MUSCAT MEDIA REACTION: FORUM FOR THE FUTURE, IRAQ, UN

UNCLAS MUSCAT 002165

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/ARP (TROBERTS),NEA/PPD (CWHITTLESEY),NEA/P
(FFINVER),INR/R/MR
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH
PARIS FOR ZEYA
USCENTCOM FOR PLUSH
FOREIGN PRESS CENTER/ASILAS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO KMDR OIIP IZ MU
SUBJECT: MUSCAT MEDIA REACTION: FORUM FOR THE FUTURE, IRAQ, UN
REFORM

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Forum For The Future
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1. On December 13, the lead editorial in the government-owned
Arabic daily "Oman" was entitled "Reform from Within."

"The Forum for the Future in Rabat concluded with several
recommendations for reform in the Arab world. Most of the
recommendations fell within the framework of America's Greater
Middle East initiative. While the majority of Arab participants
was amenable to the idea of reform and agreed that it is
essential to their respective countries, there was an even
greater sentiment expressed that reform initiatives should come
from within the Arab world and not from outside. During the
Forum, Arab countries were asked to review many of their internal
frameworks, policies, and infrastructures, especially those
relating to the economy. Oman participated in the "Forum for the
Future" and at its conclusion Omani representatives expressed a
desire to continue moving in the direction of development and
modernization."

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Iraq: A Wake Up Call For The Arab World
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2. Privately-owned Arabic daily "Al-Watan" carried an editorial
on December 11 entitled "Poor Iraq":

"What is happening in Iraq is disturbing and should serve as a
lesson to the Arab world. It seems that all Arab nations are
targeted for reasons unbeknownst to us. What we do know is that
the larger industrial world around us has no mercy or conscience.
It is not concerned about the effects that its actions have on
others. The industrial world only protects its own interests and
the interests of those closely allied to it. Industrialized
countries will stop at nothing to remove any perceived obstacle.
For example, whenever an Arab country tries to flex its muscles
or appears likely to succeed in something, the industrialized
countries (led by the United States) immediately deem it a threat
and try to hold it back."

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The UN: Organizational Reform
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3. An editorial appeared in the government-owned Arabic daily
"Oman" on December 11 entitled "Reform of the UN is a Necessity":

"If only outside forces call for change in the UN, there will be
no meaningful reform. The only way to really reform this body is
for member states to demand change. The United Nations lost a
great deal of credibility when it took a stand against the wars
in Afghanistan and Iraq, and completely failed to do anything
substantive to prevent them. It is essential that the UN,
starting with the Security Council, undergo reform. For example,
UN member countries like Germany, Japan, and Brazil should be
included in the Security Council to add neutral voices to the
Council's discussion of world issues. UN agencies need more
teeth so that they can become proactive and stop being powerless
do-nothing bureaucracies."

BALTIMORE