Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09DAMASCUS206
2009-03-17 15:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Damascus
Cable title:  

SYRIAN MFA FOLLOW UP ON FELTMAN-SHAPIRO DISCUSSIONS

Tags:  PREL CASC ABLD ASEC SY 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0004
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHDM #0206/01 0761522
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 171522Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6133
INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 000206 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR M, DS, CA/ACS, EB, NEA/FO, NEA/ELA
NSC FOR SHAPIRO/MCDERMOTT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/16/2029
TAGS: PREL CASC ABLD ASEC SY
SUBJECT: SYRIAN MFA FOLLOW UP ON FELTMAN-SHAPIRO DISCUSSIONS

REF: A. DAMASCUS 192

B. DAMASCUS 193

C. DAMASCUS 194

D. DAMASCUS 195

E. DAMASCUS 196

F. DAMASCUS 198

Classified By: CDA Maura Connelly for reasons 1.4 b and d.

C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 000206

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR M, DS, CA/ACS, EB, NEA/FO, NEA/ELA
NSC FOR SHAPIRO/MCDERMOTT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/16/2029
TAGS: PREL CASC ABLD ASEC SY
SUBJECT: SYRIAN MFA FOLLOW UP ON FELTMAN-SHAPIRO DISCUSSIONS

REF: A. DAMASCUS 192

B. DAMASCUS 193

C. DAMASCUS 194

D. DAMASCUS 195

E. DAMASCUS 196

F. DAMASCUS 198

Classified By: CDA Maura Connelly for reasons 1.4 b and d.


1. (C) Summary: In a March 17 meeting with the Minister of
Foreign Affair's Chef du Cabinet Bassam Sabagh to follow up
on Acting NEA A/S Feltman and NSC/NENA Senior Director
Shapiro's March 7 session with FM Muallim, Charge reviewed
pending U.S. official visa requests, briefly discussed the
Murad child abduction case, briefed on upcoming U.S. visits,
reviewed the Embassy's offer to discuss MFA questions about
pending export license issues, and raised the need for
deciding on whether the Embassy may reopen the American
Language Center (ALC) prior to May 1. Sabagh promised to
forward the U.S. non-paper to FM Muallim after it had been
translated. He reported that, as of roughly a week ago, the
MFA had approved visa issuances for 31 U.S. officials, while
a total of 30 others were being reviewed. He advised that an
upcoming visit to assess future sites for a new embassy
compound (NEC) should include meetings with relevant
provincial and municipal officials. On the ALC, Sabagh said
he would forward our request to the Minister and noted that
no decision had been taken on whether to permit its
reopening. End Summary.


2. (C) Visas: Sabagh reported the MFA had approved some 31
visas since Feltman's March 7 meeting with FM Muallim. A
total of 30 more were under review, while the MFA and Syrian
Embassy in Washington were unable to find applications for
nine others. Sabagh requested an updated list; Charge
thanked Sabagh for his and Ambassador Moustafa's assistance
and agreed to pass updated information on pending visa
applications for Post personnel.


3. (C) Murad Case: Charge shared a dip note with
information on the Murad child abduction case, which FM
Muallim had requested after Acting A/S Feltman raised the
issue in the March 7 meeting. Charge asked whether there was
an appropriate MFA consular contact with whom our Consul

General might meet to discuss the case. Sabagh replied he
was unsure who the appropriate Syrian point of contact would
be, since the father was a Lebanese, not a Syrian national,
and therefore the issue was not a Syrian consular issue.
Sabagh promised to consult the MFA's legal department and get
back to the Embassy.


4. (C) NEC Team Visit: Sabagh asked about the purpose of
the March 23-27 NEC team visit. Charge explained this was an
initial visit to assess different prospective sites for a new
embassy compound in and around Damascus. Sabagh advised that
different zoning and building regulations applied depending
on where the land was located; for example, outside the city
of Damascus, buildings were limited to three stories, whereas
a six story limit applied within Damascus city limits. He
affirmed that the MFA Protocol Office was the right point of
contact for this group suggested that once the team
identifies favorable options, the team consult with the MFA
to ensure that the appropriate meetings with provincial and
municipal officials were arranged. Charge agreed and thanked
Sabagh for the MFA's willingness to assist.



5. (C) A/S Boswell Visit: Charge shared Diplomatic
Security A/S Eric Boswell's plans to visit Damascus o/a April
20-21 and asked who the appropriate MFA contact would be
regarding Embassy security issues. Sabagh asked what
Boswell's focus would be; Charge replied Embassy security
issues and the new embassy compound. Sabagh said he would
check with FM Muallim on this issue and respond to us later.


6. (C) Export Licenses: In response to FM Muallim's
request for assistance in facilitating safety-of-flight and
medical equipment export licenses allowed under U.S.
sanctions law, Charge briefed Sabagh on a dipnote sent to the
MFA expressing the Embassy's willingness to meet with the
appropriate contacts. Sabagh expressed the MFA's
appreciation and said that Vice Minister Miqdad had been
tasked to set up a meeting with the Embassy on these issues
and would be in contact with us.


7. (C) ALC: Charge briefed Sabagh on the Embassy's dipnote
(emailed to ELA) following up on Acting A/S Feltman's request
for permission to re-open the ALC in his March 7 meeting with
FM Muallim. Sabagh said he had seen the note but was
uncertain why the Embassy needed to do so by May 1, as stated
in the note. Charge explained that financial and other
administrative factors were driving decisions by that date on
whether to renew building leases and extend or terminate
staff contracts. Charge added that there had been ambiguity
about the MFA's order to the Embassy in October 2008
regarding the ALC's status and whether it fell under the
rubric of the Cultural Affairs Center. If it made it easier
for the SARG, the Embassy could provide the appropriate cover
for the ALC and its re-opening could be undertaken without
fanfare to avoid drawing attention. Sabagh replied that no
decision had been taken and that more time would be needed.
He said he would share our message with FM Muallim and get
back to us.


8. (C) Comment: This was the Embassy's first formal
exchange with the MFA since the Feltman-Shapiro meeting. In
general, Sabagh's body language and tone indicated a desire
to be responsive. Sabagh shared a few incidentals of his
recent trip with FM Muallim to Doha and plans to return there
for the Arab League and Arab-Latin Summit at the end of
March. Sabagh's offer to facilitate visits and check with
the Foreign Minister on a number of issues reflected a new
and improved tone, but his uncertainty about whether there
would be a SARG decision on the ALC by May 1 suggested the
new goodwill may have its limits.
CONNELLY