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PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHC #2962 0932251
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 032233Z APR 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR PRIORITY 2343
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 2202
RUEHML/AMEMBASSY MANILA PRIORITY 0448
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 3289
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 3782
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 0532
RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA PRIORITY 7821
RUEHSL/AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA PRIORITY 9019
RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE PRIORITY 4891
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 0153
RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID PRIORITY 1247
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 5561

UNCLAS STATE 032962 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL SY
SUBJECT: SYRIAN NATIONAL DAY ATTENDANCE 
 
REF: STATE 20919 
 
¶1. (SBU) Posts receiving invitations to receptions for 
Syria's April 17 National Day are authorized to attend at the 
deputy chief of mission level or below.  In any substantive 
discussion of U.S. policy toward Syria, posts are authorized 
to draw from reftel points.  This is a one-time authorization. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Since 2005, the Department has maintained extremely 
limited official contact with Syria, a designated state 
sponsor of terrorism.  President Obama and Secretary Clinton 
have committed to sustained and principled engagement with 
Syria to advance shared goals and address key concerns.  On 
February 26, NEA Acting Assistant Secretary Jeffrey Feltman 
met Syrian Ambassador Imad Mustapha in Washington.  On March 
7, Feltman and NSC Senior Director for the Near East and 
North Africa Daniel Shapiro met Syrian Foreign Minister Walid 
Muallim in Damascus.  In the wake of these initial contacts, 
Syria has taken limited positive steps, including naming an 
ambassador to Lebanon, dispatching Muallim to Baghdad to meet 
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, and agreeing to reopen the 
American Language Center in Damascus.  As additional 
engagement proves fruitful, the Department will undertake a 
broader review of its policy on official contact with Syria. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Please contact NEA Syria desk officer Allison Monz 
with questions or for further guidance. 
CLINTON