CYPRUS FAVORS EARLY APPROVAL OF EU-SYRIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L NICOSIA 000010 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE, EUR/ERA, NEA E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/11/2019 TAGS: PREL CY SY LE SUBJECT: CYPRUS FAVORS EARLY APPROVAL OF EU-SYRIA ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT REF: SECSTATE 1985 Classified By: DCM Jonathan Cohen, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d). ¶1. (C) In response to Reftel regarding U.S. request that the European Union delay approval of its Association Agreement (AA) with Syria until the SARG improves its behavior and demonstrates commitment to its public pledges, PolChief on January 12 demarched Cypriot MFA Middle East Desk Officer Dionysus Dionysiou. Dionysiou dismissed reports that EU FMs might take up discussion of the Syria AA at the upcoming (January 25) GAERC, claiming it was not on the informal agenda earlier circulated. Further, member states were clearly divided on the AA, he asserted. Germany, The Netherlands, and the Czech Republic, among others, opposed its signing until the SARG made progress on meeting political "expectations" similar to those stipulated in our talking points. Cyprus belonged to the other group, comprised of Mediterranean member states like Greece and Malta, that favored an immediate signing. ¶2. (C) Engaging in multi-front dialogue with the Syrians held more promise in altering their behavior than "isolating" them would, Dionyisiou argued. The Association Agreement represented a useful tool; once signed, European Union officials regularly would engage their SARG counterparts within a formal framework and could use the expectation of development assistance and other "carrots" to foment positive change. Cyprus also worried about presenting a "balanced" EU external policy to its Arab neighbors with which it desired continued close relations. It supported deepening ties between Israel and the EU, he continued, but could not back that effort if Brussels were pegging the AA to political criteria. "Why was Syria's refusal to demarcate the Lebanese border and send an ambassador to Beirut any worse than Israel's extension of the West Bank wall and Jewish settlements there?" Dionysiou questioned. Urbancic