HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN SYRIA: AUSTRIAN RESPONSE

C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 000833

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA, EUR/ERA AND EUR/AGS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL SY AU EUN
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN SYRIA: AUSTRIAN RESPONSE

REF: STATE 41395

Classified By: ECONOMIC-POLITICAL COUNSELOR GREGORY E. PHILLIPS
REASONS: 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) Pol Unit Chief conveyed reftel points on March 17 to
MFA DAS-equivalent for Middle East affairs Wolfgang Lapuh.
Lapuh said the timing of the demarche was excellent. The MFA
had received an EU report (note: presumably either from the
EU Commission or Council Secretariat) detailing the same
incidents and essentially the same set of facts. The
Austrian Presidency was now considering what action to take
as a result. Lapuh indicated that the subject would likely
figure in the EU Foreign Ministers' Council (GAERC) on March
20-21.


2. (C) We underlined the importance of moving beyond quiet
diplomacy with the Syrians and going on record about some of
the Syrian government's worst abuses. We emphasized the
increasing USG concern about the number, size and type of the
loans approved by the European Investment Bank (EIB) for the
Syrian government. We noted that visits by EU
Parliamentarians and Spanish Foreign Minister Moratinos did
not support a message to the Syrians that they were risking
isolation by their behavior.


3. (C) COMMENT: The subject of Lebanon figures prominently
in the EU Council agenda. EU Foreign Ministers will also
meet with Lebanese PM Fouad Siniora to discuss the
development of EU-Lebanon relations. The unfinished
investigation into the assassination of former Lebanese PM
Hariri and Syrian influence in Lebanon will likely be an
important item in these discussions.
McCaw