Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ABUDHABI5131
2005-12-21 09:02:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION: U.S. AND HAMAS/GCC SUMMIT/IRAN'S
how-tonull Diana T Fritz 08/27/2006 04:58:35 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results Cable Text: UNCLAS ABU DHABI 05131 SIPDIS CXABU: ACTION: PAO INFO: ECON POL AMB DCM DISSEMINATION: PAO CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: PAO:WWROBERTSON DRAFTED: PAO:THAMDI CLEARED: PAO:AHOSAHN VZCZCADI878 OO RUEHC RUENAAA RUEKJCS RUEHZM RUEHLO RHRMDAB RHWSMRC DE RUEHAD #5131/01 3550902 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 210902Z DEC 05 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2868 RUENAAA/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0968 RHRMDAB/COMUSNAVCENT RHWSMRC/MCF01 SACCS USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 005131
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 MCKUNE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR TC
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: U.S. AND HAMAS/GCC SUMMIT/IRAN'S
NUCLEAR PROGRAM/IRAQI ELECTIONS
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 005131
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 MCKUNE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR TC
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: U.S. AND HAMAS/GCC SUMMIT/IRAN'S
NUCLEAR PROGRAM/IRAQI ELECTIONS
1. Summary: A columnist in "Al-Bayan" asks why the United
States considers Palestinian resistance an act of terror.
Columnists in "Al Ittihad" and "Al-Bayan criticize the Gulf
Summit as ineffective. English daily "Gulf News" comments on the
GCC's concerns with Iran's nuclear program and alligations of
fraud in Iraqi elections. End Summary.
2. Ahmed Omarabi, a columnist wrote under the headline "America
penalizing democracy", in Dubai-based Arabic daily "Al Bayan,"
(circulation 90,000):
"Why is the United States against Palestinian armed resistance to
the extent that it equates resistance with terrorism.
International law recognizes this legitimate struggle as it aims
to free a territory from foreign occupation."
3. Saudi columnist, Dr. Khalid Al Dakheel, writes under the
headline "Is the GCC summit experiment a futile one?", in Abu
Dhabi-based Arabic daily "Al Ittihad," (circulation 65,000):
"The GCC summit has become a boring subject in the past few
years. After the summit is held and adjourned, GCC citizens do
not feel its influence.. The last summit that was recently held,
did not result in any useful outcomes or any thing that justified
holding it."
4. UNDER THE HEADLINE "SUMMIT FOR REDUCING TENSIONS", DR. ALI AL-
TARRAH, A KUWAITI PROFESSOR STATED IN ABU DHABI-BASED ARABIC
DAILY "AL ITTIHAD," (CIRCULATION 65,000):
"As usual, the summit was held at the decided time and the
leadership released new statements after conferring on classified
issues. We do not know how executable these outcomes will be.
The GCC summit is no different from any other Arab summit. with
outcomes that stay locked up inside the Arab League's closet.
The GCC countries need to have a forwarding thinking, methodical
vision in order to tackle the issues at hand."
5. An unsigned editorial in English daily, "Gulf News" titled
"Nuclear message with a difference,"(circulation 95,000) states:
"The absence in the final communiqu of the Gulf Cooperation
Council summit of any reference to Iran's nuclear program raised
eyebrows. The implications of the program on the security and
stability of this vital region have been discussed in detail
during the summit, officials confirmed. But the final statement
failed to reflect regional concerns, which were explicitly
expressed by the UAE foreign minister at his press conference on
Monday.."
"With regard to the three UAE islands, occupied since 1971 by
Iran, the GCC urged the Islamic Republic to listen to the voice
of wisdom and heed the calls to solve the issue through peaceful
means. Now, the ball is in the Iranian court. Tehran must
respond positively to these gestures in order to preserve the
stability of the region, which has suffered from more than its
share of wars and bloody conflicts.. The GCC states have never
missed an opportunity to extend the olive branch to their
neighbor. It is Iran's turn to respond. It is only Islamic to do
so."
6. An unsigned editorial in English daily, "Gulf News" titled
"Patience and cool heads now needed," (circulation 95,000)
states:
"It is disappointing to note that even before the final results
of the Iraq elections are declared, some Sunni leaders are
calling for a reversal of the results. As yet there have been no
indications of any malfeasance occurring at any of the polling
stations or any other corrupt practice, although there were more
than enough observers to the polling process to have raised any
alarm should it have been necessary."
"Truth to tell, the Sunni Arabs were expecting a much better
result than that which has so far been declared in Baghdad
province. Most having boycotted the election for the
transitional administration in January, were doubtless expecting
a greater share of the vote than so far declared. However, to
demand a reversal of the results is not the way forward for the
unity of the nation. Polling problems have appropriate channels
of recourse, and it is in that manner that they must be pursued."
QUINN
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 MCKUNE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR TC
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: U.S. AND HAMAS/GCC SUMMIT/IRAN'S
NUCLEAR PROGRAM/IRAQI ELECTIONS
1. Summary: A columnist in "Al-Bayan" asks why the United
States considers Palestinian resistance an act of terror.
Columnists in "Al Ittihad" and "Al-Bayan criticize the Gulf
Summit as ineffective. English daily "Gulf News" comments on the
GCC's concerns with Iran's nuclear program and alligations of
fraud in Iraqi elections. End Summary.
2. Ahmed Omarabi, a columnist wrote under the headline "America
penalizing democracy", in Dubai-based Arabic daily "Al Bayan,"
(circulation 90,000):
"Why is the United States against Palestinian armed resistance to
the extent that it equates resistance with terrorism.
International law recognizes this legitimate struggle as it aims
to free a territory from foreign occupation."
3. Saudi columnist, Dr. Khalid Al Dakheel, writes under the
headline "Is the GCC summit experiment a futile one?", in Abu
Dhabi-based Arabic daily "Al Ittihad," (circulation 65,000):
"The GCC summit has become a boring subject in the past few
years. After the summit is held and adjourned, GCC citizens do
not feel its influence.. The last summit that was recently held,
did not result in any useful outcomes or any thing that justified
holding it."
4. UNDER THE HEADLINE "SUMMIT FOR REDUCING TENSIONS", DR. ALI AL-
TARRAH, A KUWAITI PROFESSOR STATED IN ABU DHABI-BASED ARABIC
DAILY "AL ITTIHAD," (CIRCULATION 65,000):
"As usual, the summit was held at the decided time and the
leadership released new statements after conferring on classified
issues. We do not know how executable these outcomes will be.
The GCC summit is no different from any other Arab summit. with
outcomes that stay locked up inside the Arab League's closet.
The GCC countries need to have a forwarding thinking, methodical
vision in order to tackle the issues at hand."
5. An unsigned editorial in English daily, "Gulf News" titled
"Nuclear message with a difference,"(circulation 95,000) states:
"The absence in the final communiqu of the Gulf Cooperation
Council summit of any reference to Iran's nuclear program raised
eyebrows. The implications of the program on the security and
stability of this vital region have been discussed in detail
during the summit, officials confirmed. But the final statement
failed to reflect regional concerns, which were explicitly
expressed by the UAE foreign minister at his press conference on
Monday.."
"With regard to the three UAE islands, occupied since 1971 by
Iran, the GCC urged the Islamic Republic to listen to the voice
of wisdom and heed the calls to solve the issue through peaceful
means. Now, the ball is in the Iranian court. Tehran must
respond positively to these gestures in order to preserve the
stability of the region, which has suffered from more than its
share of wars and bloody conflicts.. The GCC states have never
missed an opportunity to extend the olive branch to their
neighbor. It is Iran's turn to respond. It is only Islamic to do
so."
6. An unsigned editorial in English daily, "Gulf News" titled
"Patience and cool heads now needed," (circulation 95,000)
states:
"It is disappointing to note that even before the final results
of the Iraq elections are declared, some Sunni leaders are
calling for a reversal of the results. As yet there have been no
indications of any malfeasance occurring at any of the polling
stations or any other corrupt practice, although there were more
than enough observers to the polling process to have raised any
alarm should it have been necessary."
"Truth to tell, the Sunni Arabs were expecting a much better
result than that which has so far been declared in Baghdad
province. Most having boycotted the election for the
transitional administration in January, were doubtless expecting
a greater share of the vote than so far declared. However, to
demand a reversal of the results is not the way forward for the
unity of the nation. Polling problems have appropriate channels
of recourse, and it is in that manner that they must be pursued."
QUINN