MEDIA REACTION ON SHARM EL-SHEIKH AND AQABA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 003207 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARN, NEA/PA, NEA/AIA, INR/NESA, R/MR, I/GNEA, B/BXN, B/BRN, NEA/PPD, NEA/IPA FOR ALTERMAN USAID/ANE/MEA LONDON FOR GOLDRICH PARIS FOR O'FRIEL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR JO SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON SHARM EL-SHEIKH AND AQABA SUMMITS Summary -- Lead story in all papers today, June 2, is that the King and Queen yesterday met with Professor Klaus Schwab, Head and Founder of the World Economic Forum. The King noted that holding this conference in Jordan is a distinguished initative towards formulating a joint vision for the future. Another lead story focuses on Prime Minister Abul Ragheb's meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas "Abu Mazen," in Amman yesterday. Discussion focused on the importance of implementing the road map and Jordan's support for Abu Mazen's government. Abu Mazen is expected to meet with King Abdullah today. Papers also reported that Foreign Minister Dr. Marwan Muasher will leave for Sharm El-Sheikh today to take part in preparations for the summit that will take place there tomorrow. The paper reported that Muasher denied statements by Jordan's ambassador to the U.S. doubting Abu Mazan's support among Palestinians. According to press reports, the Foreign Minister noted that the Ambassador was talking about a media and political campaign which could help the road map succeed. All papers reported that the State Security Court will look into the case of murdered U.S. diplomat Laurence Foley on Wednesday. Commentaries mainly focused on the forthcoming summits in Sharm El-Sheikh and Aqaba and the elections. Editorial Commentary -- "Will A Breakthrough Start from Aqaba?" After making a point that the forthcoming Aqaba summit crowns Jordan's peace efforts and is an acknowledgement of what Jordan has contributed, daily columnist Sultan Hattab writes on the op-ed page of semi-official influential Arabic daily Al-Rai (06/02): "President Bush has a difficult task ahead of him. Israeli Prime Minister Sharon is the one who will render Aqaba a success or a failure because the Palestinians and Arabs are more aware of their need to review their stands after what happened in Iraq. The bet is not on Sharon's inherent stands but on Bush's willingness and ability to exercise pressure on Sharon and on how sincere he was when he told some Arab journalists in an interview with him: `Yes, I can exert pressure on Sharon.' Can he really do so? We shall wait and see .. The waters of Aqaba will prove the diver to be a liar if he cannot swim!!" -- "Mr. Powell's Return" Columnist Osama Sharif writes on the op-ed page of center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour (06/02): "It is difficult to predict the importance of holding a summit in Sharm El-Sheikh and another one in Aqaba this week in terms of their practical results and how they will affect on the peace process and on the future of U.S.-Arab relations after the Iraq earthquake. On the one hand, both summits could be just another one of those Public Relations campaigns aimed at softening the effects of Arab resentment resulting from the U.S. war on Iraq and its occupation of it for an indefinate time. Therefore, perhaps what was required was to beautify the U.S. image and to divert attention from Washington's practices in Iraq to Palestine within the so-called road map. On another hand, the U.S. Administration may truly be determined to activate the Palestinian-Israeli portfolio and to force both parties to sit at the negotiations table to reach a final solution." Sharif continues: "Powell bowed to the storm when Cheney and Rumsfeld caught the president's interest during the Iraq crisis and the war. However, he was not totally defeated. Here he is back on the scene alongside his president, who is launching a diplomatic campaign in Europe and the Middle East at a time when the hawks are demanding that he be stern and continue with the thick stick diplomacy . However, Powell's return to the scene may give some hope regarding the U.S. Administration's stand on the Palestnian issue and its future." GNEHM