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 VIENNA 000654 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2015 
TAGS: OPDC PREL AU FR SY
SUBJECT: ASSAD VISIT TO VIENNA POSTPONED INDEFINITELY 
 
REF: A. (A) STATE 36905 
 
     ¶B. (B) VIENNA 572 
 
Classified By: Ambassador W.L. Lyons Brown.  Reason:  1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1.  (C) Markus Lutterotti, Diplomatic Advisor to President 
Fischer, told the Ambassador March 3 that Bashar al-Assad,s 
trip has been postponed indefinitely.  Lutterotti said that 
Assad had called Fischer March 2 to postpone the trip 
(originally planned for March 15) &in view of the present 
situation.8  Lutterotti would not be drawn into commenting 
on how long the postponement would last, nor would he say 
which party had instigated the postponement.  The Ambassador 
noted that the news of the postponement came through just as 
he and French Ambassador Viaux were preparing to make an 
urgent and tough demarche to Foreign Minister Plassnik. 
Telling Lutterotti that the prospect of an Assad visit had 
surprised and dismayed the USG at the highest levels in 
Washington, the Ambassador said we hoped the visit would not 
be reconstituted. 
 
¶2.  (C) (Note:  In a subsequent discussion with French 
Ambassador Viaux, the Ambassador was informed that the French 
ambassador in Damascus has confirmed that the trip is off. 
End note.) 
 
¶3.  (C) Comment: While the Assad visit postponement vitiates 
the immediate need for a demarche to Plassnik, the Ambassador 
will discuss the issue with MFA Secretary General Kyrle (en 
route to Paris today to meet with his French counterpart) to 
ensure that the foreign ministry as well as the president,s 
office understands the level of U.S. concern regarding such 
visits.  End Comment. 
Brown