MAY 7 FELTMAN-SHAPIRO MEETING IN DAMASCUS: IRAN

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 DAMASCUS 000363

NOFORN
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA, NEA/I
NSC FOR SHAPIRO/MCDERMOTT
PARIS FOR WALLER
LONDON FOR TSOU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/20/2029
TAGS: PREL PTER IR IS LE SY
SUBJECT: MAY 7 FELTMAN-SHAPIRO MEETING IN DAMASCUS: IRAN
AND LEBANON

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


1. (S/NF) Summary: In a wide-ranging May 7 discussion on
differing U.S. and Syrian approaches to re-engagement, NEA
Acting Assistant Secretary Feltman and NSC/NENA Senior
Director Shapiro asked the Syrian side led by FM Muallim for
a readout of Iranian President Ahmedinejad's May 5 visit to
Damascus and for Syrian views on the upcoming June 7 Lebanese
elections. Muallim praised U.S. efforts to engage Iran but
predicted Tehran would not be likely to respond until after
Iran's June 12 elections. Iran, according to Muallim,
believed Syria's efforts to liberate the occupied Golan were
"worthless," but it nonetheless respected Syria's right to
pursue its national interests. The Syrian regime continued
to believe the international community could best resolve its
differences with Iran by recognizing Iran's right to pursue a
civil nuclear program and by removing the issue from the UN
Security Council. On Lebanon, Muallim complained about the
prolonged detention of four Lebanese security officials who
had been released, saying their imprisonment without charges
revealed the lack of due process by UN investigators working
on the assassination of former Lebanese PM Rafiq Hariri.
Muallim stated Syria was not interfering in Lebanese
elections and supported holding peaceful elections on time.
End Summary


2. (S/NF) Returning to Damascus two months after their
March 7 visit, NEA Acting Assistant Secretary Jeffrey Feltman
and NSC Senior Director for the Near East and North Africa
Dan Shapiro met on May 7 for four-and-a-half hours with
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallim, Vice Foreign Minister
Faisal Miqdad, and President Asad's Political and Media
Advisor Bouthaina Shaaban. Charge and Pol-Econ Chief
(notetaker) accompanied Feltman and Shapiro. Muallim's Chief
of Staff Bassam Sabagh joined the Syrian side. This cable
focuses on their discussions on Iran and Lebanon. It should
be read with septel reports on general views of
re-engagement, Iraq, sanctions, Palestinian reconciliation,
Syrian and Israeli peace issues, and human rights.

--------------
Syrian-Iranian Relations
--------------


3. (S/NF) FM Muallim reported that Iranian President
Ahmedinejad's May 5 visit to Damascus lasted roughly six
hours and represented a reaffirmation of strong
Syrian-Iranian relations. He said relations with Iran would
continue to remain "very important" so long as Israel
continued to occupy Syrian land. Though Ahmedinejad believed
peaceful Syrian efforts to liberate the occupied Golan were
"worthless," Iran nonetheless respected Syria's right to
pursue its national interests as it saw fit. "We stuck to
our position," Muallim said, characterizing Syria's desire to
pursue negotiations with Israel.


4. (S/NF) Muallim reiterated Syria's position that Iran had
the right to pursue a peaceful nuclear energy program. The
Iranians, he said, see the West's approach on the nuclear
file as "extremely confrontational." Muallim maintained no
evidence existed to support allegations that Iran was
pursuing a nuclear weapon. "The way to solve this problem is
to acknowledge Iran's right to enrich uranium, remove the
issue from the UN Security Council, and deal with the
transparency issue through the IAEA." Syria, he added,
continued to play a constructive role.


5. (S/NF) Asad had publicly praised President Obama during
Ahmedinejad's visit, and Damascus had urged Tehran to take
advantage of the opportunity afforded by U.S. efforts to
engage Iran. Presidential Advisor Shaaban added that Syrian
officials had "encouraged" Iran to adopt a more constructive
position on Afghanistan and Pakistan. "We're deeply worried
about what might happen in these countries," she said. "It
would be a disaster for us if Pakistan collapsed." Muallim
predicted Tehran would be more responsive to U.S. overtures
after the Iranian elections in June.


6. (S/NF) NSC Senior Director asked if the Syrians had seen

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any concrete example of disrespect in President Obama's
language toward Iran. Iranian officials had complained about
Washington's lack of respect for the Iranian regime, but
Washington's sense was that they were not judging President
Obama by his actions. Muallim replied that Asad had told
Ahmedinejad on May 5 that "we need to help Obama."


7. (S/NF) Shapiro asked if Iranian rhetoric, particularly
Ahmedinejad's denial of the Holocaust during the Durban II
Conference in Geneva, was contradictory. Muallim replied
Syria judged neither Iran's nor America's rhetoric in Geneva.
Shapiro queried whether the Syrian regime judged
Ahmedinejad's rhetoric in Geneva as helpful to advancing
regional stability and comprehensive peace. Shaaban replied
that Ahmedinejad's language was helping to increase Iran's
popularity in the Arab world and allowing "Iran to become the
spokesman for the people of the region." Muallim argued the
issue was not whether Syria agreed or disagreed, but whether
the Iranian leader's words reflected the sentiments of Arab
people. "Then why don't you say the same thing if it's
popular?" asked Shapiro. "We don't want to be popular, but
right," retorted Shaaban. After more back and forth, Muallim
reluctantly conceded that Ahmedinejad's rhetoric in Geneva
had "not been helpful."


8. (S/NF) Muallim commented the Holocaust represented a
historical fact, but that did not exempt it from study and
different interpretations. "But does the German Holocaust
justify the Israeli Holocaust against the Palestinians?", he
asked. Muallim added, "We know how to address this issue.
We're not in Iran's or anybody else's pockets." Feltman
replied that, unfortunately, Syria looked as though it
remained on the same side of the issue as Iran. "And you're
not on the same side as the Israelis?" asked Muallim in
response. Feltman said Iran had been silent on the issues of
pursuing a two-state solution and advancing Gaza relief
assistance; Syria needed to understand that Washington
audiences would draw their own conclusions when they saw
President Asad side-by-side with Ahmedinejad. "He's not
evil," replied Shaaban.


9. (S/NF) Shapiro reiterated that Iran had not responded to
U.S. overtures. "Maybe after the (Iranian) elections,"
responded Muallim. Shaaban argued it was better to "talk to
everyone," as Syria was doing with Jordan, Turkey, Iran, and
Palestinian faction leaders. "We stood against Saddam with
Iran when you were supporting him. That was the right
decision. Now it's time to encourage everyone to talk to
everyone," asserted Shaaban.

--------------
Lebanese Elections and Special Tribunal
--------------


10. (S/NF) In response to a question from Acting A/S
Feltman, Muallim said the situation in Lebanon appeared to be
"much better." Syria's improved relations with Saudi Arabia
and other Arab countries reflected better Lebanese-Syrian
relations, he added. The atmosphere remained calm with a
month to go before elections, continued Muallim. Syria had
avoided any confrontational rhetoric and emphasized its
commitment to regional peace.


11. (S/NF) Syria had nonetheless taken note of the increased
number of Israeli espionage cells in Lebanon, Muallim
observed. "What type of reflection do these activities have
on Lebanon's security?" he asked. Shaaban argued the release
of the four Lebanese security force generals had reflected
poorly on the integrity of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon
(STL). Feltman replied that it was actually the UN
investigators who had ordered the generals' detention based
on the suspicion that they had compromised the crime scene
and hindered the investigation.


12. (S/NF) Shaaban responded that "all Arab media" had
reacted negatively to the unlawful detention of the Lebanese
officials, who had been held for 44 months without charges.
Shapiro noted that, had the STL wanted to play politics, they
would have delayed the release until after the elections.

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Muallim commented that the Tribunal depended on the actions
of three separate investigators who had not distinguished
themselves. In particular, Detlev Mehlis, the first UN
investigator, had pointed a finger at Syria based on the
testimony of false witnesses. Feltman said the STL had
issued no indictments and that it had observed international
standards of justice.


13. (S/NF) Muallim responded that Mohammed Saddiq, a
witness whose testimony had been subsequently discredited,
was now under arrest in the UAE. Mehlis had nonetheless used
Saddiq as a material witness. Feltman replied that Mehlis
had not served as the UN investigator for a long period.
Muallim remarked the German government had told him they
withdrew Mehlis because he had not conducted the
investigation in an objective manner. Still, Muallim
acknowledged, the situation in Lebanon seemed to be improving
as June 7 elections approached.


14. (S/NF) Feltman stated the elections would hinge on the
results in a few districts. He suggested that the release of
the four generals might play in different ways. Aoun's
supporters, for example, vividly remembered Jamal Sayyed's
acts against them prior to 2005, which might hurt the
opposition, he observed. Shapiro emphasized the importance
of non-interference; Muallim agreed and asserted he would not
visit Lebanon until after the elections to avoid any
suggestion of Syrian interference. Feltman commented Lebanon
had remained free of political violence. It nonetheless
remained important for all sides to urge restraint among
Lebanese actors, not just during the elections, but also
during the period of government formation.


15. (S/NF) Muallim said Syria's position on the necessity
for a national unity government was clear. Shaaban added
that if the U.S. objective was to promote Lebanese stability,
it should support a national unity government based on
cooperation among all parties. Feltman said the U.S. did not
oppose a national unity government but believed it should be
up to the Lebanese themselves. Muallim agreed. Feltman
added that a national unity government might prevent
violence, but how would it be able to govern effectively?
Shaaban said the Lebanese parties needed to agree to form a
new government on the principle of non-violence. "We're
against sectarianism," she concluded, "but Lebanon's
political system is based on it."


16. (SBU) Acting A/S Feltman and NSC Senior Director
Shapiro cleared this message.
CONNELLY