US embassy cable - 05PARIS5943

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 005943 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/01/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, PGOV, SY, FR 
SUBJECT: POSITIVE INITIAL FRENCH RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON 
ISOLATING SYRIA AT UNGA 
 
REF: STATE 159137 
 
Classified By: Acting Political Minister-Counselor Bruce Turner, reason 
s 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (S) Poloff discussed reftel points on isolating Syria at 
UNGA with MFA desk officer for Syria/Lebanon Remy Bouallegue 
and MFA desk officer for UN/Middle East Affairs Salina Grenet 
on August 31.  Bouallegue reiterated that the GoF would not 
receive Syrian officials at UNGA and was maintaining its 
non-contact policy with senior Syrian officials.  He 
confirmed GoF willingness in principle to make parallel 
demarches urging isolation of Syria at UNGA, but noted that 
he needed higher-level guidance to determine how the GoF 
would carry out its approach.  Poloff urged the GoF to focus 
demarches on Arab and European governments; it would be 
important particularly for Arab League capitals to hear a 
reinforcing message from Paris on the need to maintain 
diplomatic isolation of Damascus. 
 
2. (S) Bouallegue noted that the GoF regularly urged European 
governments not to meet with senior SARG officials, and added 
that the Norwegian PM had apparently rejected a Syrian 
request to meet with Asad in New York.  Grenet, who just 
completed a four-year tour in Damascus, added that Greece, 
Italy, and Spain were generally the most forward-leaning EU 
governments towards Damascus, though she doubted that any EU 
member would receive the Syrians in New York.  The problem 
was more with the Arab League members, for whom it could be 
difficult to turn down Syrian requests for meetings.  Moscow 
and Ankara would also be less receptive to approaches on 
isolating the SARG, given the Russians' unhelpful stance in 
UNSC consultations on the Mehlis commission interim report, 
as well as the Turkish president's insistence on traveling to 
Damascus earlier this year. 
 
3. (S) Grenet added that while the GoF had approached Arab 
governments at the highest levels on Syria, it had done so 
solely from the angle of Lebanon.  Any GoF demarches on 
isolating Syria at UNGA therefore would likely be 
Lebanon-focused, but could perhaps also address Syria's 
deteriorating human rights record, which was a shared EU 
concern.  Poloff stressed that the totality of SARG 
destabilizing actions, including on Iraq and Palestinian 
terrorist groups, should be of concern to the GoF.  She added 
that the July 2005 EU General Affairs Council (GAC) 
conclusions on Syria, while Lebanon-focused, had called into 
question Syria's stance on Iraq and its support for 
Palestinian terrorist groups.  Bouallegue took the point, 
while observing that the GAC language on Iraq and Palestinian 
rejectionist groups was much softer and more positive than 
that contained in our demarche. 
 
4. (S) Bouallegue concluded the discussion by offering to 
keep us apprised on GOF decisionmaking regarding parallel 
demarches in coming days. 
STAPLETON