MESOP ASMA AL ASSAD’S private MONSTER CORRESPONDENCE / ALEX ROWELL – The Miqati connection

19 May 2015 – New Media – Previous leaks have touched in passing on the relationship between the Assads and members of the Lebanese Miqati family, particularly the businessman Azmi Miqati, CEO of the investment holdings conglomerate M1 Group and also nephew of Najib Miqati, two-time prime minister of Lebanon (from April to June 2005, and from January 2011 to March 2013). It was in exchanges with Azmi that Bashar al-Assad’s wife, Asma, famously declared “I am the REAL dictator” and also said she was a “monster.”

In the previously-unseen correspondence below, NOW shines further light on relations between the two families, which are evidently warm. For example, it is through another Miqati, Ayman, that the Syrian president purchased multimedia content from the online iTunes store. Azmi also offers occasional comments on regional political affairs, and while not himself a politician, he evidently derives certain privileges from his uncle: in one email, he tells Asma he is accompanying the then-prime minister on an “official” trip to the Vatican, where he will meet the Pope.

 

“Nice but scary too (a look into the future I guess)”

On 26 November 2011, Asma wrote the following email to Azmi:

Morning Greetings from a Bright Damascus, I heard you were here….but not HERE, so I guess you didn’t get your dose/boost.

God only knows what kind of a state you are in.  Well, needless to say we are all  well.  Kids were away so we had 24 hours to ourselves….nice but scary too (a look into the future I guess).

Not sure when you are next here or HERE, but I heard that MTN have given the green  light for the Trust collaboration – which of course is great news.  They have contacted Fares (the guy I pinched from you!) on how best to proceed.  If you are coming anytime soon, I would prefer we discuss a few things before the Trust is

informed.

Let me know if this works for you

Kiss(tm) = Mira + Taha + Nada + Laith – Azmi

Take care

Aaa

Later the same day, Azmi replied:

Good morning from beautiful Rome, Najib is on an official visit to the Vatican and  thought I would come along with Mira, Nada, Taha & Leyth for them to visit the

Vatican and meet the Pope….

I was in Beirut last week, tried calling to pass by but I guess he was too busy or

he intentionally wanted to keep me worried and in suspense for a little longer,

Should be back next week and this time will just camp next to the house to make sure

I get to see him 🙂

I am back Tuesday afternoon and staying till Friday, if you have time I can be

available at your convenience for us to discuss the collaboration.

 

Hope you managed to make the best out of the 24hrs to yourselves, where did the kids

go? Did they enjoy it? Did they miss you as much as you missed them? When Nada went

on her school trip she was very sad worried how much she will miss us, during that

whole week Mira and I were miserable counting the minutes of when she will be back,

when she came back she enjoyed it so much that she was actually sad to be back

missed her friends and had completely forgotten about us !!!

Hugs & Kisses (how do you manage to do the small TM) to, BA, HA, ZA, KA +++++++++ to

AAA

Azmi T. Mikati

 Birthday wishes

On 11 September 2011, which was Bashar al-Assad’s birthday, Azmi wrote him the following email:

 

Hi, 

Hope all is well.

Tried calling you just wanted to wish you a Happy BDay and wanted to hear if there was any surprise this

 year J

Take care & will try to call you tomorrow.

Best,

Azmi T. Mikati  

Azmi offers to “pass by” Bashar

On 14 September 2011, Azmi wrote the following email to Assad:

Hi,

I am in Beirut for a couple of days.

Let me know if you are free would pass by to say hi.

Take care,

Azmi T. Mikati

 

The iTunes fixer

On 1 January 2012, Bashar wrote to Azmi seeking to fix an apparent problem with his iTunes account. “thats what i got while trying to buy a gift” reads the subject line (the body of the text is missing in the version extant in the leaks).

Three days later, Azmi replied, saying, “Do you know what address you have on the Itune account? This might be the problem.”

The next day, Assad wrote: “Us store and the billin address is ayman’s one in us

It worked temporary only twice then stopped again

Let me try it and tell you if its ok”

Later the same day, Azmi replied: “I believe it is an iTunes issue please let me know if it still does not work and I will open a ticket with them.”

Then, on 13 January 2011, Assad wrote to Azmi once more:

 

> Hello
> I’m still having the same problem with iTunes gifts purchase. can you check with Ayman?
> Thanks

To which Azmi replied on the same day: “Sure will”

Magazine shopping

 On 28 November 2011, Assad wrote the following email to Azmi:

Hi Azmi 
Can please find me those magazines?
The artists guide to photoshop
The artists guide to illustrator
Computer arts
Imagine FX
Photo plus
Outdoor photographer
Photo pro
Artist and illustrators
50 photo projects
Portraits
Digital photography
Digital arts
Digital camera world
Thanks

The next day, Azmi replied: “Sure, I will try to see if I can find them here in Beirut.”

Turkey

On 5 January 2012, Azmi sent a New York Times article about crackdowns on press freedom in Turkey to both Bashar and Asma, commenting in the subject line: “The west really do not know what Muslim Brotherhood is all about. they are  being fooled”

Taha Miqati

On 30 September 2011, Azmi’s father, Taha Miqati (brother of Najib) forwarded Assad an analysis article written by the Stratfor consulting firm, titled, “The Syrian Opposition: Perception and Reality.” The article concluded the opposition was too weak and fragmented to overthrow the regime, and that a stalemate was the likely outcome for the near future.  https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/AssadLeaks/565287-the-miqati-connection?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=%2AMideast%20Brief&utm_campaign=New%20Campaign