Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09DAMASCUS403
2009-06-08 14:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Damascus
Cable title:
SARG CONTINUES EFFORT TO MONITOR DIPLOMATIC TRAVEL
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHDM #0403/01 1591429 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 081429Z JUN 09 FM AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6463 INFO RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN PRIORITY 7628 RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 5789 RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 1099 RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 5172 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0593 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0562 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 0689 RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA PRIORITY 0038 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0647 RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 000403
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR L, NEA/ELA, AND DS/OFM
PARIS FOR WALLER, LONDON FOR TSOU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV OFDP OPRC SY
SUBJECT: SARG CONTINUES EFFORT TO MONITOR DIPLOMATIC TRAVEL
IN SYRIA
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 000403
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR L, NEA/ELA, AND DS/OFM
PARIS FOR WALLER, LONDON FOR TSOU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV OFDP OPRC SY
SUBJECT: SARG CONTINUES EFFORT TO MONITOR DIPLOMATIC TRAVEL
IN SYRIA
Classified By: CDA Maura Connelly for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Once a year the SARG Protocol Department sends
diplomatic missions a circular requesting all missions
provide the MFA with advance notification of any travel by
official personnel outside of Damascus. In previous years,
the MFA requested advance notification of travel by diplomats
to specific border regions. This year, the circular
suggested accredited missions are photographing military
sites and warned against consorting with individuals and
groups who "might influence or provoke" illegal activity.
The circular's language cautions diplomats against speaking
to "Syrian citizens" without prior approval from the MFA and
contains veiled threats against those missions that fail to
comply with the guidance.
2. (C) Comment: The SARG MFA appears to come under periodic
pressure from the Syrian intelligence organizations, which
evidently find following diplomats tedious and annoying work.
Faced with these internal complaints, the MFA seems more
concerned with curbing the diplomatic activities that annoy
the intelligence organizations than it is with demonstrating
the SARG's understanding of and respect for the Vienna
Conventions. We would like the Department's view of the
validity under the Vienna Conventions of the MFA's most
recent directive.
3. (SBU) Post's translation of the text of the Protocol
Department's circular follows.
*****Begin Text*****
Syrian Arab Republic
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Protocol Department
Circular
Compliments....
The Ministry recently noticed that some accredited missions
are holding activities that violate stated diplomatic goals,
including visiting other Syrian cities without prior approval
of the Ministry, photographing strategic and military areas,
transporting suspicious people in Embassy cars, taking side
roads instead of main ones (which might be dangerous),
discussing topics with Syrian groups and individuals that
might influence or provoke activities that violate Syrian
laws and regulations, and arriving at restricted border
crossing areas and crossing Syrian borders without prior MFA
authorization.
Accordingly, the Ministry calls your attention to previous
related circulars and makes the following requests of all
diplomatic missions:
1. Obtain previous approval from the Ministry - Protocol
Department before granting any interviews or activities with
Syrian citizens so the Ministry can facilitate required
visits and meeting procedures.
2. Inform the Ministry before departing Damascus to visit
other Syrian cities at least one week ahead of the date of
the visit. This is to ensure security and safety of the
accredited diplomats.
The Ministry respectfully requests all diplomatic missions
implement the above requests and hopes that it will not have
to take necessary actions or procedures for those diplomatic
missions who do not adhere to the aforementioned requests.
Salutations...
To all diplomatic missions and consulates accredited in
Syria.
*****End Text*****
CONNELLY
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR L, NEA/ELA, AND DS/OFM
PARIS FOR WALLER, LONDON FOR TSOU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV OFDP OPRC SY
SUBJECT: SARG CONTINUES EFFORT TO MONITOR DIPLOMATIC TRAVEL
IN SYRIA
Classified By: CDA Maura Connelly for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Once a year the SARG Protocol Department sends
diplomatic missions a circular requesting all missions
provide the MFA with advance notification of any travel by
official personnel outside of Damascus. In previous years,
the MFA requested advance notification of travel by diplomats
to specific border regions. This year, the circular
suggested accredited missions are photographing military
sites and warned against consorting with individuals and
groups who "might influence or provoke" illegal activity.
The circular's language cautions diplomats against speaking
to "Syrian citizens" without prior approval from the MFA and
contains veiled threats against those missions that fail to
comply with the guidance.
2. (C) Comment: The SARG MFA appears to come under periodic
pressure from the Syrian intelligence organizations, which
evidently find following diplomats tedious and annoying work.
Faced with these internal complaints, the MFA seems more
concerned with curbing the diplomatic activities that annoy
the intelligence organizations than it is with demonstrating
the SARG's understanding of and respect for the Vienna
Conventions. We would like the Department's view of the
validity under the Vienna Conventions of the MFA's most
recent directive.
3. (SBU) Post's translation of the text of the Protocol
Department's circular follows.
*****Begin Text*****
Syrian Arab Republic
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Protocol Department
Circular
Compliments....
The Ministry recently noticed that some accredited missions
are holding activities that violate stated diplomatic goals,
including visiting other Syrian cities without prior approval
of the Ministry, photographing strategic and military areas,
transporting suspicious people in Embassy cars, taking side
roads instead of main ones (which might be dangerous),
discussing topics with Syrian groups and individuals that
might influence or provoke activities that violate Syrian
laws and regulations, and arriving at restricted border
crossing areas and crossing Syrian borders without prior MFA
authorization.
Accordingly, the Ministry calls your attention to previous
related circulars and makes the following requests of all
diplomatic missions:
1. Obtain previous approval from the Ministry - Protocol
Department before granting any interviews or activities with
Syrian citizens so the Ministry can facilitate required
visits and meeting procedures.
2. Inform the Ministry before departing Damascus to visit
other Syrian cities at least one week ahead of the date of
the visit. This is to ensure security and safety of the
accredited diplomats.
The Ministry respectfully requests all diplomatic missions
implement the above requests and hopes that it will not have
to take necessary actions or procedures for those diplomatic
missions who do not adhere to the aforementioned requests.
Salutations...
To all diplomatic missions and consulates accredited in
Syria.
*****End Text*****
CONNELLY