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ACTION NEA-10
INFO OCT-01 ISO-00 LAB-04 SIL-01 EB-07 SS-15 SP-02 MMO-01
PER-01 ABF-01 NSC-05 OMB-01 /049 W
--------------------- 051810
R 161007Z DEC 75
FM AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5558
INFO AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
AMEMBASSY AMMAN
AMEMBASSY CAIRO
AMEMBASSY DOHA
AMEMBASSY JIDDA
AMEMBASSY MANAMA
AMEMBASSY MUSCAT
AMEMBASSY SANA
AMEMBASSY BEIRUT
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE DAMASCUS 5009
KUWAIT PASS BAGHDAD
E.O. 11652: N/A
TAGS: APER, AFSP, ELAB, SY, XF
SUBJECT: TRANSFER OF REGIONAL LABOR ATTACHE
REF: KUWAIT 5029
1. POST RECEIVED FIRST VISIT FROM RLA MATTSON
DEC. 11-12 AND RESULTS EXCEEDED OUR EXPECTATIONS
CONCERNING POSSIBILITIES FOR SOME MEASURE OF
BILATERAL COOPERATION IN LABOR/MANPOWER FIELD.
ALTHOUGH 'ID HOLIDAYS NECESSITATED COMPRESSION
OF MATTSON'S ACTIVITIES INTO ONE DAY, HIS TALKS
AT MINISTRY OF LABOR AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS INSPRIED
REQUEST FROM INTERNATIONAL LABOR AFFAIRS DIRECTOR
THAT HE PAY RETURN VISIT IN NEAR FUTURE TO HOLD
DISCUSSIONS WITH DEPMIN FOR LABOR AFFAIRS.
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LRO WAS INVITED BY DIRECTOR TO WORK OUT AGENDA
TOGETHER FOR THESE TALKS PRIOR TO MATTSON'S
RETURN.
2. DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL STATISTICS BUREAU RECEIVED
MATTSON MORNING DEC. 10 AND INSISTED ON FOLLOWING
UP THIS MEETING WITH AFTERNOON DISCUSSION ON WAYS
TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY OF SYRIAN INDUSTRY.
3. MATTSON ALSO MANAGED TO ARRANGE APPOINTMENT
WITH TRADE UNION OFFICIAL, THOUGH APPOINTMENT
REQUESTED THROUGH FOREIGN MINISTRY WITH GCLU SECGEN
DID NOT MATERIALIZE. THIS MID-LEVEL UNION OFFICIAL
EXPRESSED DESIRE TO RECEIVE AMERICAN LABOR PUBLI-
CATIONS, FILMSTRIPS ON LABOR AFFAIRS DUBBED IN ARABIC
FOR USE AT TRADE UNION INSTUTUE, AND MAINTENANCE
OF REGULAR CONTACT WITH LRO.
4. POST DEEMS THIS FIRST VISIT OF RLA TO DAMASCUS
SUCCESSFUL AND BELIEVES IT WOULD BE USEFUL FOR
HIM TO VISIT DAMASCUS ON QUARTERLY OR AT LEAST
SEMIANNUAL BASIS. IF RLA ABLE TO ARRANGE SUCH VISITS
FROM WASHINGTON, WE PERCEIVE NO ADVERSE EFFECTS FROM
HIS TRANSFER THERE.
MURPHY
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