RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON REALISM IN DEALING WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L LUXEMBOURG 000195 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/ELA, ERICA MILLER AND STEPHEN NEWHOUSE E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/22/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL SY LU SUBJECT: RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON REALISM IN DEALING WITH THE SARG REF: STATE 78880 Classified By: DCM Steven Kraft for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Pol/Econ chief met 23 July with Luxembourg MFA officer for the Middle East and outlined the USG's concerns regarding recent European efforts to increase engagement with the Syrian Arab Republic Government (SARG). Pol/Econ chief asked that the GOL exert its influence within the European Union and bilaterally with other EU nations to reinforce the USG's concerns and to advocate for a realistic approach when dealing with the SARG. ¶2. (C) The MFA officer responded that the GOL shares the USG's concerns and recognizes that the SARG's conciliatory rhetoric is not backed up by concrete, helpful action. He added that the GOL was taking a "very realistic" view on recent SARG attempts to engage in Europe. WAGNER