Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08DAMASCUS64
2008-01-29 13:14:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Damascus
Cable title:  

STAFFDEL WAXMAN MEETS WITH SYRIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN

Tags:  IZ PHUM PINS PREL SY 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO3901
OO RUEHAG RUEHROV
DE RUEHDM #0064/01 0291314
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 291314Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4577
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN PRIORITY 7205
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 5445
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0755
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 4837
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY 7930
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DAMASCUS 000064 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

PARIS FOR JORDAN, LONDON FOR TSOU
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA, NEA/I, PRM/ANE
NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/GAVITO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/29/2018
TAGS: IZ PHUM PINS PREL SY
SUBJECT: STAFFDEL WAXMAN MEETS WITH SYRIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN
MINISTER - DISCUSS IRAQI REFUGEES AND HUMAN RIGHTS

Classified By: Charge D'Affairs Todd Holmstrom for reasons 1.4 b/d

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DAMASCUS 000064

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

PARIS FOR JORDAN, LONDON FOR TSOU
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA, NEA/I, PRM/ANE
NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/GAVITO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/29/2018
TAGS: IZ PHUM PINS PREL SY
SUBJECT: STAFFDEL WAXMAN MEETS WITH SYRIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN
MINISTER - DISCUSS IRAQI REFUGEES AND HUMAN RIGHTS

Classified By: Charge D'Affairs Todd Holmstrom for reasons 1.4 b/d


1. (U) This cable replaces Syria 00029.


2. (C) Summary: In a January 9 meeting with Senate
staffers Sharon Waxman and Perry Cammack, D/FM Miqdad
outlined the significant challenges to Syria posed by Iraqi
refugees and conveyed the SARG's unhappiness with recent U.S.
statements criticizing Syria. When asked by Waxman to
provide a yes or no answer, Miqdad said the decision
regarding the issuance of visas for DHS circuit riders was
now in the hands of "decision makers." Waxman and Cammack
pressed human rights issues including that of the travel ban
on former MP and opposition leader and the presently detained
members of the Damascus Declaration National Council. End
Summary.

--------------
Syria Facing "Serious Challenges"
--------------


3. (C) D/FM Miqdad explained Syria was facing "serious
challenges" on economic and humanitarian fronts. He added
that the last two years had been particularly difficult for
Syria as many of the Iraqi refugees had come with little
money, perhaps enough to meet their rent for four months,
while the wealthy Iraqis had gone to Jordan. Miqdad detailed
the burdens facing Syria, noting that their Iraqi "brothers
and sister" enjoy the same privileges as the citizens of
Syria. The influx of so many refugees had put a strain on
resource, particularly given that the SARG subsidizes oil,
health, public services etc., according to Miqdad. In the
health field alone, Miqdad claimed, Syria was spending an
additional 1.5 billion dollars a year to address the health
needs of the Iraqi refugees. On education, Miqdad noted
school classrooms, which once contained 25 students, now
cater to 60 students. All this and more he asserted was
taking its toll. While the Syrian people understood the need
to support their Iraqi brethren, there had been "shouts" of
discontent over their continued presence. He added that
Syria feared the Iraqi refugees would remain for some time

and that "settlement here or elsewhere is not a solution -
going back is."

--------------
DHS Circuit Riders
--------------


4. (C) Miqdad criticized the role of the international
community and particularly that of the U.S. in dealing with
the refugee crisis. He added the U.S. had a responsibility
to assist because the crisis was a direct result of its
invasion of Iraq. Yet "political aspects" continue to
interfere with humanitarian assistance, Miqdad insisted. In
response to Waxman's request that the SARG issue visas to
eight DHS circuit riders, Miqdad questioned how Syria could
cooperate with the U.S., particularly on allowing Department
of Homeland Security (DHS) interviews of Iraqis, when
President Bush was attacking Syria daily. "You can not
expect us to cooperate on one issue and not on others," he
argued. He asked how he could convince elements of his
government that the U.S. was acting in good faith when there
were daily criticisms of the SARG. "We need some kind words"
in order to move this project along, he concluded. Waxman
asked directly if the SARG would issue visas to the next DHS
circuit rider team. The European Union (EU) had also done
very little, primarily because the U.S. was discouraging
direct assistance to the SARG, according to D/FM Miqdad.


4. (C) D/FM Miqdad objected to Waxman and Cammack's assertion
that the U.S. was attempting to resettle the most vulnerable
and needy refugees. Noting that the issue of removing Iraqis
from their homeland is extremely sensitive, he claimed the
U.S. was "cherry picking" refugees, particularly those with
"certain religions" and those who had been assisting the U.S.
in Iraq; not the elderly, and sick as the U.S. asserts.


6. (C) On assistance from the Iraqi government, Miqdad noted

DAMASCUS 00000064 002 OF 002


the Iraqi government had only recently acknowledged to its
Syrian counterparts that there was a refugee crisis within
Syrian's borders. Miqdad reported that during the December
2007 visit to Damascus of Iraqi Foreign Minister (FM)
Hoshiyar Zerbari, FM Zerbari said the Iraqi government felt
"shameful" for not helping Iraqis in Syria. Iraq's
assistance had not amounted to much, according to Miqdad. He
added he did not know if the 15 million dollars promised by
the Iraq government for assistance relief had been delivered;
if it had, it was surely the only assistance Syria had
received from the Iraqi government.

--------------
Memorandum of Understanding Needed
--------------


7. (C) Waxman responded that the U.S. had and would continue
to assist Iraqi refugees through the U.N. While the
international community can do more, so can the SARG. Waxman
and Cammack added that the Syrian government must move to
release the memorandum of understanding that will allow
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to operate within Syria
and assist Iraqi refugees.


8. (C) Miqdad admitted that bureaucratic arrangements within
Syria hinders the SARG from acting quickly, but
Syria was moving slowly to insure funds were spent
appropriately on Iraqi refugees to prevent corruption.
Additionally, the NGO situation in Darfur was not
encouraging. The SARG was attempting to avoid a similar
situation in Syria. Miqdad assured Waxman and Cammack the
SARG was setting up a system to accredit NGOs and that
"serious" NGOs would be able to operate within Syria. Miqdad
admitted, however, that this was something his ministry
wanted completed some time ago.

-------------- -
Human Rights - Something to Worry About Later
-------------- -


9. (C) At the conclusion of the meeting, Waxman broached the
subject of allowing oppositionist Riad Seif to leave Syria
for needed medical treatment. Miqdad responded that he had
heard Seif's condition was stable but if outside treatment
was necessary, he would be allowed to leave Syria, on the
condition that Seif refrains from conducting political
activity while overseas. He added that those countries
receiving Seif must recognize that Seif would be there for
medical treatment and not for "political propaganda"
purposes.


10. (C) Finally, Waxman pressed for the release of nice
recently detained members of the Damascus Declaration
National Council. Scoffing, Miqdad responded that nine was
such a small number, particularly given that the U.S. has six
million is prison. Reiterating recent public statements by
the government on the matter, Miqdad informed Waxman and
Cammack that this was an internal matter, not to be discussed
with foreign visitors. He concluded by noting that at this
point in time Syria did not have the luxury of allowing
dissent which would weaken their national front. Waxman and
Cammack left a list with names of the nine detainees with the
D/FM.


11. (U) Waxman and Cammack were not able to clear this
cable prior to their departure.
HOLMSTROM