MEDIA REACTION: ARAB SUMMIT

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 001742

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP; NEA/PPD; NEA/RA; INR/R/MR; PA;
INR/NESA; INR/B; IIP/G/NEA-SA
WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE; NSC
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA
USCINCCENT FOR POLAD
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH; PARIS FOR ZEYA
LONDON - PASS TO MOC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR TC
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: ARAB SUMMIT



1. SUMMARY: THE ARAB SUMMIT IN TUNIS AND THE DETERIORATING
SITUATION IN IRAQ AND PALESTINE DOMINATE COVERAGE IN LOCAL PRINT
AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA. AN "AL KHALEEJ" EDITORIAL NOTED THAT THE
ARAB SUMMIT SHOULD HAVE COME UP WITH REAL ACTIONS INSTEAD OF
SHALLOW TALK AND ANNOUNCEMENTS. AN EDITORIAL IN "AL BAYAN"
PRAISED THE UAE'S ACTIONS TO HELP REBUILD RAFAH AND NOTED THAT
THE SUMMIT SHOULD HAVE COME UP WITH SOMETHING SIMILAR. END
SUMMARY.


2. COMMENTING ON THE ARAB SUMMIT'S ANNOUNCEMENT AND NOTING THAT
IT LEAVES THE IRAQIS AND PALESTINIANS ALL ALONE, "AL KHALEEJ"
EDITORIALIZED 05/25:

".ARABS HAVE DECIDED TO ABANDON THE PROSPECT OF GENUINE ARAB
ACTION AND TO LEAVE PALESTINIANS AND IRAQIS TO FACE THEIR
PREDICAMENTS ON THEIR OWN, AND THE SAME GOES FOR ANY ARAB COUNTRY
THAT IS TARGETED BY BUSH/SHARON ATTACKS."



3. NOTING THAT WHAT WAS ANNOUNCED BY THE ARAB SUMMIT WERE THE
USUAL ARAB SUMMITS' ANNOUNCEMENTS, SHARJAH-BASED ARABIC DAILY "AL-
KHALEEJ" 05/24:(CIRCULATION 75,000)

". ONCE AGAIN AT THE TUNIS ARAB SUMMIT, THE ARABS CONFIRM THAT
THEY ARE PEOPLE OF TALKING AND INITIATIVES AND THAT ACTION IS
LEFT TO THOSE WHO KILL AND THOSE PLANNING MORE KILLING,
DESTRUCTION, AND THEFT OF THE ARABS' PRESENT AND FUTURE."


4. PRAISING THE UAE'S ACTIONS TO HELP REBUILD RAFAH AND NOTING
THAT OTHER ARABS SHOULD ALSO ACT AND NOT ONLY TALK, DUBAI-BASED
BUSINESS-ORIENTED "AL BAYAN" EDITORIALIZED 05/24: (CIRCULATION
30,000)

". THE UAE SHOWED ITS SOLIDARITY WITH THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE
THROUGH ACTIONS. THIS IS GENUINE SOLIDARITY RATHER THAN SHALLOW
RHETORIC ON PAPER. IT IS VERY SHAMEFUL THAT ARABS WERE CONCERNED
WITH ADDING THE PHRASE `WITH NO DISCRIMINATION' WHEN ANNOUNCING
THEIR CONDEMNATION OF ALL MILITARY ACTIONS IN THE PALESTINIAN
LANDS AT THE ARAB SUMMIT--MEANING THAT THEY CONDEMN BOTH WHAT
PALESTINIANS AND ISRAELIS ARE FACING!. THE PALESTINIANS HAVE GOD
TO PROTECT THEM"


5. COMMENTING ON THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE ARAB SUMMIT, "AL BAYAN"
EDITORIALIZED 05/23:

". THE MAIN GOAL OF THIS ARAB SUMMIT SHOULD BE TO REACH ARAB
SOLIDARITY TO HELP COORDINATEE ARAB ACTIONS. THIS SUMMIT SHOULD
REPRESENT THE DREAMS AND HOPES OF THE ARAB PEOPLE--BUT FOR THIS
SUMMIT TO COME OUT WITH A ROUTINE ANNOUNCEMENT WITH NO ACTIONS
WILL MEAN THAT WE ALL STAY WITHIN THE EMPTY CIRCLE."

WAHBA