SYRIAN INVITATION FOR U.S. TO ATTEND APRIL 13

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 000218 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER MARR PREL PINS SY IZ SUBJECT: SYRIAN INVITATION FOR U.S. TO ATTEND APRIL 13 DAMASCUS MEETING OF THE IRAQ NEIGHBORS BORDER SECURITY WORKING GROUP REF: 07 DAMASCUS 00814 ¶1. This is an action request ) please see paragraph 5. ¶2. (SBU) On March 31 embassy received a Diplomatic Note from the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Foreign Minister's Office, dated March 29, 2008. The text of the Diplomatic Note follows in paragraph 4. ¶3. (SBU) We believe this diplomatic note refers to the Iraq Neighbors Border Security Working Group (BSWG) which the Iraq neighbors agreed that Syria would host (Amman hosts the working group on refugees and Turkey hosts the energy group.) Damascus hosted the last iteration of the BSWG August 8-9, ¶2007. A U.S. delegation from Embassy Baghdad joined representatives from the UK, France, and the UN in pushing the Syrians to do more on border security. (Reftel) ¶4. (SBU)Begin Text: "The Foreign Ministry of the Syrian Arab Republic presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America in Damascus, and has the honor to inform that after consultation between the Foreign Ministries of the Syrian Arab Republic and the Republic of Iraq it has been decided that the meetings of the Coooperation and Coordination Security Committee is scheduled on 04/13/2008 in Damascus at the level of experts, arrival should be on April 12, 2008. The Foreign Ministry will pay the residency espenses for the Heads of the delegations, the Ministry is grateful to the embassy in receiving this invitation as an observer, hoping to receive the names of the participants and the time of their arrival. The Foreign Ministry avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the esteemed embassy the assurances of its highest consideration." ¶5. (SBU) Please advise post on the appropriate response to this invitation. CORBIN