Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06THEHAGUE2023
2006-09-15 15:04:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy The Hague
Cable title:
NETHERLANDS/SYRIA: DUTCH AVOID HIGH LEVEL
how-toVZCZCXRO4634 PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHTC #2023 2581504 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 151504Z SEP 06 FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6818 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS 0379 RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 002023
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2016
TAGS: PREL PTER USUN EU LE SY NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/SYRIA: DUTCH AVOID HIGH LEVEL
CONTACTS, BUT ...
REF: A. STATE 150032
B. THE HAGUE 2000
Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew Schofer; reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
(C) EUR PDAS Volker delivered reftel demarche, September 12,
to MFA Deputy Director General for Political Affairs Wim
Geerts. Volker stressed that we do not believe that
high-level European contacts with the Syrians have yielded
progress, and we therefore would encourage EU members to
avoid such approaches. Our top concern in Lebanon, he said,
is to avoid a situation where an international force merely
maintains stability, while a recalcitrant Syria and Iran
rearm Hizbollah. Geerts, whose Foreign Minister pointedly
avoided visiting Syria during a recent trip to the region,
asked whether we might not explore a strategy of driving a
wedge between Syria and Iran. Volker reiterated that the
time was not yet right for the EU to engage with Damascus.
ARNALL
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2016
TAGS: PREL PTER USUN EU LE SY NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/SYRIA: DUTCH AVOID HIGH LEVEL
CONTACTS, BUT ...
REF: A. STATE 150032
B. THE HAGUE 2000
Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew Schofer; reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
(C) EUR PDAS Volker delivered reftel demarche, September 12,
to MFA Deputy Director General for Political Affairs Wim
Geerts. Volker stressed that we do not believe that
high-level European contacts with the Syrians have yielded
progress, and we therefore would encourage EU members to
avoid such approaches. Our top concern in Lebanon, he said,
is to avoid a situation where an international force merely
maintains stability, while a recalcitrant Syria and Iran
rearm Hizbollah. Geerts, whose Foreign Minister pointedly
avoided visiting Syria during a recent trip to the region,
asked whether we might not explore a strategy of driving a
wedge between Syria and Iran. Volker reiterated that the
time was not yet right for the EU to engage with Damascus.
ARNALL