Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MADRID827
2008-07-24 17:09:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Madrid
Cable title:  

SPAIN ENGAGES WITH SYRIA TO PROMOTE CONSTRUCTIVE

Tags:  PREL PGOV EUN SY SP 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO5606
PP RUEHAG RUEHROV
DE RUEHMD #0827/01 2061709
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 241709Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY MADRID
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5156
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHLA/AMCONSUL BARCELONA 3517
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 000827 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/WE, NEA/ELA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/31/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV EUN SY SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN ENGAGES WITH SYRIA TO PROMOTE CONSTRUCTIVE
BEHAVIOR

REF: STATE 78880

MADRID 00000827 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: DCM Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 000827

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/WE, NEA/ELA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/31/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV EUN SY SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN ENGAGES WITH SYRIA TO PROMOTE CONSTRUCTIVE
BEHAVIOR

REF: STATE 78880

MADRID 00000827 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: DCM Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Ambassador conveyed reftel points to FM Moratinos
the morning of July 24. Moratinos said the Spanish sought
to engage Syria in dialogue; continual contact would keep
Syria focused on the benefits of playing a more constructive
role in the region. Moratinos believes that based on the
strength of personal relationships and through steady
engagement, Syria can be brought around to stopping its
counterproductive activities. Moratinos asked for a
non-paper detailing our specific concerns and said that he
would respond with more information, as well as a read-out of
recent joint Spanish-German-Italian communication with Syria.
An unclassified non-paper has been translated and sent to
Moratinos and his staff. Moratinos faxed to the Embassy the
afternoon of July 24 a copy of a joint Spanish-German-Italian
letter to Syrian FM al-Muallim. Text of the letter is
included in paragraph 4.


2. (U) Spain hosted the Syrian Vice Prime Minister for the
Economy Abdallah al-Dardari for extensive consultations with
the Spanish business community, as well as a bilateral
meeting with Moratinos on July 7. Al-Dardari also
participated in the inaugural festivities for the Spanish
Goverment-affiliated Casa Arabe in Madrid. The Spanish
Chambers of Commerce stressed Syrian investment opportunities
thanks to recent economic reforms and the concessions granted
by the Syrian Housing Ministry. Reportedly, current Spanish
presence in Syria is very low. 2007 bilateral trade amounted
to just 320 million dollars.


3. (U) During the al-Dardari visit, Moratinos announced
that Spain will open an Office for Technical Cooperation in
Amman in the next few months with responsibilities in Syria
and Lebanon. Moratinos also expressed Spanish support for
Syrian reforms and economic liberalization and reiterated the
Spanish commitment to strengthening the EU-Syria
relationship, saying, "the EU acknowledges the important role
that Syria can play in the stability and welfare of the
Mediterranean and the Middle East."



4. (U) BEGIN TEXT OF JOINT LETTER DATED JULY 22, 2008:

We welcome recent moves by Syria to improve relations and
positively engage with neighbouring countries. We hope that
indirect talks with Israel will lead as soon as possible to
direct negotiations. The European side will fully support
these efforts, as well as those make on the other tracks, and
will assist all actors involved in order to achieve a just,
lasting and comprehensive peace in the region.

We especially acknowledge that Syria has openly declared its
readiness, as in your letter to Federal Foreign Minister
Steinmeier of June 29 and in your recent conversations with
FM Moratinos and with FM Frattini, to discuss all aspects of
bilateral relations with Lebanon once a government would be
formed in Lebanon. We also appreciate the positive report by
Lebanon and the constructive meetings between the Presidents
of both states in Paris on July 13.

At the same time, your Government has expressed a strong wish
to improve relations with European partners and the EU in its
quest for economic reform and social development.

We stand ready to work for the improvement of our bilateral
ties with Syria and to work with our partners in the EU to
develop the relations between the EU and Syria. At the same
time, we remain committed to further the independence,
sovereignty and stability of Lebanon. To achieve rapid and
lasting progress in both fields, we believe a number of
issues need to be addressed:

Concerning Syrian-Lebanese relations, whilst welcoming the
commitment of President Assad and President Sleiman to
re-establish diplomatic relations and to open the respective
embassies in Beirut and Damascus, we suggest that both
governments should commit themselves publicly to a mutually
agreed process for the normalisation of bilateral relations,
based on the principles of full equality and mutual
recognition, containing the following elements:

- proceeding in opening the Embassies in Beirut and Damascus
and in exchanging Ambassadors,

- activation of the Lebanese-Syrian border committee for the
demarcation of borders,

MADRID 00000827 002.2 OF 002



- activation of border cooperation with the aim of improving
security on the Lebanese-Syrian border.

To support the National Dialogue in Lebanon on strengthening
the control of the Lebanese State over its territory as
agreed in Doha, we expect that Syria exert her influence on
Palestinian factions to stop all armed activity in Lebanon
and hand over control over their positions to the Lebanese
authorities in a phased and orderly manner.

(These elements are of course in no way intended to impede
Lebanon and Syria to take additional measures to improve
their bilateral relations.)

Concerning EU-Syria relations, we are ready to work with our
partners in the EU and with Syria so that,

-the EU would commit to urgently dispatch fact-finding
missions with a view to identify ways of intensifying
cooperation in the economic, financial and scientific filed
and to increase technical support to Syrian border security,

- both sides would agree to establish a regular and
comprehensive political dialogue, including on regional and
human rights issues,

- after taking stock of overall progress, the EU would invite
Syria to sign the EU-Syria Association Treaty before the end
of the year 2008.

Sincerely yours, Frank-Walter Steinmeier/Franco
Frattini/Miguel Angel Moratinos Cuyaube

END TEXT OF LETTER

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