Wikileaks: Americans are not convinced the French policy of openness on Damascus

Wikileaks: Americans are not convinced the French policy of openness on Damascus


Revealed confidential diplomatic cables leaked by WikiLeaks Tuesday and quoted by French newspaper Le Monde that the opening-up policy on Syria pursued by French President Nicolas Sarkozy since 2008 did not convince the administrations of Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. The cables said Washington would prefer an approach puts clear conditions, arguing that "Damascus is still a major source of many problems, such as the transfer of weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas and support the intervention in Iraq." And some of the cables expressed "dismay" about the policy of the French president pointed to differences in views between the French Presidency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which he described as tougher toward Damascus.
Memorandum suspended the invitation of American Bashar al-Assad to Paris on the occasion of the first summit of the Union for the Mediterranean in July 2008 that "the Syrians consider themselves in a position of strength." The Telegraph revealed that the Elysee Palace, he made a timid attempt was soon abandoned her for raising the issue of human rights. Assad has rejected a French proposal for the release of political prisoners before his visit to Paris.
U.S. diplomat wrote that "the Syrians have turned the message subtly and suggested France should pass through Qatar in relation to requests related to human rights. So as not to give the impression that Syria bow to Western pressure," adding, "It seems that this argument is flimsy fell for the French." Washington had described Sarkozy's visit to Damascus in September 2008 as "premature," arguing that it "looks as a reward for Assad on vague promises have not translated acts."
The administration acknowledged that the French goal requires to carry Syria to adopt a more constructive attitude in Lebanon and trying to break its alliance with Iran. At the time France was firmly confirm it deals with Syria as demanding sending Syrian ambassador to Beirut before the end of 2008 and considers that Sarkozy "has succeeded in influencing the Assad approach" for the Iranian nuclear file. U.S. came in a telegram, "We are skeptical about it a little bit."
In March 2009 a U.S. diplomat said in Paris on the substance of an interview conducted with the French envoy for relations with Syria and the Israeli entity, Jean-Claude Cousseran transferred envoy as saying that "the Syrians do good to surround their interlocutors wonderful atmosphere of" before "Ieiteke empty hands." And hung the American Embassy in Paris that "the French ambitions in the Middle East .. disappointed." It held that "French officials are convinced that Sarkozy's outstretched hand of President al-Assad made a more positive partner in order to settle the problems in the region, though it is difficult for them to give concrete examples of this change."