ITALY CONTINUES TO SUPPORT HUMAN RIGHTS IN SYRIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 001492

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/16/2016
TAGS: KDEM PGOV PHUM PREL SY IT HUMAN RIGHTS
SUBJECT: ITALY CONTINUES TO SUPPORT HUMAN RIGHTS IN SYRIA

REF: STATE 77093

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor David Pearce, for reasons 1
.4 (b)(d).


1. (C) Political Minister Counselor met May 16 with MFA
Middle East Deputy Luca Del Balzo to deliver reftel, urging
that the Italians speak publicly about the need for the SARG
to improve its human rights record and release detainees.
Del Balzo responded that the U.S., the EU and Italy were in
perfect agreement on this subject. He noted that EU
ministers might meet soon to discuss another Syrian rights
case, that of Michel Kilo, a dissident who was recently
arrested in Damascus. Italy's largest daily newspaper,
Corriere della Sera, ran a front page article and an
editorial about Kilo's case today.


2. (C) Del Balzo also probed for U.S. intentions toward
Syria, noting that the EU was very concerned about efforts to
push for regime change. He suggested the likely outcome
would bring a more Islamist government to Damascus and
wondered if that was in our joint interests. Pol M/C
responded that the real issue was changing the regime's
behavior, especially with respect to the flow of foreign
fighters and materiel to Iraq. Syria may be taking some steps
to restrict the flow of fighters, but they clearly needed to
do more. We also remained concerned about Syrian relations
with Hamas and Hizballah, its cooperation with the UN
investigation into PM Hariri's death, continued interference
in Lebanon, and the crackdown on dissent. Syria was more apt
to respond when the international community spoke in one
voice, and publicly, on these issues. See septel for Del
Balzo's comments on Iraq and Iran.

SPOGLI