Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CAIRO679
2008-04-03 16:44:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Cairo
Cable title:
EGYPTIAN MFA ON ARAB LEAGUE SUMMIT, SYRIA-LEBANON
how-toVZCZCXRO2663 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV DE RUEHEG #0679 0941644 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 031644Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8802 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 000679
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ELA
NSC FOR PASCUAL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/04/2018
TAGS: PREL EG LE SY XF
SUBJECT: EGYPTIAN MFA ON ARAB LEAGUE SUMMIT, SYRIA-LEBANON
Classified By: ECPO Minister Counselor William R. Stewart
for reasons 1.4 (b).
C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 000679
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ELA
NSC FOR PASCUAL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/04/2018
TAGS: PREL EG LE SY XF
SUBJECT: EGYPTIAN MFA ON ARAB LEAGUE SUMMIT, SYRIA-LEBANON
Classified By: ECPO Minister Counselor William R. Stewart
for reasons 1.4 (b).
1. (C) Summary: In the wake of a disappointing Arab League
summit, Hossam Zaki said that Egypt is urging Syria to behave
more responsibly in solving intra-Arab problems. He reported
that Syrian president al-Assad told the summit that Syria
will not address the "Lebanon problem" until a "legitimate
president" is elected. End summary.
2. (C) MFA Spokesman and Senior Advisor Hossam Zaki told
Minister Counselor April 3 that the Arab League summit in
Damascus had been disappointing -- "We had hoped for
something more decisive" -- but not disastrous because
expectations going in were low, and the Syrians, by and
large, behaved themselves. There were no breakthroughs, he
noted, but neither were there any breakdowns.
3. (C) MinCouns asked if the Syrians had offered to change
any aspects of their behavior. We believe the Syrians have
two courses available to them, Zaki opined: either to behave
"low-key" as they did during the summit and work to rebuild
the bridges they have torn down within the Arab world, "or to
become more difficult than ever." Syria, as the "President
of the Summit," should feel some sense of responsibility to
reach out to those it has alienated, Zaki opined. "We are
urging them to take the high road," but it is not clear which
choice they will make.
4. (C) Zaki said that in closed session, Syrian president
al-Assad said that Syria would not deal with Lebanon until
they elected a "legitimate president" and formed a
"legitimate government." This is precisely the opposite of
Siniora's position, Zaki said. "He believes that normalizing
relations with Syria will greatly help in holding legitimate
presidential elections, and should therefore come first."
There is little room for compromise in the two positions,
Zaki observed.
RICCIARDONE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ELA
NSC FOR PASCUAL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/04/2018
TAGS: PREL EG LE SY XF
SUBJECT: EGYPTIAN MFA ON ARAB LEAGUE SUMMIT, SYRIA-LEBANON
Classified By: ECPO Minister Counselor William R. Stewart
for reasons 1.4 (b).
1. (C) Summary: In the wake of a disappointing Arab League
summit, Hossam Zaki said that Egypt is urging Syria to behave
more responsibly in solving intra-Arab problems. He reported
that Syrian president al-Assad told the summit that Syria
will not address the "Lebanon problem" until a "legitimate
president" is elected. End summary.
2. (C) MFA Spokesman and Senior Advisor Hossam Zaki told
Minister Counselor April 3 that the Arab League summit in
Damascus had been disappointing -- "We had hoped for
something more decisive" -- but not disastrous because
expectations going in were low, and the Syrians, by and
large, behaved themselves. There were no breakthroughs, he
noted, but neither were there any breakdowns.
3. (C) MinCouns asked if the Syrians had offered to change
any aspects of their behavior. We believe the Syrians have
two courses available to them, Zaki opined: either to behave
"low-key" as they did during the summit and work to rebuild
the bridges they have torn down within the Arab world, "or to
become more difficult than ever." Syria, as the "President
of the Summit," should feel some sense of responsibility to
reach out to those it has alienated, Zaki opined. "We are
urging them to take the high road," but it is not clear which
choice they will make.
4. (C) Zaki said that in closed session, Syrian president
al-Assad said that Syria would not deal with Lebanon until
they elected a "legitimate president" and formed a
"legitimate government." This is precisely the opposite of
Siniora's position, Zaki said. "He believes that normalizing
relations with Syria will greatly help in holding legitimate
presidential elections, and should therefore come first."
There is little room for compromise in the two positions,
Zaki observed.
RICCIARDONE