Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BEIRUT565
2008-04-24 07:20:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:
LEBANON: JORDANIAN AMBASSADOR: NEED TO DETACH
how-toVZCZCXRO6516 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV DE RUEHLB #0565 1150720 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 240720Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1643 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 2476 RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 000565
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/YERGER
DEPT PASS TO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER MOPS JO SY LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: JORDANIAN AMBASSADOR: NEED TO DETACH
SYRIA FROM IRAN
Classified By: CDA Michele J. Sison for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
SUMMARY
--------
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 000565
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/YERGER
DEPT PASS TO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER MOPS JO SY LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: JORDANIAN AMBASSADOR: NEED TO DETACH
SYRIA FROM IRAN
Classified By: CDA Michele J. Sison for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) Jordanian Ambassador to Lebanon H.E. Ziad al Majali
stressed the frequency with which his government communicates
with regional players, especially Saudi Arabia, on Lebanon.
He noted the importance of Jordanian relations with Syria
because of their roles in the Israeli-Palestinian peace
process. It is of regional interest to detach Syria from
Iran, he said, and said regional governments were considering
how to accomplish this goal. End summary.
SAUDI-JORDANIAN COORDINATION
--------------
2. (C) The Charge, accompanied by PolOff, paid a courtesy
call on Jordanian Ambassador to Lebanon H.E. Ziad al Majali
on April 22. Majali said his government is in "weekly
contact with our friends" to discuss Lebanon, referring to
Saudi Arabia in particular. He said that King Abdullah of
Jordan and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabi had intended to
reward Syria at the negotiating table (presumably referring
to the Arab League summit) if it had curbed its interference
in Lebanese affairs. Majali reported that Jordanian King
Abdullah has warned that there is a regional dynamic to the
Lebanese crisis, on a larger scale than Iraq, and that if
Lebanon explodes, everything is affected in a major way.
3. (C) Referring to Speaker Nabih Berri's recent visit to
Qatar, Majali dismissed anything of substance coming out of
Doha on Lebanon. The Qataris are only concerned with how
their actions affect Saudi Arabia, he said.
BREAKING SYRIA FROM IRAN
--------------
4. (C) "Jordan needs Syria for the Israeli-Palestinian peace
process," Majali noted, while asserting that the relationship
between Syria and Iran is a serious problem. He said his
government and its Arab allies want to convince Syrian
President Bashar Assad to break from the Iranian regime and
return to the Arab world. He said he suspects Syria has not
yet detached itself from Iran because it is not considering
the bigger picture. Assad is a liar, Majali remarked, and
therefore it is impossible to do confidence-building measures
with Syria.
SISON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/YERGER
DEPT PASS TO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER MOPS JO SY LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: JORDANIAN AMBASSADOR: NEED TO DETACH
SYRIA FROM IRAN
Classified By: CDA Michele J. Sison for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) Jordanian Ambassador to Lebanon H.E. Ziad al Majali
stressed the frequency with which his government communicates
with regional players, especially Saudi Arabia, on Lebanon.
He noted the importance of Jordanian relations with Syria
because of their roles in the Israeli-Palestinian peace
process. It is of regional interest to detach Syria from
Iran, he said, and said regional governments were considering
how to accomplish this goal. End summary.
SAUDI-JORDANIAN COORDINATION
--------------
2. (C) The Charge, accompanied by PolOff, paid a courtesy
call on Jordanian Ambassador to Lebanon H.E. Ziad al Majali
on April 22. Majali said his government is in "weekly
contact with our friends" to discuss Lebanon, referring to
Saudi Arabia in particular. He said that King Abdullah of
Jordan and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabi had intended to
reward Syria at the negotiating table (presumably referring
to the Arab League summit) if it had curbed its interference
in Lebanese affairs. Majali reported that Jordanian King
Abdullah has warned that there is a regional dynamic to the
Lebanese crisis, on a larger scale than Iraq, and that if
Lebanon explodes, everything is affected in a major way.
3. (C) Referring to Speaker Nabih Berri's recent visit to
Qatar, Majali dismissed anything of substance coming out of
Doha on Lebanon. The Qataris are only concerned with how
their actions affect Saudi Arabia, he said.
BREAKING SYRIA FROM IRAN
--------------
4. (C) "Jordan needs Syria for the Israeli-Palestinian peace
process," Majali noted, while asserting that the relationship
between Syria and Iran is a serious problem. He said his
government and its Arab allies want to convince Syrian
President Bashar Assad to break from the Iranian regime and
return to the Arab world. He said he suspects Syria has not
yet detached itself from Iran because it is not considering
the bigger picture. Assad is a liar, Majali remarked, and
therefore it is impossible to do confidence-building measures
with Syria.
SISON