Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03AMMAN3207
2003-06-02 13:41:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Amman
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION ON SHARM EL-SHEIKH AND AQABA
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
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
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