FRENCH AND GERMAN EMBASSIES PREPARED TO REQUEST

C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 000298

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA, DRL/NESCA
LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR WALLER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2019
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL SY
SUBJECT: FRENCH AND GERMAN EMBASSIES PREPARED TO REQUEST
SARG FREE AILING RIAD SEIF

REF: A. 08 DAMASCUS 00757

B. DAMASCUS 00272

Classified By: CDA Maura Connelly for reason 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: Jumana Seif (strictly protect),the daughter
of prominent Damascus Declaration leader Riad Seif (ref A)
who is serving a two and a half year prison sentence, met
with PolEconoffs on April 22 to discuss her father's
increasingly precarious health situation. She reported that
the French and German Embassies were willing to press the
SARG through diplomatic channels for Riad's Seif's release on
humanitarian grounds, but were waiting for a decision from
her on whether to proceed. She requested similar support
from the U.S., either in conjunction with, or separate from,
the French and Germans. END SUMMARY.

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Seif's Declining Health
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2. (C) Riad Seif's most recent blood work, according to
Jumana, indicated an increased presence of cancer. A
February biopsy on Riad's prostate had shown no sign of
cancer, initially pointing to the success of his May 2008
surgery. In light of the recent test results, however, the
family and Riad's doctor fear his cancer began to metastasize
prior to the original surgery to remove it.


3. (C) According to Jumana, Riad had recently been suffering
intense pain in his back. This information corroborates what
we learned in an April 21 meeting with civil society activist
Daad Mousa, who told us Riad's prison-mate and Damascus
Declaration colleague, Anwar al-Bunni, had called her from
prison to register his concern over Riad's pain and his
inability to get out of bed. These reports further support
the claims of Riad al-Turk, who expressed similar anxieties
about Riad's health during a meeting with PolEconoffs in
early April (ref B).


4. (C) For his part, Riad reported he was feeling better and
that his intense back pain had somewhat subsided, Jumana
said. He has not been told, however, the results of the
recent blood work, she added. She explained Riad's private
physician, who has repeatedly made the results of the testing
known only to the prison doctors, recommended a battery of
tests for Seif to follow up on the initial blood screen.

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French and German Support
--------------


5. (C) Jumana informed us the French and German Embassies
told her they were prepared to demarche the SARG in an effort
to obtain Riad's release on humanitarian grounds; the idea
being he needs intensive treatment, perhaps outside of Syria.
The German Ambassador told her he had made the request in a
recent meeting with Foreign Minister Walid Muallim, and
Muallim gruffly replied, tell him to ask to be released and
then "you can take him." (Comment: Jumana said she was unsure
whether Muallim was serious or simply making an offhand
remark. End Comment) Both the French and German Embassies
have expressed concern that Riad might reject a SARG offer to
release him if other Damascus Declaration National Council
Members remain in detention, as he reportedly has done in the
past. Jumana explained that SARG authorities, like Riad, did
knot know about the results of the most recent blood work,
and Riad has not made a formal request to prison/government
authorities for medical treatment. In fact, Jumana said,
Riad recently refused a trip to the doctor for reasons nobody
quite understood. She said he might fear more bad news about
his health and preferred not to know.

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Request for U.S. Support
--------------


6. (C) Jumana asked whether we would support the French and
the Germans, perhaps going so far as to jointly demarche the
SARG. We advised her that the SARG would probably be more

responsive to the French and Germans at this stage. We could
assess what value we could bring to the process, should they
fail. We cautioned her, though, that a demarche to the SARG
without its prior knowledge of the blood work results would
probably prove ineffective. Moreover, if Riad were not a
willing participant and would not ask for treatment in
advance of diplomatic action, a demarche from anyone on the
subject could be counterproductive.


7. (C) At the meeting's conclusion, Jumana said she would
attempt to persuade Riad to sign a letter requesting his
release for treatment outside of prison. If diplomatic
efforts failed, she said, she would come to us and, very
probably, go to the media. In the past, she told us, the
SARG had warned her that contacting the media would make
matters worse for Riad. Given the state of his health and
the conditions he lives in, she said, she is now willing to
try anything.


8. (C) COMMENT: As reported Ref B, during Senator John
Kerry's February visit to Damascus, he raised Riad Seif's
case with President al-Asad over a private dinner. Senator
Kerry told us that Asad said he could consider releasing Seif
if he (Seif) would write a letter to the proper authorities
confessing to the charges against him and asking for mercy.
Given what we know of Seif's character from his family and
colleagues, it strikes us as improbable he would undertake a
letter of this sort. Post will continue to monitor the news
on Seif's health and will confirm with our French and German
diplomatic colleagues the extent to which they are prepared
to press the SARG on this issue. END COMMENT.
CONNELLY