EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTARIANS TO SEE RIAD SEIF,

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 002808 SIPDIS SIPDIS DRL/NESCSA-BARGHOUT; NEA/ELA-RANA; EUR/ERA-GIAQUE E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2017 TAGS: EUN KDEM PHUM PREL SY BE SUBJECT: EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTARIANS TO SEE RIAD SEIF, BELGIUM STATES REF: (A) DAMASCUS 846 (B) STATE 119436 (C) BRUSSELS 2753 (D) BRUSSELS 2776 Classified By: Political Counselor Theodore H. Andrews, reasons 4. b/d. ¶1. (C) Nine deputies of the European Parliament (EP) are to meet with Syrian dissident MP Riad Seif in Damascus on September 12, 2007, Belgian MFA desk officer for the Levant Hendrik Van der Velde informed post on September 6. Seif will be part of a party of representatives of the eight organizations that signed the "Declaration of Damascus for National Democratic Change," Van der Velde said. The EP delegation plans to raise Seif's need for urgent medical care in Europe during its official meetings in Damascus, including its meeting with President Bachar Al-Asad. ¶2. (C) Van der Velde also stated that Canada will make a demarche regarding Seif to SARG authorities, similar to that made by the European Union. ¶3. (C) Finally, EU embassies in Damascus will consult after the EP visit to decide whether additional initiatives should be undertaken. BUSH . .