CHANGE YOU CAN SEE: INAUGURAL RECEPTION AT EMBASSY DAMASCUS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DAMASCUS 000072 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA, NEA/PPD E.O.12958: N/A TAGS: PREL SCUL PGOV KPAO SY SUBJECT: CHANGE YOU CAN SEE: INAUGURAL RECEPTION AT EMBASSY DAMASCUS DRAWS AN ENTHUSIASTIC CROWD DESPITE TEPID SARG REACTION ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: Despite SARG efforts to keep people away from our January 20 reception in honor of the Presidential inauguration, more than 240 Syrians, foreign diplomats, and Americans crowded into an overflowing ambassador's residence to hear Barack Obama's inaugural speech. Our guests burst into applause several times during and after the President's address. In post-speech comments, people told us they saw Obama's remarks as capturing the America they admire and a possible improvement in the strained U.S.-Syrian relationship. The enthusiastic turnout suggests some Syrians are eager to resume personal ties with the Embassy, but the lack of any official SARG attendance or positive reaction to Obama's speech suggests the mood remains chilly. END SUMMARY -------------- THEY CAME . . . -------------- ¶2. (U) A diverse crowd of foreign ambassadors, representatives of international agencies, students, exchange alumni, and embassy wardens turned out for a reception to witnes the formal transfer of power to a new Administration. With events in Gaza still fresh in the public mind, post was pleasantly surprised by the high turnout and positive attitude of Syrians who attended. Though some contacts regretted because of "regional events" (i.e. Gaza),fully half of the mission's warden network, composed largely of Syrian-American businessmen, was in attendance. Post received a flurry of phone calls from foreign missions asking to be invited or bring guests -- the French Ambassador brought two visiting French senators. While many of our guests told us they had received instructions not to attend, SARG security outside the residence appeared to be less robust than normal and did not approach contacts entering or leaving the residence. It is too early to tell whether the security will call guests in afterwards for interrogation as they have done for several recent events. -------------- THEY SAW . . . AND WERE WOWED -------------- ¶3. (U) The crowd's attention focused intensely on the inaugural speech, broadcast on two television screens. Although most were standing, they listened in near-total silence to the entire speech, without the ring of a single cellphone. (Comment: Syrian audiences are rarely this rapt or undistracted.) Afterwards guests praised the speech, and many commented that they found the new President's words moving and an expression of the American values they cherish. Some quoted from it directly; several students told Emboff that they had skipped studying for exams the following day to attend the event and quipped, "We will just quote from the Obama speech instead." An ambassador from a major NATO country remarked, "With one speech, Obama has restored the international community's faith in America." Everyone seemed to find in the speech something relevant to his or her circumstances. During an interfaith conference sponsored by the Public Affairs Office the following day, a Syrian priest quoted Obama's statements on the U.S. as a country for diversity and for all religions as an example for Syria to follow. -------------- -- Syrian Press and Government Response More Tepid -------------- -- ¶4. (U) Most Syrian dailies made factual, front page mention of Obama's inauguration, but President Asad's defense of Hamas and dennunciation of Israel's Gaza invasion dominated converage. The first official public comments by Syrian officials on President Obama's assumption of office came on January 22. All Syrian papers and websites lead with a SANA press release saying that President Asad sent a congratulatory cable to President Barack Obama: "Syria looks forward to fruitful dialogue with the United States based on common interests and mutual respect that leads to a just and comprehensive peace in the region based on the relevant UN resolutions." ¶5. (U) All papers also featured a statement by Presidential Political and Media Advisor Dr. Bouthaina Shaaban saying that President Obama's speech "has replaced the fear that the Bush Administration instilled in the world with hope." ¶6. (U) The government-owned Al-Baath daily commented in an editorial that Obama's inaguration was welcome because "it marked the end of a black era in the history of the U.S. domestic and foreign policy." Semi-independent Al-Watan carried an op-ed by Sami Moubayed, a political analyst with very close ties to the government: "Some Syrians believe that Obama's inauguration is an important event, but they have no illusions that he can do miracles, because the new White House inhabitant will abide by mechanisms of the authority. I believe that Syria, since the beginning of establishing diplomatic relations with Washington learned not to pin hope on individual roles, because the men who enter the White House are not distant from the well-known public diplomacy. Therefore, Syrians have no DAMASCUS 00000072 002 OF 002 illusions." Moubayed added that "Obama will not be a savior for Syrians, but will be more fair and just than his predecessor George Bush." ¶7. (U) COMMENT: Viewed as a focus group, our guests expressed an unmistakeable sense of collective cathartic relief. Hopeful the U.S. would regain a position of international leadership, quickly address regional tensions, and move to improve strained U.S.-Syrian relations, they left upbeat and ready for the U.S. government to begin again. The absence of any official reactions suggests Syrian leaders are waiting for specific gestures toward Damascus before making any judgements. CONNELLY