Cablegate: Syrian Ambassador Stopped at Jfk International

VZCZCXYZ0002
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #1560 2291503
ZNY EEEEE ZZH
P 171503Z AUG 06
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9879
INFO RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS PRIORITY 0300

UNCLAS E F T O USUN NEW YORK 001560

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR IO/UNP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OFDP SY UN JA AFARI BASHAR

SUBJECT: SYRIAN AMBASSADOR STOPPED AT JFK INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT

1. This message is sensitive but unclassified. Please
handle accordingly.

2. ACTION REQUEST: USUN has received a note verbale from
the Syrian Mission to the UN which requests an explanation
for the delay experienced by Syrian PermRep Ja'afari on
arrival at Kennedy Airport on July 6. According to the
note, Ja'afari was told that the delay in admitting him was
because the State Department had added his name to "a
system". USUN requests guidance for a reply.

3. Begin text of note dated August 15, 2006 from the
Permanent Mission of the Syrian Arab Republic to the United
Nations: (complimentary salutation)...and has the honour to
inform that upon the arrival of the newly appointed Syrian
Ambassador to the United Nations, H.E. Dr. Bashar JA'AFARI,
on 6 July 2006 at JFK Intl. Airport, the Ambassador was asked
to step aside without clarification and he was escorted to a
small room. The Ambassador was completely surprised by such
unusual procedures, which violates Vienna Convention and the
Host Country commitments. After over 15 minutes of this
delay, the Syrian Ambassador was allowed to exit the airport.
The officer justified this delay by referring to the fact
that the name of the Ambassador was added to their system by
the State Department, and that they have to follow such
procedures in these cases.

The Permanent Mission of the Syrian Arab Republic to the
United Nations wishes to draw your kind attention that this
was not the first time such thing happened. Some Syrian
diplomats had previously faced similar situation.

The Permanent Mission of the Syrian Arab Republic to the
United Nations would like to receive an explanation to this
dangerous breach of the commitments of the Host Country, and
to assure that no such incident occur in the future.
(complimentary close). End text.
BOLTON

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