Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08HELSINKI45
2008-02-05 10:55:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Helsinki
Cable title:
FINNISH RESPONSE - CONDEMNING ARREST AND
VZCZCXRO9744 RR RUEHAG RUEHROV DE RUEHHE #0045 0361055 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 051055Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY HELSINKI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4044 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS 0044 RUEHBM/AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST 0563 RUEHCP/AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN 4117 RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS 0064 RUEHLJ/AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA 0057 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0130 RUEHPG/AMEMBASSY PRAGUE 0988 RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA 4679
C O N F I D E N T I A L HELSINKI 000045
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/05/2018
TAGS: PREL KMPI SY FI
SUBJECT: FINNISH RESPONSE - CONDEMNING ARREST AND
ARRAIGNMENT OF SYRIAN DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS
REF: SECSTATE 11025
Classified By: POLCHIEF GREG THOME FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L HELSINKI 000045
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/05/2018
TAGS: PREL KMPI SY FI
SUBJECT: FINNISH RESPONSE - CONDEMNING ARREST AND
ARRAIGNMENT OF SYRIAN DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS
REF: SECSTATE 11025
Classified By: POLCHIEF GREG THOME FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)
1. (C) PolChief delivered subject demarche Feb. 5 to Deskoff
for Syria and Lebanon Keijo Karjalainen. Karjalainen thanked
us for the detailed information on the plight of Raid Seif
and the Damascus Delcaration National Council members. He
said that the GoF is now following these cases closely within
the EU. The resident EU Ambassadors met in Damascus and
agreed that the Syrians' handling of this issue was abusive
and disturbing. All EU capitals have received the French
draft demarche, and the GoF supports the "stronger" language
that it includes. However, Kajalainen reported, there is
division within the EU regarding the French proposal to use
equally strong language in a public statement. Several EU
members -- Finland included -- are concerned that a strong
public statement could jeopardize the safety of Damascus
group members. Finland has not reached a national position
on this aspect of the question, however, and is likely to
support EU consensus.
2. (C) Meanwhile, Karjalainen noted, Finland plans no
bilateral contacts with the SARG until Sept. or Oct., when a
Director-General level delegation will visit Syria and
Lebanon.
WARE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/05/2018
TAGS: PREL KMPI SY FI
SUBJECT: FINNISH RESPONSE - CONDEMNING ARREST AND
ARRAIGNMENT OF SYRIAN DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS
REF: SECSTATE 11025
Classified By: POLCHIEF GREG THOME FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)
1. (C) PolChief delivered subject demarche Feb. 5 to Deskoff
for Syria and Lebanon Keijo Karjalainen. Karjalainen thanked
us for the detailed information on the plight of Raid Seif
and the Damascus Delcaration National Council members. He
said that the GoF is now following these cases closely within
the EU. The resident EU Ambassadors met in Damascus and
agreed that the Syrians' handling of this issue was abusive
and disturbing. All EU capitals have received the French
draft demarche, and the GoF supports the "stronger" language
that it includes. However, Kajalainen reported, there is
division within the EU regarding the French proposal to use
equally strong language in a public statement. Several EU
members -- Finland included -- are concerned that a strong
public statement could jeopardize the safety of Damascus
group members. Finland has not reached a national position
on this aspect of the question, however, and is likely to
support EU consensus.
2. (C) Meanwhile, Karjalainen noted, Finland plans no
bilateral contacts with the SARG until Sept. or Oct., when a
Director-General level delegation will visit Syria and
Lebanon.
WARE