This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 008617
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2015
TAGS: PREL PTER SY LE EG UNSC
SUBJECT: ARAB LEAGUE SECRETARY GENERAL MOUSSA COMMENTS ON
SYRIA AND MEHLIS
Classified by Ambassador Francis J. Ricciardone for reasons
1.4(b) and (d).
1. (C) During a November 15 meeting, Arab League Secretary
General Amre Moussa told the Ambassador of his latest
discussions with Syrian President Asad. Moussa said that
when he saw Asad before his recent speech, Asad pledged:
full cooperation with Mehlis; that he would tell any high
official summoned for the investigation to cooperate; and
that he could not send anyone to Lebanon for investigation.
According to Moussa, Asad said questioning Syrian officials
in Lebanon would be humiliating and unsafe.
2. (C) Moussa also said that Asad expressed a strong
preference that the investigations take place on UNDOF
premises, which is on Syrian soil but "under the UN flag."
According to Moussa, Asad also, however, asked Moussa about
using the Arab League in Cairo for questioning. Moussa said
that he told Asad that this could only happen on four
conditions: 1) Mehlis agrees, 2) the GOE agrees, 3) Lebanon
agrees, and 4) Syria formally asks the Arab League to offer
its facilities. Moussa said that he knew that Syria sent its
legal advisor to Beirut to meet with Mehlis, but he had not
heard the results of the meeting. Moussa said he would call
the Syrian Ambassador in Cairo for a report after his meeting
with the Ambassador.
RICCIARDONE