Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 6246 / 251,287

### Articles

Brazil Sri Lanka United Kingdom Sweden Editorial United States Latin America Egypt Yemen Jordan

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 88 89 90 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03
1986/05
1988/01
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/07 2001/10 2001/11
2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/11 2002/12
2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Amsterdam American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamburg
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lagos
Mission USNATO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan
Embassy New Delhi Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Consulate Vladivostok
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ASEC AF AORC AMGT AE AL AFIN AR ASIG ABLD AFFAIRS AG AJ AEMR APER AS AA APECO AO AM AU ACOA AX AMED AROC ATFN ASEAN AFGHANISTAN ADCO AFU AER ALOW AODE ABUD ATRN ASUP AID AC AVERY APCS ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AGMT
BRUSSELS BR BA BG BEXP BIDEN BTIO BF BY BM BH BU BO BE BL BK BX BBSR BC BT BB BILAT BMGT BTIU
CU CS CVIS CMGT CH CBW CO CI COUNTERTERRORISM CA CASC CG CJAN CE COUNTER CD CV CY CDG CIA CACM CDB CAN CN COE CM COUNTRY CLEARANCE CPAS CACS CWC CF CONDOLEEZZA CT CARSON CL CR CIS CLINTON CODEL CTM CB COM CKGR CONS CJUS
DOD DR DJ DA DEAX DOE DISENGAGEMENT DEA DK DHS DTRA DS DOMESTIC
ECON EUN ETTC ENRG ETRD EFIN EG ELAB EINV EAIR EPET EINVEFIN ES EU EAID EAGR ENNP ECUN ECIN EC EXTERNAL EMIN EWWT ELTN ECPS EN ELECTIONS EIND ER EINT ET ENIV EZ ECINECONCS ENVR EK ENVI EFINECONCS ECIP EINDETRD EUC EI EREL ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EFIS ECA ENERG ENGY ETRO ELN EFTA ECONCS ECONOMICS EUR ECONEFIN EINVETC EINN ENGR ESA ETC ETRDEINVTINTCS ESENV ETRDECONWTOCS EUNCH EINVECONSENVCSJA
FR FARC FMLN FREEDOM FBI FAO FTAA FI FJ FINR
GM GG GOI GV GZ GT GA GANGS GTMO GH GR GE GAZA GCC GOV GY GTIP
HO HURI HA HU HR HUMAN HILLARY HK HSTC HYMPSK
IN IR IC IS IZ IT IAEA ITRA INTERPOL IMO ISRAELI ICJ ITALY ITALIAN IRAQI IO ICRC IACI ID IV ICTY IQ ICAO IPR INRB ITPHUM IWC IIP IL IA INR ITPGOV IZPREL ILC IRC INRA INRO IRAJ IEFIN IF INTELSAT ILO IBRD IMF
JO JOSEPH JA JM JAMES JUS JP JOHNNIE
KSPR KSUM KCRM KTIA KJUS KTFN KNNP KWBG KDEM KOMC KRFD KZ KU KPAL KISL KPAO KGIC KIPR KGHG KSCA KWMN KSEP KCOR KIRF KVPR KFSC KV KE KR KAWK KPRP KPKO KBIO KOLY KG KTIP KICC KBCT KHLS KMDR KN KUNR KS KPWR KCIP KWAC KMIG KFLO KNPP KTDB KFLU KCRS KSTH KFRD KO KX KAWC KERG KWMM KCFE KSEC KIFR KDRG KDEMAF KFIN KGCC KPIN KHIV KPLS KIRC KMCA KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KACT KRAD KGIT KSTC KBTS KPRV KBTR KRVC KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNSD KMPI KVIR KNUP KTER KNEI KDDG KHSA KMRS KHDP KTLA KPAK KNAR KREL KPAI KTEX KCOM KNNPMNUC KPOA KLIG KOCI KHUM KDEV KNUC KCFC KREC KOMS KWWMN KTBT KIDE KWMNCS KSAF
LE LY LG LAB LU LH LI LOG LO LT LTTE
MARR MCAP MOPS MASS MIL MX MNUC MV MO MTCRE MY MR MAR MD MRCRE MPOS ML MZ MEPP MA MOPPS MAPP MU MASC MP MT MERCOSUR MK MDC MI MAPS MCC MASSMNUC MQADHAFI MUCN MTCR MG MC MTRE MEPI
NO NATO NL NPT NI NU NATIONAL NP NG NS NA NGO NIPP NSG NZ NRR NAR NE NASA NK NPG NT NSF
OAS OTRA OVIP OPDC OPRC OSCI ODIP OFDP OPIC OEXC OVP OTR OREP OSAC OIIP OSCE OECD OPCW OIC OFFICIALS OIE
PREL PGOV PK PTER PINR PHUM PARM POL PINS PBTS PREF PEPR PINT PHSA PSOE POLITICAL PARTIES PSI PALESTINIAN PM PA PE PROP POLITICS PO PBIO PECON PL PRGOV PLN PU POV PG PAK POGOV PINL PKFK PMIL PY PFOR PHALANAGE PARTY PRAM PAO PMAR PGOVLO PUNE PORG PHUMPREL PF POLINT PHUS PGOC PNR PGGV PNAT PGOVE PRL PROV PTERE PGOF PHUMBA PARMS PINF PEL
QA
RS RW RU RO RIGHTS RF RICE ROBERT RFE REGION RP
SP SI SA SNAR SCUL SOCI SENV SO SMIG SY SU SW STEINBERG SN SR SZ SG SYR SF SL SIPRS SH SNARCS SOFA SANC SHUM SK ST SC SAN SEVN
TU TBIO TRGY TSPA TSPL TW TS TP TI TX TC TERRORISM TPHY TZ TIP TH TO TK TNGD TINT TRSY TR TFIN TD TT TURKEY
USEU UZ UK UNHRC UNGA UN UY UNESCO UP UNMIK UG USTR US UNSC UNAUS UV UNO UNEP UNDP UNCHS UNVIE UNCHC UE UNDESCO USAID UNHCR UNDC USUN UAE
VE VT VZ VTPREL VN VM
WTRO WI WHO WTO WTRQ WWARD WB WHA WBG WMO WEU WZ WA
XK XL XM XR XS XF XA XW XG XY XT XH XZ XE XD XC
YM YMCS YI YE
ZF ZU ZP ZR ZI ZB ZO ZANU ZA ZOELLICK ZK ZJ

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 08DAMASCUS427, FRENCH CONSIDER THEIR DAMASCUS VISIT A SUCCESS

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08DAMASCUS427.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
08DAMASCUS427 | 2008-06-16 16:04 | 2010-12-07 21:09 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Damascus

`

    VZCZCXRO0539
    PP RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV
    DE RUEHDM #0427/01 1681625
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    P 161625Z JUN 08
    FM AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5083
    INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
    RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
    RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 2169
    RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
    RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL
    RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
    RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0426

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DAMASCUS 000427

    SIPDIS

    NEA/ELA

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/15/2018
    TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PTER SY
    SUBJECT: FRENCH CONSIDER THEIR DAMASCUS VISIT A SUCCESS

    Classified By: CDA Todd C. Holmstrom for reasons 1.5 b/d

    ¶1. (C) Summary. The SARG worked to portray the June 15 visit
    by two French presidential envoys as a vindication of Syria's
    hard-line policy of "resistance." The French themselves say
    the visit was successful as it furthered the GOF's priority
    of ensuring President Asad participate in the Mediterranean
    Union summit in Paris on July 13. According to our French
    colleagues in Damascus, Asad told them that he was optomistic
    a new cabinet would be formed in the next week or two in
    Beirut; the SARG supported both the Egyptian effort to broker
    a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, and would soon host
    Abu Mazen in an effort to heal the Fatah - Hamas rupture.
    Asad declined to be engaged on human rights and detained
    political prisoners. And he stated flatly that the SARG
    would make no effort to engage the USG until after the
    election in November. End summary.

    ¶2. (U) The June 15 one-day visit of secretary general of
    President Sarkozy,s office, Claude Gueant, and Sarkozy,s
    chief diplomatic advisor, Jean-David Levitte, was front page
    news in Syria,s state-owned papers. The lead editorial in
    Al-Thawra commented that the visit showed that the SARG,s
    policy &of resistance8 had succeeded and France was
    therefore compelled to reengage Syria on the SARG,s terms.
    The reporting of the quasi-independent Al-Watan, which
    coordinates its political commentary closely with the
    security services, implied the visit highlighted a fracture
    in U.S. ) French policy towards Syria.

    ¶3. (C) In contrast, Nicolas Suran, DCM at the French
    embassy, categorized the visit as a success and offered us
    the following readout. The two presidential advisors had a
    one and a half hour meeting with President Bashar Al-Asad
    followed by a meeting and then lunch with FM Walid Muallem.
    Both meetings were focused on Syria,s participation in the
    upcoming July 13 Mediterranean Union summit in Paris.
    According to Suran, Levitte and Gueant were able to answer
    Asad and Muallem,s concerns regarding the proposed
    Mediterranean Union making Asad,s participation more likely.
    Suran said, baring unfavorable regional developments, Asad
    would attend the summit next month in Paris. It was agreed
    that FM Muallem will visit Paris in early July to prepare for
    Asad,s visit later the same month. Suran qualified the SARG
    commitment as &progress8 given the fact that just a month
    and a half ago Asad was not planning to attend and was
    echoing others, criticisms of both the summit and the
    proposed Union.

    ¶4. (C) Suran said discussions covered the full range of
    regional issues as well. On Lebanon, Asad said the SARG had
    very little ability to influence the political process at
    this point and that a failure would be a result of internal
    maneuvering by Lebanese politicians. Nonetheless, both Asad
    and Muallem were optimistic that a new cabinet would be
    formed in the next week or two. Asad said Syria would remain
    committed to the Turkey brokered talks with Israel. Asad
    reportedly told the French that Syria was actively supporting
    Egypt,s attempt to conclude a cease fire between Hamas and
    Israel. Syria was also working at Palestinian reconciliation
    and would host Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas in the next
    four or five days in an attempt to further the process,
    according to Suran.

    ¶5. (C) Suran said Gueant and Levitte raised human rights and detained political prisoners with Asad. Following his now  standard practice, Asad demurred and asserted that both  issues were &internal affairs8 and not to be discussed with visitors. Suran commented that, nonetheless, neither Gueant nor Levitte were put-off by Asad,s answer but were instead encouraged that Asad,s manner seemed to allow the issue to  remain on the table. Suran reminded us that when then
    President Chirac visited Damascus in 2000 Asad did release Riad Turk from jail in answer to Chirac,s direct appeal. Suran commented that a similar result would be possible if Asad,s July 13 visit to Paris were to be successful.

    ¶6. (C) Suran said the only area the Syrians were not responsive on was a request to stop arms shipments to Hezbollah, and to take more positive actions to improve Iraq,s security. According to Suran, Asad linked the requests to the USG and asserted the SARG felt no need to
    provide concessions to the current Administration. According to Suran, both Asad and Muallem were adamant that they had

    DAMASCUS 00000427 002 OF 002

    written off the Bush Administration and would make no gesture
    or concession towards the U.S. until a new administration was
    in the White House.

    ¶7. (C) Comment. Based on both their public and private statements, it is apparent that the Syrians believe they are dealing from a position of strength not only with the French but also the western world writ large. Still the Syrians are ready for their isolation to end. As Suran commented, Asad has not visited a western capitol in years and so is
    obviously anxious to be received in Paris for the PR value if nothing else. HOLMSTROM

`