Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MADRID1171
2007-06-14 08:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Madrid
Cable title:
VISIT TO SPAIN OF SYRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER
how-toVZCZCXRO4878 PP RUEHAG RUEHROV DE RUEHMD #1171 1650850 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 140850Z JUN 07 FM AMEMBASSY MADRID TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2784 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHLA/AMCONSUL BARCELONA PRIORITY 2808 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0351
C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 001171
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/07/2017
TAGS: PREL SY SP
SUBJECT: VISIT TO SPAIN OF SYRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER
REF: MADRID DAILY REPORT 6/8/07
Classified By: DCM Hugo Llorens; reason 1.4 (B)
C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 001171
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/07/2017
TAGS: PREL SY SP
SUBJECT: VISIT TO SPAIN OF SYRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER
REF: MADRID DAILY REPORT 6/8/07
Classified By: DCM Hugo Llorens; reason 1.4 (B)
1. (C) Syrian Foreign Minister Walid-al-Mu'allim visited
Madrid June 7 for a meeting with FM Miguel Angel Moratinos.
An MFA press release issued prior to the meeting indicated
the discussions would focus on the Arab League peace
initiative, efforts to reduce tensions in Lebanon, and
international and regional efforts to achieve stability in
Iraq. Poloff contacted MFA Subdirector General for the
Middle East Alberto Ucelay on June 8 to obtain a readout of
the Mu'allim-Moratinos meeting. Ucelay said that he had
attended most of the meeting, apart from a private one-on-one
discussion between Moratinos and Mu'allim, and that Mu'allim
had appeared relaxed and "less dogmatic and more realistic"
than most Syrian officials in Ucelay's opinion.
Specifically, Ucelay said that Mu'allim seemed to understand
Syria's place in the current Middle East dynamic, as well as
the problems Syria faced in ending its international
isolation.
2. (C) Ucelay said that the substance of the meeting centered
on the Middle East peace process, particularly on the Arab
League initiative. Moratinos urged Syria's engagement in
that initiative to the greatest possible extent, as well as
in broader efforts to achieve peace in the region. Mu'allim
reportedly expressed frustration with the lack of progress in
the peace process, but grudgingly agreed to Syria's
participation "at some level" (Ucelay took this to mean that
it would be lower than Mu'allim's level, which Spain viewed
as unfortunate). On Iraq, Moratinos urged Syria to play a
helpful role in improving conditions there, for example
through improved border security. Mu'allim highlighted the
problems created for Syria by the arrival of "1.5 million
Iraqi refugees now on Syrian soil" as a result of the
conflict.
//INFORMAL TRANSLATION OF MFA PRESS RELEASE ON SPANISH-SYRIAN
DISCUSSIONS//
3. (U) BEGIN TEXT:
THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND COOPERATION WILL RECEIVE
SYRIAN MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS WALID-AL-MU'ALLIM TODAY
June 7, 2007
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Mr. Miguel
Angel Moratinos, will receive his Syrian counterpart, Mr.
Walid-al-Mu'allim, today.
During the meeting, (they) will review the state of bilateral
relations and will also discuss questions related to the
international efforts to resolve the multiple conflicts that
are laying waste to the Middle East region, which gravely
affect international peace and security.
Specifically, the discussions will center on the Middle East
Peace Process and the reinitiation of the Arab peace
initiative, on the reduction of tensions with Lebanon and on
international and regional efforts to stabilize Iraq.
END TEXT.
AGUIRRE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/07/2017
TAGS: PREL SY SP
SUBJECT: VISIT TO SPAIN OF SYRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER
REF: MADRID DAILY REPORT 6/8/07
Classified By: DCM Hugo Llorens; reason 1.4 (B)
1. (C) Syrian Foreign Minister Walid-al-Mu'allim visited
Madrid June 7 for a meeting with FM Miguel Angel Moratinos.
An MFA press release issued prior to the meeting indicated
the discussions would focus on the Arab League peace
initiative, efforts to reduce tensions in Lebanon, and
international and regional efforts to achieve stability in
Iraq. Poloff contacted MFA Subdirector General for the
Middle East Alberto Ucelay on June 8 to obtain a readout of
the Mu'allim-Moratinos meeting. Ucelay said that he had
attended most of the meeting, apart from a private one-on-one
discussion between Moratinos and Mu'allim, and that Mu'allim
had appeared relaxed and "less dogmatic and more realistic"
than most Syrian officials in Ucelay's opinion.
Specifically, Ucelay said that Mu'allim seemed to understand
Syria's place in the current Middle East dynamic, as well as
the problems Syria faced in ending its international
isolation.
2. (C) Ucelay said that the substance of the meeting centered
on the Middle East peace process, particularly on the Arab
League initiative. Moratinos urged Syria's engagement in
that initiative to the greatest possible extent, as well as
in broader efforts to achieve peace in the region. Mu'allim
reportedly expressed frustration with the lack of progress in
the peace process, but grudgingly agreed to Syria's
participation "at some level" (Ucelay took this to mean that
it would be lower than Mu'allim's level, which Spain viewed
as unfortunate). On Iraq, Moratinos urged Syria to play a
helpful role in improving conditions there, for example
through improved border security. Mu'allim highlighted the
problems created for Syria by the arrival of "1.5 million
Iraqi refugees now on Syrian soil" as a result of the
conflict.
//INFORMAL TRANSLATION OF MFA PRESS RELEASE ON SPANISH-SYRIAN
DISCUSSIONS//
3. (U) BEGIN TEXT:
THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND COOPERATION WILL RECEIVE
SYRIAN MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS WALID-AL-MU'ALLIM TODAY
June 7, 2007
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Mr. Miguel
Angel Moratinos, will receive his Syrian counterpart, Mr.
Walid-al-Mu'allim, today.
During the meeting, (they) will review the state of bilateral
relations and will also discuss questions related to the
international efforts to resolve the multiple conflicts that
are laying waste to the Middle East region, which gravely
affect international peace and security.
Specifically, the discussions will center on the Middle East
Peace Process and the reinitiation of the Arab peace
initiative, on the reduction of tensions with Lebanon and on
international and regional efforts to stabilize Iraq.
END TEXT.
AGUIRRE