Summary of Judith Kipper’s Meeting on her Meeting with Khaddam and Haydar – December 31, 1983
Handwritten summary dated December 31, 1983, recording the key points from the Syrian side through Abdul-Halim Khaddam and Mohammed Haydar regarding the situation in the Middle East and relations with the United States, as follows:
Summary from Judith Kipper’s meeting with Abdul-Halim Khaddam and Mohammed Haydar between December 22-25, 1983, during her visit to Damascus.
Lebanon: Syria can accept the United States declaring the May 17 agreement frozen and non-implementable, and working according to UN Security Council Resolution 509, regarding the unconditional withdrawal of Israel. Syria would then withdraw. Lebanon and international forces will take on the security responsibility in southern Lebanon, and a national agreement will be reached. Syria supports a balanced national agreement in Lebanon, ensuring that no faction dominates over another.
Syria is with the unity of Lebanon and its sovereignty, and it has no regional ambitions. The slogan “Syria behind achieving Greater Syria” is merely a cover promoted by the Zionist lobby to disguise Israel’s goal in “Greater Israel.” Syria does not seek any confrontation with the United States and desires continuous dialogue, but as a small country, it will have to respond to any military provocation from the United States, as happened recently. Syria is against international polarization in the region and does not want an explosion between the two superpowers. Syria’s relationship with the other party (the Soviets) is a friendly relationship and does not reach the level of the Israeli-American relationship. America should adopt a balanced policy and stop its military and political support for Israel.
Eli Salem refused for Lebanon to take on the security mission in the south, and Khaddam said: Why don’t you go to Washington to negotiate with America on the matter? Khaddam believes that the Jumblatt regime does not want to bear extensive responsibility.
Organization: Arafat is working against his own interest. They will end Arafat, and the organization will remain the sole legitimate representative, unified but without Arafat. They support peaceful efforts and accept negotiations based on UN Resolution 242 or any fair basis. They rejected Reagan’s plan for two reasons: first, because it confirms America’s partial solution instead of a comprehensive solution. Second, because it contains principles that contradict the Faisal plan. They do not insist on an independent state and leave the matter to the Palestinians’ decision, whether they want a union with Jordan, Egypt, or Syria. The Palestinian issue is an Arab issue, and they will resist any unilateral solution, resisting Arafat and Jordan if they move in a unilateral direction. They are in favor of a solution involving Soviet participation or under the auspices of the Security Council and with the presence of all parties.
General Notes: A strong desire to improve relations with America. A sense of isolation, fear of internal issues as they recently closed 25 Islamic associations. Shultz was disappointed with Assad, and Assad was disappointed with Shultz because of a comment Assad made. After their last three-hour meeting, Shultz left Assad some papers to review and study. Assad responded that he would need three days to study them and added jokingly that he kept Kissinger here for thirty days. Shultz was displeased and left Damascus with personal bitterness, and Assad was disappointed because Shultz did not respond positively. Iran: Initial fear of the results of the spread of the Islamic movement and almost reluctance to support Iran, with the condition of overthrowing Saddam. The Iranian embassy in Damascus is noted to be a storehouse or workshop of explosives (according to a British journalist residing). It was observed that a number of Iranian clerics were present in Damascus before the US Navy barracks bombing. It was also noted that another accused person was recently present in Damascus before the incident near the French barracks.