to
provide a written readout for the Secretary of Moratinos'
10/14-15 visit to Damascus. A scanned copy of this document
was e-mailed on the classified system to EUR/WE. We have
made minimal edits to this copy for the purpose of clarity:

BEGIN TEXT.

-- Visit to Damascus, 14 and 15 October 2006. I (FM
Moratinos) met with President Assad who was accompanied only
by Syrian FM Mu'allim. Later on I also saw Deputy PM Dardari
who is in charge of reform. The general impression is
positive. My perception is that Assad has changed, not only
in his general attitude or even body language, but also in
the way he reacted to my questions and proposals. He
confirmed his willingness to work efficiently and
constructively towards regaining the trust of the
international community. Without using the traditional
Syrian rhetoric, he was clear and to-the-point. I saw him
focused and aware of the need to seize the opportunity. He
believes that it would he possible to reopen the Syria track
where it was left before his father passed away. Madrid
remains the best framework.

-- His main concern is to ensure that the international
community pushes for global peace, hence including Syria.
However, he seems also ready to help in the Palestinian and
Lebanese issues.

-- I insisted that a positive Syrian role in the Palestinian
issues (kidnapped Israeli soldier and negotiations for a new
Government) would be the best way to prove that Syria is part
of the solution and no longer part of the problem. I think my
point was well taken.

-- On the soldier issue he undertook to keep helping the
Egyptians. General Soliman, with whom he had just met that
morning, told him that Israel would be ready to exchange 500
prisoners. However, talks were not advancing too much. It
was important to help all sides to reach a suitable solution.
I encouraged him to continue using all his influence to get
the release of Israeli soldiers both in Gaza and Lebanon.

-- Concerning the formation of a new Palestinian Government
he praised the work carried out by Qatari FM Sheikh Hammad.
Despite progress made, the negotiations bogged down.

-- I proposed that both Syrian and Qatari officials meet with
representatives from Hamas and Fatah in order to explore new
language. Assad agreed and instructed FM Mu'allim to prepare
for such a meeting. Mu'allim told us later that Hamas
(Meshaal) has also accepted. The meeting, which should be
secret, could then take place after the end of Ramadan in

SIPDIS
Damascus.

-- I touched base with Qatari FM to share with him the
proposal. He was positive and we agreed that we will see each
other in a few days in Madrid to develop it further.

-- I also contacted Abu Mazen to seek his views about the
proposed meeting. He was receptive and undertook to get back
to me in a few days.

-- As to Lebanon, Assad was concerned about the internal
situation. He believes that there is a risk of rapid
deterioration. He thinks that PM Siniora is doing well and he
should be supported. However, the international support
should be given not only to him but to the Lebanese
Government as a whole. He thinks that Siniora should build
bridges to Hezbolah. If he leans too much towards Sunni or
Christians leaving Shia outside, he would be running an
unnecessary risk. The best option would be to support
National Lebanese consensus.

-- Deputy PM Dardari looked committed to take the reform
process forward. He is serious and result-oriented. Although
he is not obviously supported by the 'Old Guard', he seems
aware of the need to open the Syrian economy quickly and to
take bold decisions. My impression is that he feels he is
supported by President Assad.

//SPANISH REASONING ON VISIT//


MADRID 00002630 002.2 OF 002



2. (C) Immediately prior to his trip to Damascus, Moratinos
told the Ambassador that he was going to Syria at the behest
of Israel to explore the possibilities of moving forward on
the release of the two Israeli soldiers kidnapped by
Hizballah. The Ambassador contacted Israeli Ambassador to
Spain Victor Harel to further explore this information.
Harel said that there had been no official request to
Moratinos to undertake such a visit to Syria and insisted
that Moratinos was acting on his own.


3. (C) When asked by PolCouns, Moratinos' staffer said that
Moratinos' visit was also closely linked to Spain's desire to
break Syria's isolation. (PolCouns emphasized that the USG
was not seeking third party interlocutors with Damascus, nor
did we encourage or support such high-level contacts with
Syria, noting the broad US-UN-EU consensus on this subject.
However, she expressed appreciation for the points and for
Moratinos' desire to keep the Secretary informed).

//COMMENT//


4. (C) FM Moratinos has long sought to make Spain a more
relevant player in the Middle East Peace Process, due in
large part to his long-standing engagement in the region - as
well as his desire to normalize relations with Syria. The
MFA has reflected this position for the last several months,
including in a conversation between PolCouns and MFA Director
General for the Middle East and Africa Alvaro Iranzo in MFA
meetings with visitors from the NEA Front Office (Ref B).
Moratinos' visit to Syria came only five days after Spanish
media reported on a telephone conversation between President
Zapatero and Assad, indicating broad support within the
Spanish Government to increased contacts with Syria. To that
end, Moratinos' visit is likely intended to send a signal to
other EU governments that they should not shy away from
direct contact with Syrian leaders, nor from travel to
Damascus. At the same time, Moratinos' approach on the
Israeli prisoner may be a way for him to demonstrate his
value to both sides.
AGUIRRE