MEDIA REACTION 3/21-3/22: QATAR EXPLOSION/ ARAB SUMMIT

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 001295 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; ALSO FOR MOC PARIS FOR ZEYA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR TC SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION 3/21-3/22: QATAR EXPLOSION/ ARAB SUMMIT IN ALGERIA ¶1. SUMMARY: THE TERRORIST EXPLOSION IN QATAR AND THE PREPARATIONS FOR THE ARAB SUMMIT IN ALGERIA DOMINATED COVERAGE IN LOCAL ELECTRONIC AND PRINT MEDIA. AN EDITORIAL IN "AL ITTIHAD" NOTED THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR ARAB COOPERATION AND COLLABORATION TO ACHIEVE REFORM. ANOTHER EDITORIAL IN "AL BAYAN" POINTED OUT THAT TERRORIST GROUPS SHOULD BE DRIVEN FROM THE REGION BECAUSE THEY ARE A THREAT TO ALL COUNTRIES. ANOTHER EDITORIAL IN "AL ITTIHAD" CONDEMNED THE EXPLOSION AND NOTED THAT TERRORISTS DID NOT SUCCEED IN THEIR GOALS TO DE-STABILIZE THE REGION. END SUMMARY. ¶2. COMMENTING ON THE OPENING OF THE ARAB SUMMIT IN ALGERIA, "AL ITTIHAD" EDITORIALIZED 03/22: (ARABIC DAILY, ABU DHABI-BASED, SEMI-OFFICIAL, CIRCULATION 85,000) ". THE ARABS ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO A SOLUTION FROM THE SUMMIT IN ALGERIA THAT WILL PAVE THE WAY FOR REFORM THAT WILL USHER IN A NEW ERA FOR THE ARAB WORLD, ONE THAT IS RIGHTEOUS AND HEALTHY AND BASED ON COOPERATION AND COLLABORATION. THERE IS A NEED TO ACHIEVE THE HOPES AND AMBITIONS OF THE ARABS, NOT JUST REPEAT READY MADE SLOGANS AND IMPORTED TERMS AGAIN AND AGAIN. AS FOR THE POLITICAL ISSUES, STARTING WITH THE PALESTINIAN AND IRAQI ISSUES, THERE IS A NEED FOR ARAB COLLABORATION, STEELED BY THE ARAB WILL, TO ENSURE INTERNATIONAL LEGITIMACY AND PROTECTION OF ARAB RIGHTS." ¶3. UNDER THE HEADLINE "TERRORISM IS KNOCKING ALL DOORS," "AL BAYAN" EDITORIALIZED 03/21: (ARABIC DAILY, DUBAI-BASED BUSINESS- ORIENTED, CIRCULATION 95,000) "IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR US TO STAND BY WITH OUR HANDS FOLDED AND WATCH THESE BRUTAL KILLERS TRY TO PLAY WITH OUR REGION'S SECURITY AND STABILITY. THIS REGION THAT HAS BEEN AN OASIS OF SECURITY AND STABILITY. ALL GULF COUNTRIES ARE TARGETED NOW FROM THOSE WHO WANT THE SPREAD OF IGNORANCE AND HATE THROUGHOUT THE REGION. THERE IS NO PLACE FOR THOSE KILLERS AMONG PEACEFUL PEOPLE, AND THERE IS NO TIME TO WASTE ON CONDEMNING STATEMENTS AND ACCUSATIONS THAT SERVE ONLY TO DEMONSTRATE THE BRAVADO OF THE SPEAKER. THE BEST WAY TO DEFEND THE SECURITY AND STABILITY OF OUR REGION IS TO DRIVE TERRORISM FROM OUR LANDS. THERE MUST BE UNITY IN FACING THIS DANGER BECAUSE IT IS KNOCKING ON ALL DOORS AND IS FLYING IN ALL SKIES." ¶4. CONDEMNING THE EXPLOSION IN QATAR, "AL ITTIHAD" EDITORIALIZED 03/21: (ARABIC DAILY, ABU DHABI-BASED, SEMI-OFFICIAL, CIRCULATION 85,000) ". THESE CORRUPTED GROUP HAVE SOLD THEMSELVES TO THE DEVIL AND TO THE ILLUSION OF POWER. THEY DON'T KNOW THEIR RELIGION AND SEEK TO SPREAD THEIR POISON IN THE REGION. HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT SUCCEED BECAUSE THE ALL PEOPLES OF THE GULF REJECT THEIR CORRUPT AND ABNORMAL THINKING. THE CRIMINAL'S LIFE IS SHORT AND WILL NOT SUCCEED BECAUSE THIS IS A HOLY LAND THAT IS STILL A LIGHT HOUSE OF TOLERANCE AND MERCY AND REJECTS EXTREMISM." ALBRIGHT