US embassy cable - 04MADRID2101

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 002101 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, SP 
SUBJECT: SPAIN-SYRIA:  ASAD VISIT TO MADRID 
 
 
Classified By: Political Counselor Kathleen M. Fitzpatrick for reasons 
1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.   (C)  Summary:  Spanish MFA Political Director Dezcallar 
told us that Syrian President Asad during his June 1-2 visit 
to Madrid indicated he was fully willing to "go all the way8 
with Israel to achieve peace ) but on the basis of the 
return of all Syrian territory.  However, the Syrians said 
that water and navigation rights related to Lake Tiberias 
were not important to them; Syria wanted the symbolic 
satisfaction of having all of its territory returned, 
according to Dezcallar.  The GOS also found it significant 
that Asad had agreed to condemn "all forms of terrorism.8 
On WMD, Dezcallar said that the Syrians agreed to 
reinvigorate a Syria-Spain dialogue on the issue, and noted 
that both sides had called for a "weapons of mass 
destruction-free zone8 in the Middle East.  Dezcallar 
acknowledged that Asad gave nothing on securing the border 
with Iraq.  He said that Asad praised Spain's new "positive 
image" in the Arab world since the Iraq troop withdrawal 
decision.  He averred that Spain,s new role might be 
"useful" to the US with Syria or on other issues.  End 
summary 
 
2.  (C)  On the heels of visits to Madrid by Israeli FM 
Shalom and Palestinian PM Qorei, Syrian President Bashar Asad 
paid a visit to Spain to meet with King Juan Carlos (who paid 
a State visit to Syria in October, 2003), Spanish President 
Zapatero and FM Moratinos.  The Spanish press gave extensive 
and favorable coverage to the visit, and Asad and Zapatero 
issued a joint communiqu in which they agreed to broaden and 
deepen Syrian-Spanish relations.  The widely publicized 
communiqu states their agreement that peace in the Middle 
East could only be achieved through a "just and 
comprehensive" solution, and reaffirms the principles of the 
Madrid Middle East Peace Conference in October 1991 and 
relevant UNSC resolutions. 
 
3.  (C)  The communiqu also states that both states condemn 
"all forms of terrorism," in particular the March 11 
terrorist attacks in Madrid.  Both sides vowed to renew their 
commitment to cooperate and contribute whatever efforts 
necessary to combat international terrorism under the 
auspices of the United Nations.  Both governments expressed 
"solidarity with the Iraqi people8 and their desire for 
return of full Iraqi sovereignty and independence.  The 
communiqu also calls on the international community to work 
actively to achieve these objectives, with a central UN role 
in all of these efforts.  The two sides also agreed to work 
toward making the Middle East a "Weapons of Mass Destruction 
free zone" and to maintain a "frank and constructive" 
dialogue on this issue.  Spain also agreed to work to 
conclude an EU-Syria association agreement. 
 
4.  (C)  We discussed the Asad visit with MFA Political 
Director Dezcallar on the margins of a discussion on the Iraq 
UNSCR (septel).  When asked whether the Spanish government 
had pressed Asad on ending support for terrorism, Dezcallar 
said he and his colleagues found it significant that Asad had 
been willing to condemn "all forms of terrorism."   He 
believes this can help open a "channel of dialogue" with the 
Syrians on this issue.  Dezcallar noted Asad,s comment that 
Spain,s decision to withdraw its troops in Iraq had given 
Spain a new, more "positive" image in the Arab world.  Spain 
is taking an active role in the region, given FM Moratinos, 
previous experience in the region as EU envoy, and Spain,s 
new lines of dialogue could be "useful" to the U.S., 
Dezcallar said. 
 
5.  (C)  Asked whether Spain had pressed Asad on Weapons of 
Mass Destruction, Dezcallar said that Syria had agreed to 
renew a dialogue with Spain on the issue, and that this could 
also be helpful to us.  He had no comment on the pledge of 
support for a "Weapons of Mass Destruction-free zone" in the 
Middle East.  (There was no reference to Israeli nuclear 
issues.) 
 
6.  (C)  On the Iraq-Syria border, Dezcallar admitted that 
Asad had addressed this issue only in general terms, and had 
refused to acknowledged Syria,s own complicity in this area. 
 While Zapatero had publicly accepted Asad,s invitation to 
visit Syria, Dezcallar downplayed this, saying that no dates 
had been set and that "we shall see" when such a visit could 
take place. 
 
7.  (C)  Dezcallar highlighted Asad,s comments to his 
Spanish interlocutors on the Middle East peace process and 
relations with Israel.  Dezcallar said Asad indicated Syria 
was willing to "go all the way" with Israel to make peace, 
but on the basis of return of all of Syrian occupied 
territory.  Dezcallar insisted that the Syrians gave a "clear 
message" that they want peace, and were willing to forego 
water and navigation rights over Lake Tiberias as long as the 
200 kilometers of shoreline is returned to Syria.  What is 
important for Syria, Dezcallar said, is the symbolic 
significance of the return of all of its territory. 
 
8.  (C)  Comment:  This has been an extremely busy "Middle 
East8 period for the new Spanish government, with visits in 
the last two weeks by Israeli FM Shalom, Palestinian PM 
Qorei, Assistant Secretary of State Bill Burns, as well as 
visits to the region and North Africa by MFA Deputy Foreign 
Minister Bernardino Leon.  Clearly the new government wants 
to be a player on Middle East issues and believes, correctly 
or not, that its Iraq decision has provided new found 
"respect8 for Spain in the Arab/Muslim world.  Further, 
Moratinos will continue to remain active in his old EU 
portfolio.  It will be important for the USG to maintain 
close contact with our Spanish interlocutors on Middle East 
issues, in the hope of trying to avoid unhelpful messages or 
signals. 
ARGYROS