CODEL WOLF TELLS FM MU'ALLIM TO CHANGE DIRECTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DAMASCUS 000332 SIPDIS CODEL SIPDIS PARIS FOR WALLER; LONDON FOR TSOU E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/01/2017 TAGS: IS PGOV PHUM PREL SY SUBJECT: CODEL WOLF TELLS FM MU'ALLIM TO CHANGE DIRECTION REF: A. 06 DAMASCUS 5448 ¶B. 06 DAMASCUS 5449 Classified By: CDA Michael Corbin, for reasons 1.4 b/d. ¶1. (C) Summary: In a 40 minute meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mu'allim, Congressmen Wolf, Pitts, and Aderholt commented that their visit was intended to explore the possibilities for dialogue in the framework of the Baker-Hamilton report but emphasized they were not in Syria to negotiate. All three Congressmen told Mu'allim that they supported President Bush and his Iraq policy. They emphasized to Foreign Minister Mu,allim that the U.S. is concerned about terrorists entering Iraq from Syria, Syrian support for Hamas and Hizbullah, Israel's right to exist in peace and security, and stability in Lebanon. The Congressmen suggested that Syria make a concrete gesture by stopping the flow of foreign fighters entering Iraq from Syria. FM Mu'allim emphasized the importance of the USG appointing a new ambassador to Syria to help advance dialogue between the two countries. Mu'allim commented that Syria was actively pursuing strengthening and deepening its security collaboration with Iraq, but any collaboration with the U.S. would require more accurate information be passed in the future. Congressman Wolf also asked that security concerns of the U.S. Embassy in Damascus be answered. Mu'allim assured Congressman Wolf that construction on a new diplomatic quarter, that could accomodate a new U.S. Embassy, would begin within the year. End Summary. ¶2. (C) On April 1, Congressman Frank Wolf (R-VA),Congressman Joe Pitts (R-PA),Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-AL),and Congressman Wolf's Chief of Staff Daniel Scandling met with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mu'allim, Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Miqdad, Mu'allim's Chief of Staff Bassam Sabbagh, Americas Director Wissal Issa and a note taker for approximately 40 minutes. Charge d'Affaires and Emboffs accompanied the CODEL. Congressmen Wolf, Pitts, and Aderholt emphasized their strong support of President Bush but commented on their desire to explore the possibility for dialogue under the rubric of the Baker-Hamilton report. The Congressmen described some of the major concerns the U.S. had with Syria: terrorists infiltrating Iraq from Syria; Syrian support for Hizbullah and Hamas; recognition of Israel,s right to exist in peace and security; and ongoing Syrian interference in Lebanon. The CODEL stressed their desire to explore the possibility of dialogue but commented it would require an action on Syria's part, like stopping the flow of foreign fighters into Iraq, if the opportunity Baker-Hamilton presented was to be siezed. ¶3. (C) Mu,allim described the Syrian government,s appreciation for the Iraq Study Group's findings. Echoing Syrian talking points from earlier meetings with U.S. Congressional Delegations (refs A, B),Mu,allim said that Syria was ready for dialogue but insisted that any dialogue with the U.S. should be based on mutual respect and have no pre-conditions. Mu,allim pressed the U.S. to appoint an ambassador to Damascus. Mu,allim said that the Syrians were ready for dialogue but that an Ambassador was needed to facilitate the dialogue. ¶4. (C) Mu,allim denied that Syria actively facilitates the entry of foreign fighters into Iraq. Mu,allim also cited the need for cooperation with American and Iraqi forces to patrol the lengthy border with Iraq. Mu,allim said that Syria had signed its own MOU on border issues with Iraq,s Minister of Interior in December of 2006. Moreover, there would be three joint Iraqi-Syrian security committee meetings in Syria in April, according to Mu,allim. Mu,allim also said the U.S. Embassy had once before given the Syrian government a list of people who supposedly facilitate the flow of foreign fighters from Syria to Iraq but the names were all aliases and therefore useless to the Syrian security services. Moreover, Mu,allim said that efforts to cooperate on Iraq border security with first the U.S. and then the U.K. had gone nowhere. Mu,allim spoke of the need for an Arab solution to the crisis in Iraq and that the Syrian vision for an Arab solution was well received in meetings in Cairo directly before the recently concluded Arab League summit. ¶5. (C) Mu,allim spoke at length about the influx of Iraqi refugees and the heavy burden they are imposing on Syria. Mu,allim noted a rise in crime figures in Syria and how the DAMASCUS 00000332 002 OF 002 international community has done little to help Syria deal with the refugee crisis. Mu,allim asserted that under international law it was the responsibility of the U.S. and Iraqi governments to do more to deal with refugees leaving Iraq. ¶6. (C) Later, Mu'allim, responding to an earlier question from Wolf, said that Syria respected Israel's right to exist but that Israel must also want peace. Pitts suggested that Syria could return the remains of executed, alleged Israeli spy Eli Cohen as a good faith gesture. In response, Mu,allim brought up the case of 20 Syrians who were held in Israel for the past 27 years and that one had died and another was about to die in Israeli detention. Pitts suggested that Syria should close the offices of Hamas and Hizbullah in Damascus because Syria's continued support for those groups would be the first thing the delegation will be asked upon their return to the U.S. Mu,allim responded that Hamas was a legitimate part of the Palestinian unity government and that it won a popular majority in democratic elections. Mu,allim emphasized Syria's work with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt to help bring about a National Unity Palestinian government (NUG). Mu,allim contested that a NUG could not have been possible if Hamas did not have an office in Damascus. When groups like Hamas and Hizbullah have offices in Damascus it allows Syria to move them toward a political rather than a military strategy, Mu,allim argued. ¶7. (C) Responding to Congressman Wolf's request, Mu,allim said that the Syrian government would announce the construction of a new diplomatic quarter near the sububr of Yaffur by the end of the year. Mu,allim pointed out that he had already given the British permission to rent land there and that he would extend the same permission to the U.S. Mu,allim added that the U.S. would be given permission to buy land in the diplomatic quarter as soon as it was ready. ¶8. (C) CODEL Wolf cleared this cable. CORBIN