Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09DAMASCUS627
2009-08-27 12:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Damascus
Cable title:  

SYRIAN MFA: WE HOPE LOGIC WILL PREVAIL IN DISPUTE

Tags:  PREL UNGA IZ SY 
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TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6771
INFO RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 7669
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0015
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 5198
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 3966
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RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
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RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0692
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).

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