LEBANON: LEADER CLOSE TO SYRIA COMMENDS FELTMAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIRUT 000281

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA
ALSO FOR IO A A/S WARLICK
P FOR DRUSSELL AND RRANGASWAMY
USUN FOR WOLFF/GERMAIN/SCHEDLBAUER
NSC FOR SHAPIRO, MCDERMOTT
DOD/OSC FOR FOURNOY, KAHL, AND DALTON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/09/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINR UNSC SY IS IR LE
SUBJECT: LEBANON: LEADER CLOSE TO SYRIA COMMENDS FELTMAN
AND SHAPIRO FOR U.S. ENGAGEMENT

Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) Former prime minister Najib Mikati, who once had (and
whose family still has) a close relationship with Syrian
president Bashar Asad, commended visiting NEA Acting
Assistant Secretary Feltman and NSC Senior Director for the
Middle East and North Africa Dan Shapiro on March 6 for
planning to visit Syria the following day. Mikati said that
the Syrians were open to a relationship with the U.S., but
warned A A/S Feltman against the U.S. imposing demands, using
third country facilitators, or speaking about Lebanon to the
Syrians. Mikati inquired whether the U.S. could lift any
sanctions against Syria as a confidence-building measure.
Hopeful about indirect talks between Syria and Israel, Mikati
was more reserved about U.S.-Iranian engagement. End summary.

U.S.-SYRIAN
ENGAGEMENT "SMART"
--------------


2. (C) Visiting NEA Acting Assistant Secretary Jeffrey
Feltman, NSC Senior Director for the Middle East and North
Africa Dan Shapiro, and the Ambassador met with former prime
minister Najib Mikati and his nephew Azmi T. Mikati at his
residence in Verdun on March 6. DCM, Pol/Econ Chief, Senior
LES Political Advisor, and NEA Staff Assistant also attended
the meeting. Mikati, who has not seen Syrian President
Bashar Asad since 2005 but whose brother and nephew maintain
close relations with President Asad, welcomed the U.S.
administration's new approach towards Syria and Iran,
describing the move as "smart."


3. (C) Mikati indicated that Syria needs healthy relations
with the west, particularly with the U.S. He recommended
that the U.S. adopt a "give-and-take position" with the
Syrians and warned against imposing demands, predicting this
would get the U.S. nowhere. Responding to A A/S Feltman's
criticism that France gave Syria a lot and received little in
return, business-minded Mikati proposed the U.S. start with a
"letter of credit" approach, explaining that the U.S. should
"open a letter of credit and withhold full payment until
fulfillment of all terms and conditions."


4. (C) Mikati noted that countries like Egypt, Jordan, Turkey
and SAUDI ARABIA tried in the past to facilitate relations
between the U.S. and Syria, but that the Syrians preferred to
deliver the "goods" directly to the U.S. He outlined several
issues shared by both the U.S. and Syria, citing concern
about Al Qaeda as the primary example.


5. (C) Mikati inquired whether the U.S. could lift the
sanctions it imposed on Syria, such as the ban on exporting
computers and other commercial products. He suggested such a
move was a good confidence-building measure.

AVOID TALKING ABOUT
LEBANON TO SYRIANS
--------------


6. (C) On the eve of A A/S Feltman's and Senior Director
Shapiro's trip to Syria the next day, Mikati advised him to
refrain from speaking about Lebanon with the Syrians, "let
them feel that Lebanon's independence and sovereignty is a
fait accompli." In Mikati's opinion, raising the issue of
Lebanon with the Syrians could send the message that the U.S.
is willing to bargain over Lebanon. (Note: As it happened,
the Syrians themselves raised Lebanon with the U.S.
delegation. End note.)

HOPE FOR SYRIAN-ISRAEL TRACK;
CAUTION ON TALKING TO IRAN
--------------


7. (C) Mikati said he hoped the new U.S. engagement with
Syria could advance peace talks between Israel and Syria. He

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disclosed that Iran is "extremely annoyed" with Syria over
its indirect talks with Israel, claiming "Iranian Supreme
Leader Khamenei was very harsh on the Syrians because of
their peace negotiations."


8. (C) Mikati expressed caution regarding U.S. openness with
Iran, saying that the U.S. should involve the Saudis and
Egyptians; otherwise, he said, the Saudis and the Egyptians
could fear U.S.- Iranian engagement at their expense."


9. (U) NEA Acting Assistant Secretary Jeffrey D. Feltman and
NSC Senior Director for the Middle East and North Africa Dan
Shapiro have cleared this message.
SISON