RUSSIA ON SARG: OPTIMISM BEFORE REALISM

C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 002180 SIPDIS NEA/ELA FOR ERICA MILLER AND STEPHEN NEWHOUSE E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/29/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL SY LE RS SUBJECT: RUSSIA ON SARG: OPTIMISM BEFORE REALISM REF: STATE 78880 Classified By: Acting Political Minister-Counselor Margaret Hawthorne, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary. We delivered reftel demarche July 28 to MFA Syria and Lebanon desk chief Andrei Panov, emphasizing US concerns over the possibility of Russian arms being diverted to Hizballah. Overall, Panov characterized Syria's recent engagement with the international community as positive and emphasized that Russia considered Syria an important player in the Middle East and in the peace process. He insisted that Russia closely monitored its arms sales to Syria and adhered to international agreements. He stressed that Russia was against Syrian interference in Lebanese affairs, but issues between the two countries should be resolved bilaterally. On Iraq, he noted that Syria's attitude had improved and they were enhancing their cooperation on border issues. End summary. Arms transfers -------------- ¶2. (C) Panov reiterated that Russian arms sales to Syria strictly adhered to GOR commitments under international agreements, and that the Russian government had strengthened its monitoring of arms sold to Syria. He said there was a mechanism for control of these weapons and the GOR prohibits the transfer of these weapons to any third party. Israeli and Palestinian Issues -------------- ¶3. (C) Panov said that Syria's acceptance of Israel's initiative on indirect talks was a good development and stressed that Syria continued to play a constructive role concerning Palestine. He cited the Doha accord, possible direct talks with Israel, and hosting PA President Abbas as positive signs in this direction. When pressed about Syria's connections to Hizballah, he responded that Russia did not consider Hizballah a terrorist group, and noted that Syria maintained relations with "certain Palestinian groups, but that was their choice." SARG Relations with Lebanon -------------- ¶4. (C) He stressed that Russia was strictly against Syrian interference in Lebanese affairs, and noted that issues between Syria and Lebanon should continue to be resolved at the bilateral level, between "two sovereign nations." He said that Syria previously stalled on border demarcation because the ruling majority in Lebanon was too anti-Syrian, but believed Syria would now reconsider the issue. Iraq: Syria's Attitude Improved, but Long Border to Patrol -------------- -------------- ¶5. (C) Panov insisted that Syria had made many positive changes in its attitude with Iraq. He commented that Syria was enhancing its cooperation with Iraq, as evidenced by several high-level Iraqi visitors to Syria. However, he noted that the long Syrian-Iraqi border and the large numbers of Iraqi refugees living in Syria made it difficult for Syria to secure its border completely against foreign fighters. RUBIN