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OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNC #0431 0801515
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 211515Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY NICOSIA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5731

C O N F I D E N T I A L NICOSIA 000431 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/22/2016 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SY CY
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: URGING THE EU TO SPEAK ON 
HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN SYRIA 
 
REF: STATE 41395 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald L. Schlicher, reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) 
 
¶1. (C)  On March 21, poloff delivered reftel message to 
Charalambos Hadjisavvas, who follows Middle Eastern issues in 
the MFA's office of bilateral affairs.  Hadjisavvas agreed to 
pass the request to his director, but explained that, as with 
most issues related to human rights in the Middle East, 
Cyprus would follow the EU's lead.  He stressed that respect 
for human rights in the Middle East was of great importance 
to Cyprus, both in the interest of maintaining good relations 
with its neighbors and in upholding the island's image as a 
safe tourist destination.  Cyprus's location and small size, 
however, meant that it would play only a supporting role, and 
not the lead, in criticizing repressive Middle Eastern 
governments. 
SCHLICHER