Cablegate: Syrian Support to Hizballah - Demarche Delivered in London

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RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLO #0042 0081723
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
R 081723Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY LONDON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4587
INFO RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 1062
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 0294
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS 0367
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 3564
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 0624

S E C R E T LONDON 000042

NOFORN SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2019

TAGS: PREL PTER LE SY IS

SUBJECT: SYRIAN SUPPORT TO HIZBALLAH - DEMARCHE DELIVERED IN LONDON REF: STATE 129636

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) an d (d).

(S/NF) Political Minister Counselor Greg Berry demarched Julian Miller, Deputy Foreign Affairs Advisor to Prime Minister Brown, and Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) MENA Deputy Director John Casson on Syrian military ties to Hizballah as instructed reftel. Miller promised to make sure the issue was included in future interactions with the Syrians. Casson agreed that the U.S. and UK share common strategic goals even if we do sometimes take a different approach. Casson further assured us that the issue is "front and center" and "always on the agenda" in all contacts with Syria. He said a team from HMG was scheduled to be in Damascus the week of January 11 and would include the Hizballah issue in the presentation to the Syrians. Unfortunately, Syria often does not address the issue directly, commonly responding that it "won't be resolved until there is peace with Israel." Visit London's Classified Website: XXXXXXXXXXXX
LeBaron

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