VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB
DE RUEHDM #0218 0911520
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 311520Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4787
INFO RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 7271
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 5505
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0816
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 3587
RUEHKU/AMEMBASSY KUWAIT 1314
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0396
RUEHMK/AMEMBASSY MANAMA 0660
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0766
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0419
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 7963
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0367
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
UNCLAS DAMASCUS 000218
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER MARR PREL PINS SY IZ
SUBJECT: SYRIAN INVITATION FOR U.S. TO ATTEND APRIL 13
DAMASCUS MEETING OF THE IRAQ NEIGHBORS BORDER SECURITY
WORKING GROUP
REF: 07 DAMASCUS 00814
1. This is an action request ) please see paragraph 5.
2. (SBU) On March 31 embassy received a Diplomatic Note from
the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Foreign
Minister's Office, dated March 29, 2008. The text of the
Diplomatic Note follows in paragraph 4.
3. (SBU) We believe this diplomatic note refers to the Iraq
Neighbors Border Security Working Group (BSWG) which the Iraq
neighbors agreed that Syria would host (Amman hosts the
working group on refugees and Turkey hosts the energy group.)
Damascus hosted the last iteration of the BSWG August 8-9,
2007. A U.S. delegation from Embassy Baghdad joined
representatives from the UK, France, and the UN in pushing
the Syrians to do more on border security. (Reftel)
4. (SBU)Begin Text: "The Foreign Ministry of the Syrian Arab
Republic presents its compliments to the Embassy of the
United States of America in Damascus, and has the honor to
inform that after consultation between the Foreign Ministries
of the Syrian Arab Republic and the Republic of Iraq it has
been decided that the meetings of the Coooperation and
Coordination Security Committee is scheduled on 04/13/2008 in
Damascus at the level of experts, arrival should be on April
12, 2008. The Foreign Ministry will pay the residency
espenses for the Heads of the delegations, the Ministry is
grateful to the embassy in receiving this invitation as an
observer, hoping to receive the names of the participants and
the time of their arrival. The Foreign Ministry avails
itself of this opportunity to renew to the esteemed embassy
the assurances of its highest consideration."
5. (SBU) Please advise post on the appropriate response to
this invitation.
CORBIN