US embassy cable - 05PARIS4349

S E C R E T PARIS 004349 
 
SIPDIS 
 
RIYADH PLS PASS TO A/S WELCH 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2015 
TAGS: PREL, IZ, SY, FR 
SUBJECT: GOF SUPPORTIVE OF SECRETARY'S ORAL MESSAGE ON THE 
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON IRAQ 
 
REF: STATE 114212 
 
Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt, reasons 
1.5 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (S) We delivered the Secretary's oral message on the 
International Conference on Iraq to FM Douste-Blazy's Cabinet 
Advisor on Middle East and UN Affairs Christophe Guilhou and 
separately to MFA DAS-equivalent for Iraq/Iran/Arabian Gulf 
Affairs Antoine Sivan June 20.  Guilhou welcomed the 
Secretary's message, and confirmed that the GoF had no 
 
SIPDIS 
intention of receiving Syrian officials on the margins of the 
June 22 Brussels meeting, nor had Syria requested any such 
meetings.  Guilhou stressed that the GoF was maintaining its 
policy of limiting contact with the Syrian government to its 
bilateral embassy in Damascus.  He conceded that the GoF had 
earlier considered reevaluating this policy, depending on the 
outcome of Lebanon's parliamentary elections, but the 
assassination of Lebanese journalist and French dual national 
Samir Kassir had hardened the GoF position against upgrading 
contact with Damascus. 
 
2. (S) MFA DAS-equivalent Sivan expressed general GoF 
agreement with reftel points, particularly on the need for 
the international community to urge Iraqis to reject violence 
and support an inclusive political process.  Sivan also 
concurred on the need for the international community to 
deliver tough messages to Damascus on the need to honor its 
commitments under UNSCR 1546 and do more to support Iraq. 
Sivan added, however, that it was also in Iraq's interest to 
try and build better ties with its neighbors.  For this 
reason, the GoF would have preferred for Iraq's neighbors to 
have been included at the June 1-2 Cairo preparatory meeting 
for the International Conference, which would have more 
closely associated all of Iraq's neighbors, including Syria, 
with the goals of the gathering. 
WOLFF