KEEPING UP THE EFFORT ON PUBLIC DIPLOMACY IN SYRIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 000876

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA, NEA/PPD, ECA, IIP, R

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAO OEXC OIIP SCUL SY XF
SUBJECT: KEEPING UP THE EFFORT ON PUBLIC DIPLOMACY IN SYRIA

REF: DAMASCUS 829

Classified By: CDA Maura Connelly for reasons 1.4 b and d


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In spite of the Syrian government's
decision to close the American Cultural Center, Embassy
Damascus is pursuing all available programming tools to
advance mission goals of promoting freedom of expression, the
exchange and development of ideas on political and economic
reform, respect for human rights, and the development of
civil society and the rule of law. To do so effectively,
Embassy Damascus needs the Department's full support to
continue pursuing high-profile public diplomacy activities in
a fast-changing, difficult program environment. We request
the Department support the following specific Embassy
requests: funding for a Syrian production crew to cover the
Kennedy Center's February 2009 Arabesque Festival, featuring
performances by well-known artists and musicians in Syria,
encouraging new Administration visitors who are traveling to
Syria to conduct public diplomacy, organizing Syrian
participation in a PA/OBS TV Co-op Program, and maintaining
and/or increasing the number of Syrians who participate in
USG-funded exchange programs. END SUMMARY.

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Embassy Outreach Continues
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2. (C) While the SARG,s October 29 edict ordering the
closure of the American Cultural Center was designed to
curtail our outreach to the Syrian public, Embassy Damascus
has largely ignored this decision. We continue to engage a
broad cross section of Syrians through exchange programs,
electronic outreach, and representational events, but we have
been unable to use our own facility for public events.
Damascus 829 details our considerable day-to-day public
diplomacy activities.

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Takin, It To The Streets
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3. (U) To underscore to the Syrian people the importance of
American democratic values and counter misinformation and
stereotypes, we want to expose the Syrian public to an
accurate picture of the United States through three specific
projects. First, approximately 250 Syrian performers will be
featured in the Kennedy Center's February 2009 Arabesque
Festival. We want to send a Syrian film crew and presenter
to document their experience. Second, the PA/OBS Co-op
Program is a highly successful and very visible means to
reach a large audience. We request Department support for an
independent Syrian documentary team to participate in the FY
2009 program. Third, we would like to host a well-known
musician, performer or comedian for a large public event and
a series of smaller events in Syria.


4. (U) The hundred plus Syrians who participate in USG
exchange programs annually are the bricks and mortar of a
freer society in Syria. To that end, we must maintain our
current number of exchange visitors, and we support an
increase in our annual allotments. While exchange visitors
will always encounter travel obstacles in Syria, there
remains a qualified applicant pool willing to push the limits
of their government's permissiveness. Embassy Damascus would
benefit from continued Department flexibility when we
confront last minute cancellations and changes.


5. (U) In anticipation of a possible increase in the number
of official and unofficial Administration visitors to Syria,
we request that these visitors be encouraged to participate
in an outreach event -- media interview or editorial board
meeting, public lecture, representational event, or alumni
gathering while in Syria.


6. (SBU) COMMENT: In spite of increasing SARG harassment of
public diplomacy -- or perhaps because of it -- it is more
important than ever to sustain our Embassy public diplomacy
activities here. Post is grateful for the Department's
logistical, administrative, and financial support. END
COMMENT.
CONNELLY