MEDIA REACTION ON THE ARAB SUMMIT

UNCLAS AMMAN 002469

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 THE ARAB SUMMIT

Summary

-- Lead story in all papers today, March 31,
highlights Arab efforts to "salvage" the Arab summit.
Papers feature the scheduled meeting today between
King Abdullah and Egyptian President Mubarak in Sharm
Al-Sheikh. Papers also highlight reports about the
decision to allow the U.S. National Security Advisor
to testify before the 9/11 investigative committee.

Editorial Commentary

-- "Why did they make it fail?"

Daily columnist Yaser Za'atreh writes on the op-ed
page center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour
(03/31): "The conference of wasted dreams, the
conference of oppressed people, the conference that
was and then was not. We do not claim that the Arab
people had pinned big hopes on that Arab summit
conference, for frustration is prevalent. However,
the Arab people felt that this conference must take
place, even if it was out of courtesy . and even if it
was for show, so as we are belittled in the eyes of
the enemies.. Why did they not meet? Who `shuffled'
the game? Who is the mastermind and the saboteur?
Why was the truth not told to the people? Who
dictated, was it America or Israel? Yes, it is the
two enemies, America and Israel. They are the ones
capable of directing events and turning things in
their favor. They are not above anything. After all,
the person who assassinates, arrests, destroys, drops
missiles on peaceful people, would it be beyond him to
conspire and cancel a conference for the Arab leaders?
Why did the summit conference fail? Were they (the
Arab leaders) afraid of embarrassment, of the
repercussions, of facing America? Whatever the
reasons, what happened is shameful, and the proof is
Israel's comment that it is a positive thing, meaning
that there is no Arab consensus on enmity for Israel."

-- "Why all this crying over the Arab summit?"

Daily columnist Bater Wardam writes on the op-ed page
center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour
(03/31): "I am baffled by the reactions of the Arab
media outlets and the Arab politicians to Tunis'
decision to postpone the Arab summit. It is a
reaction characterized by much wailing and crying, as
if the Arab nation has lost a one-time historic
opportunity to fix everything.. A state of pessimism
and sarcasm had prevailed among Arab politicians and
media people prior to the summit. Then suddenly, it
switched to all this wailing and crying and accusing
the United States of working to abort the summit. If
the summit had really reached a level of posing a
threat to the U.S. policy, so much so that Washington
would work on aborting it, then that would be a great
thing. Personally, I tend to believe Colin Powell's
denial of having exercised pressure on the summit and
it would be in the best interest of America to have
the summit convene, because at the end of the day, it
will bring nothing new.. The summit may be held in
Cairo and I can already anticipate what the draft
final statement would say. But the Arab summit and
the institutional Arab action were dealt a massive
blow that would not be salvaged by Arab leaders
meeting in Cairo or even in Baghdad. The Arab world
is still far from institutional action, and we thank
Tunis for exposing the truth."
GNEHM