US embassy cable - 05ABUDHABI4629

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DEMARCHE: URGING ISOLATION OF SARG IN WAKE OF UNSCR 1636

Identifier: 05ABUDHABI4629
Wikileaks: View 05ABUDHABI4629 at Wikileaks.org
Origin: Embassy Abu Dhabi
Created: 2005-11-16 10:28:00
Classification: SECRET
Tags: PREL PGOV SY TC
Redacted: This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.
null
Diana T Fritz  08/27/2006 05:52:20 PM  From  DB/Inbox:  Search Results

Cable 
Text:                                                                      
                                                                           
      
S E C R E T        ABU DHABI 04629

SIPDIS
CXABU:
    ACTION: POL
    INFO:   RSO AMB DCM MEPI P/M ECON

DISSEMINATION: POL
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: AMB:MSISON
DRAFTED: POL:BTHOMSON
CLEARED: DCM MQUINN

VZCZCADI287
PP RUEHC RUEHDM
DE RUEHAD #4629 3201028
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 161028Z NOV 05
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2320
INFO RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS PRIORITY 0751
S E C R E T ABU DHABI 004629 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, SY, TC 
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE: URGING ISOLATION OF SARG IN WAKE OF 
UNSCR 1636 
 
REF: A. SECSTATE 205436 
 
     B. ABUDHABI 4548 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR MICHELE J. SISON, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). 
 
1. (S) Summary: On November 15, Ambassador discussed 
isolation of Syria with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed(AbZ), 
Minister of Information and ruling family point-man on 
UAE-Syria relations.  On November 9 Ambassador also delivered 
reftel demarche(ref A) to MFA U/S Abdullah Rashid al Noaimi. 
Ambassador urged the UAEG to send a clear message to Bashar 
Al-Asad that the regime's behavior is unacceptable. End 
Summary. 
 
2. (S) As he had told Ambassador and A/S Welch earlier this 
month, AbZ agreed November 15 that the U.S was right in 
continuing to apply pressure to Syria.  AbZ noted again that 
he had turned down Deputy FM Moallem's invitation to visit 
President Bashar in Damascus(ref B). 
 
3. (S) Ambassador stressed to U/S Al Naoimi on November 9 
that isolation, not engagement, was the only way to send a 
clear message to SARG that the regime's behavior is 
unacceptable and will not be tolerated by the international 
community. Ambassador pointed out that engaging SARG in 
high-level meetings either in Damascus or Abu Dhabi would 
send a mixed message about the situation that Syria has 
created, and about the total isolation from the international 
community that has resulted from their interference in 
Lebanese internal affairs.  Al Naoimi acknowledged USG 
concerns, noting that AbZ was becoming increasingly 
frustrated with Bashar, but added that the isolation of Syria 
remained the UAEG's last option. 
 
3. (S) In a follow-up meeting on November 14 Al Naoimi stated 
"We don't understand Bashar anymore; we thought that there 
was hope to engage the new, progressive Syria of the future, 
but we have only met the Syria of the past.  This last speech 
of Bashar felt like it was given in the 60's or 70's".  When 
pressed that engagement isn't working, Abdullah Rashid 
admitted, "No, it isn't working; they are pushing themselves 
to isolation." 
SISON 

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