SYRIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER VISITS TOKYO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 TOKYO 000248 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/28/2019 TAGS: PREL SY JA SUBJECT: SYRIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER VISITS TOKYO Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Jim Zumwalt, for reasons 1.4(b) and (d ) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad visited Tokyo January 26-29. The Japanese told him that while they appreciate recent positive movements on the Syrian-Israeli track and the move to normalized relations between Syria and Lebanon, Damascus still needs to play a much more constructive role toward achieving a comprehensive peace in the Middle East, and that Syria should reconsider its approach now that President Obama has been elected. They also warned him that they closely watch Syria's relations with North Korea, which is not to be trusted. Mekdad replied by stating Syria tried to restrain Hamas during the recent hostilities with Israel, but could not, due to Israel's actions which "prevented Hamas from being flexible." He held Israel fully accountable for the hostilities and, on a wider scale, for the fact that the countries of the region have not been able to achieve peace. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) During his visit to Tokyo, Mekdad held meetings with Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Seiko Hashimoto, Middle East Envoy Tatsuo Arima, Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Kenichiro Sasae, former Foreign Minister Taro Nakayama, and with several Diet members. He also gave a press conference. ¶3. (C) Mekdad's meeting with Foreign Minister Nakasone lasted only fifteen minutes, with interpretation, MOFA First Middle East Division Principal Deputy Director Akihiro Tsuji told Embassy Tokyo. The Syrians had requested a meeting with Prime Minister Aso, but that was not possible due to the Diet schedule. According to Tsuji, Nakasone - and the other ministry officials who met with Mekdad - told him that Japan is glad to see that Syria and Israel have recently been able to begin indirect negotiations with Turkish mediation, and also that Syria has moved to normalize its relations with Lebanon. Japan hopes progress will continue on both these fronts. However, Japan also expects Syria to play a more constructive role in the Middle East and that it should take steps to improve its relations with the international community, particularly the United States. With regard to the recent conflict in Gaza, Nakasone told Mekdad that it is important to arrive at a permanent cease fire, not another temporary truce. The international community must work together toward this goal, and Syria needs to play a more constructive role. ¶4. (C) Mekdad replied by blameing Israel for all the problems facing the Middle East. He agreeing that the problems in Gaza and in the Middle East in general cannot be solved without Syria. Syria, said Mekdad, wants to realize peace and stability in the Middle East and is disappointed that Israeli actions are making this more difficult. The main cause of the conflict in the region is the continued occupation of Arab land by Israel. Syria believes Japan can play a useful TOKYO 00000248 002 OF 003 role by advising the new U.S. administration and Israel to be more reasonable, and by encouraging the U.S. to play the role of honest broker. The Japanese response to this, said Tsuji, was that Syria needs to stop playing the extremist and terrorist cards and cooperate more in the process. In short, "the game is over" and Syria should take advantage of the inauguration of President Obama to improve relations. This is a big chance, Mekdad was told, and Syria should make sure not to miss it. The Japanese also warned Mekdad that they were carefully watching Syria's relationship with North Korea, which is not to be trusted. ¶5. (C) Mekdad persisted in insisting that the problems of the region were of Israel's making, reported Tsuji. With regard to Gaza, he claimed Syria tried to restrain Hamas but could not, due to the violent and provocative nature of Israel's actions which made it impossible for Hamas to be flexible. He held Israel fully accountable for the recent violence and then launched into a review of Middle East events dating back to 1948, blaming the Israelis for every failure to make progress throughout the history of conflict and negotiations. Peace won't be possible, Mekdad said, until the Israelis end their occupation of Arab lands, return the Golan Heights to Syria, and recognize the rights of the Palestinians to live in their own state. He said that Syria's talks with Israel have been frozen following the Gaza violence. With regard to Lebanon, Syria will continue to support that country's return to normalcy. And in Iraq, Syria has been working closely with Baghdad to help that country to regain its full independence and sovereignty, and hopes for enhanced cooperation in the "next stage." He concluded by urging Japan to use its influence to help solve the world financial crisis, but also to help solve the problems in the Middle East on the basis of UNSCRs 242 and 338. ¶6. (U) Mekdad's hard-line views were on full display January 28 at a press conference hosted by the Japan National Press Club. Stating that Israel's aggression in Gaza shows once again that the lack of a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East continues to effect the region and the world, Mekdad said that the "double standard" policies of Israel and the United States to isolate Hamas despite its electoral victory left Palestinians in Gaza with two choices: die of starvation or die actively resisting the occupation. Calling Israel's claim that it was forced to act by Hamas rocket attacks "the biggest lie I have ever heard," he asserted that even Israel admits it suffered no casualties from the rocket attacks while over forty Palestinians died at the hands of Israelis during the six month truce that preceded the recent violence. He ridiculed efforts by the Security Council to stop the fighting, complained that the resolution that did result treated the aggressor and the victims as equals, and bemoaned the lack of any serious international outcry over the fact Israelis were using F-16s and white phosphorus against civilians. Mekdad asserted that Syria opposes terrorism in all its forms, but separately qualified his TOKYO 00000248 003 OF 003 remark by stating that Damascus does not view acts of legitimate resistance to occupation as terrorism. ¶7. (U) With regard to Iraq, Mekdad told his audience that Syria had opposed the U.S. invasion, which was based on false information, and that it had created major problems for Syria, which was forced to commit many human rights violations because it was required to stop, question, and imprision young Arab men entering their country. He said that Syria remains committed to working with Iraq, but complained that the day after Damascus returned an Ambassador to Baghdad, the U.S. committed a military raid in Syrian territory that killed civilians and that, "to this day we still don't know what happened there." Asked about the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Harirri, Mekdad replied that Syria has cooperated with the investigation "one hundred percent" and "we have nothing to do with this heinous crime." If a Syrian is accused of complicity in the attack, he must stand trial in a Syrian court. He said that 13,000 Syrian soldiers were "martyred" to bring stability to Lebanon, and that the "Syrian occupation" of that country was "a big lie." "We withdrew our forces at the first possible opportunity." Responding to a question about the role of Iran, he said that Iran is a key player in the region and is a friend of the Arabs in the struggle against Israel. ZUMWALT