SYRIAN MFA: WE HOPE LOGIC WILL PREVAIL IN DISPUTE

C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 000627 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA, IO NSC FOR SHAPRIO/MCDERMOTT/PHEE LONDON FOR LORD PARIS FOR NOBLES E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/26/2019 TAGS: PREL UNGA IZ SY SUBJECT: SYRIAN MFA: WE HOPE LOGIC WILL PREVAIL IN DISPUTE WITH IRAQ Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Charles Hunter per 1.5 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Husam Alaa, Chief of Staff for Vice Minister Faisal Miqdad, told Charge August 27 Syria had responded in kind to official statements and steps from Baghdad alleging Syria's harboring of Iraqi Baathist militants. But Damascus had hosted what it viewed as a positive August 18 PM Maliki visit, and hoped logic would prevail in resolving the situation. Alaa made these comments after informing us that V/M Miqdad's schedule regretfully would not allow him to travel to Washington for meetings either before or after the UN General Assembly. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Alaa convoked Charge August 27 in response to NEA A/S Feltman's August 25 telcon invitation to V/M Miqdad to visit Washington. Miqdad very much wanted to visit, Alaa explained, but G-8 meetings before the UN General Assembly and other commitments afterwards left him no feasible window into which he might squeeze a trip to Washington. Miqdad, Alaa added, apologized for this regrettable situation and hoped an opportunity for a visit to Washington might be possible in the future. Alaa clarified the timing of this decision had nothing to do with anything other than Miqdad's busy schedule. ¶3. (C) Asked for his views on the current standoff between Damascus and Baghdad, Alaa replied the SARG had been surprised by the sharp tone of official Iraqi accusations regarding Syria's harboring of Iraqi Baathist militants alleged by Baghdad to be involved in the August 19 attacks. Iraqi PM Maliki had conducted a positive August 18 visit to Damascus, and he and President Asad had signed a strategic partnership agreement. Syria had roundly condemned the August 19 bombings and other attacks, and it had taken steps to improve border security cooperation and strongly supported the U.S. trilateral border assessment initiative. Syria had also urged PM Maliki to send a team to discuss the allegations against specific Iraqi individuals believed to be operating in Syria. ¶4. (C) Baghdad's decision to accuse Syria of having a role in the attacks and to announce the withdrawal of Iraq's ambassador to Syria necessitated a reciprocal Syrian response, Alaa continued. Many in Syria judged PM Maliki's actions to be aimed at strengthening his political position. Iraq's stated pretext for withdrawing its ambassador, however, did not reflect reality. Still, Syria agreed with the U.S. on the need to resolve the standoff through dialogue and hoped logic would prevail. ¶5. (C) Charge emphasized the U.S. desire to resolve the situation through a rational discussion of the facts, stressing neither side had an interest in escalation. He urged Alaa to recognize the Iraqis were dealing with rising violence levels and were deeply frustrated by Syria's open association with former regime elements who advocated violence against the Iraqi government and people. Syria too had a responsibility to de-escalate tensions by avoiding confrontational statements. Alaa replied Syria would wait to see what the Iraqis would do. "We hope they will think in a quiet manner and take cooperative steps to remedy this situation logically." Husam added that Syria had made clear its support for a stable Iraq and its desire for better relations. ¶6. (C) Husam inquired whether there was anything further to potential U.S. plans to launch peace negotiations in September. Charge said he had no new information, noting that we had not yet seen any official reports regarding Special Envoy Mitchell's August 26 meeting with Israeli PM Netanyahu. HUNTER