THANK YOU TO EMBASSY DAMASCUS

UNCLAS STATE 050887 SENSITIVE SIPDIS FROM AA/S FELTMAN TO CDA CONNELLY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: APER AMGT SY SUBJECT: THANK YOU TO EMBASSY DAMASCUS Maura, I want to thank you and the entire Mission yet again for the outstanding support provided during Dan Shapiro's and my travel to Damascus. This was a much more difficult visit, highlighting the serious differences that must be resolved and underscoring that our effort to engage Syria as a means to address concerns and find areas of cooperation will be a long, slow process. I have no doubts that with your leadership and the quality of your team Embassy Damascus will continue to provide the timely reporting and analysis that inform our discussions in Washington. Thank you to the Management and RSO teams for their support during our trip, and to the public affairs and political sections for keeping Washington informed, dealing with media inquiries, and producing comprehensive, high-quality reporting cables. I know that supporting a trip like this continues well after we have departed and I appreciate all the hard work to complete the multiple reporting cables. To all those who worked behind-the-scenes to support this trip, please convey my gratitude. I want to recognize Russ Comeau who was an outstanding control officer. We wish him the best of luck in his onward assignment to Afghanistan. Lastly, thank you - once again - for your tremendous efforts. Embassy Damascus sets a high standard and all of us in Washington, myself especially, are appreciative of all that you do. Best, Jeff CLINTON