HARD TIMES CONTINUE FOR SYRIAN CIVIL SOCIETY; NO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DAMASCUS 000231

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR MEPI COORDINATORS; TUNIS FOR MEPI RO PETER MULREAN
ABU DHABI FOR MEPI RO HANS WECHSEL; RPARIS FOR WALLER;
LONDON FOR TSOU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2015
TAGS: ABUD AFIN AMGT ECON KPAO PREL XF KMPI
SUBJECT: HARD TIMES CONTINUE FOR SYRIAN CIVIL SOCIETY; NO
MEPI PROJECTS IN THE WORKS AT PRESENT

REF: STATE 17414

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Michael Corbin, per 1.4 b,d.


1. (C) Summary: Post's MEPI/civil society committee met
on March 5 to discuss reftel on MEPI small grants program in
Syria. Committee members reviewed the problematic status of
the only MEPI project awarded by Post, noting that the
project had run into problems because of intense interference
by Syrian security services. Although we do not at present
know of civil society organizations or individuals that would
assume the risks of retaliation by Syrian security services
for accepting funding for MEPI small grants projects, we will
continue our efforts to identify opportunities as they become
possible, perhaps when the intensified SARG paranoia in the
run-up to the parliamentary elections and presidential
referendum subsides. End Summary.


2. (C) Post's MEPI/civil society committee met on March 5 to
discuss the possibilities for conducting the MEPI Small
Grants Program in Syria. We are pleased that Syria is
included in this initiative, although we do not at present
know of civil society organizations or individuals that would
take on a project of this nature. We will seek out
oppertunities as they become possible.


3. (C) The only MEPI project grant done by Post so far is
that for the Dar Emar organization of Ammar AdulHamid, which
was signed by Dr. Samer Ladkani, who had become the Dar Emar
representative after AbdulHamid's move to the U.S. (Note:
AbdulHamid moved to the U.S. after receiving repeated summons
and threats from the Syrian security services for his civil
society activities and public criticisms of the regime.) The
project was to conduct a conference on the transition to
democracy with participants from countries that had made the
transition, and to publish the conference papers in Syria.
Early in the implementation process, Dr. Ladkani was informed
by SARG officials that his project should not be undertaken.
He not only heeded this directive, but has severed all ties
with Dar Emar, and requested from Post that he be relieved of
the funds, either by returning them to the Embassy, or
through the appointment of a new implementor, with
modifications to the grant as appropriate. Post has explored
possibilities, and has recommended one of these to NEA/PI
Owen Kirby.


4. (C) Since then, Maan AbdulSalam, one of the more talented
civil society activists in Damascus, has received a MEPI
grant from the Department, after major efforts to create a
means abroad to receive the funds. We have yet to see how the
implementation of this project will fare, although we
continue to have confidence in AbdulSalam.


5. (C) MEPI committee members discussed project ideas
ranging from those oriented towards political reform to
others promoting aspects of the MEPI pillars, including
strengthening the role of women in Syrian society and
supporting youth programs. It is not hard to come up with
ideas for programs that would promote MEPI objectives in
Syria. The problem is finding NGO's willing and capable to
implement them in the current repressive environment.
Because of long-standing SARG repression, civil society is
weak, intimidated, and lacking in basic skills in developing
project proposals and management.


6. (C) Post continues its contacts with a range of civil
society players, ranging from those interested in
conventional civil society endeavors to those dedicated to
political reform and establishing democracy in Syria. The
opportunity to propose projects is periodically broached in
these discussions. So far, intensified SARG repression over
the past year has kept these players across the spectrum
hunkered down. They are not willing to take serious risks for
projects that they feel they would not be able to carry out
in any case. In particular, they are not willing to accept
money from the USG, especially since doing so could -- and in
the current environment, probably would -- expose them to
capital charges. Perhaps after the elections, SARG paranoia
will subside somewhat, opening up possibilities for Embassy
use of MEPI money support civil society and to fund small
grants projects.


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CORBIN