MEDIA REACTION: AL HARIRI ASSASSINATION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 000706

SIPDIS

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INR/NESA; INR/B; IIP/G/NEA-SA
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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR TC
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: AL HARIRI ASSASSINATION


1. SUMMARY: THE ASSASSINATION OF RAFIQ AL-HARIRI, FORMER PRIME
MINISTER OF LEBANON, DOMINATED COVERAGE IN LOCAL ELECTRONIC AND
PRINT MEDIA. THE UAE GOVERNMENT CONDEMNED THE ASSASSINATION OF
AL HARIRI IN AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT. AN EDITORIAL IN "AL ITTIHAD"
POINTED OUT THAT THE ASSASSINATION OF AL HARIRI WAS AIMED TO
DESTABILIZE LEBANON'S SECURITY, WHILE ANOTHER EDITORIAL IN "AL
KHALEEJ" DESCRIBED HARIRI'S ASSASSINATION AS "AN ECONOMIC AND
POLITICAL EARTHQUAKE". END SUMMARY


2. THE UAE GOVERNMENT CONDEMNED THE ASSASSINATION OF AL HARIRI.
THE OFFICIAL NEWS AGENCY, WAM, PUBLISHED THE FOLLOWING
ANNOUNCEMENT IN ALL LOCAL ENGLISH AND ARABIC DAILIES:

"The Ministry of Presidential Affairs mourned the death of former
Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq al-Hariri and a large number of
innocent people. In the name of President His Highness Sheikh
Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the people of the UAE, the
Ministry extends heartfelt condolences to the family of Hariri
and Lebanese government as well as the people of Lebanon. The
departed was well known for his prestigious position not only at
the Lebanese level but also at Arab and global levels. It
confirms that the killing of Hariri represents a great loss not
only for his family but also for all Lebanon. Hariri played a
great role in achieving peace in Lebanon and consolidating its
national unity and restore Lebanon's role at regional and
international levels. He was known for his role in rebuilding
Lebanon. May God bestow mercy on him and other victims and grant
their families' patience to bear their loss. The UAE has
strongly denounced the hideous crime that claimed the life of
Hariri and a large number of innocent people. This was announced
by Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. Sheikh Hamdan said the
UAE is condemning the killing of Hariri as a horrific criminal
act. He said "the UAE is condemning this grisly crime, praying
to Almighty Allah to bestow mercy on Hariri and others who lost
their lives. `We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family
of Hariri and the people of Lebanon.' Sheikh Hamdan called on
the Lebanese people to stick together and enhance their national
unity, particularly in this critical juncture, to thwart attempts
by Lebanon's enemies, who targeted all Lebanon and its unity and
stability. The crime was an attack on the stability of Lebanon,
meant to trigger sedition among Lebanese people. Sheikh Hamdan
said "we pray to Almighty Allah to preserve Lebanon from
repercussions of this brutal attack. The Court of His Highness
Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member
and Ruler of Sharjah, also mourned the death of Hariri. It
offered heartfelt condolences to the family of Hariri, the
Lebanese government and people. It prayed to Allah Almighty to
bestow mercy on Hariri and other victims."


3. UNDER THE HEADLINE "TARGETING LEBANON," "AL ITTIHAD"
EDITORIALIZED 02/15: (ARABIC DAILY, ABU DHABI-BASED, SEMI-
OFFICIAL, CIRCULATION 85,000)

"COMMITTING THIS CRIME AT THIS SPECIFIC TIME IS DESIGNED TO
DESTROY LEBANON'S ACHIEVEMENTS IN HEADING STRONGLY TOWARDS THE
FUTURE AND LEAVING BEHIND ALL PREVIOUS PAINS. THIS CRIMINAL ACT
TARGETS THE STABILITY OF LEBANON. THE LEBANESE PEOPLE SHOULD
REACT DURING THIS PERIOD WITH AN EYE TO THE FUTURE AND WITH THE
WISDOM THAT PUTS LEBANON AND ITS INTERESTS ABOVE ALL OTHER
CONSIDERATIONS.FOILING ATTEMPTS BY THE POWERS OF EVIL TO DESTROY
LEBANON. THE LEBANESE ARE REQUIRED, REGARDLESS OF THIS LOSS, TO
MOVE AHEAD IN A PEACEFUL FASHION.TO GET OUT OF THIS CRISIS
STRONGER AND MORE POWERFUL."


4. NOTING THAT WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY IN LEBANON IS AN
SECURITY, POLITICAL, AND ECONOMIC EARTHQUAKE WITH SECURITY,
POLITICAL, AND ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS, "AL KHALEEJ" EDITORIALIZED
02/15: (ARABIC DAILY, SHARJAH-BASED, SEMI-OFFICIAL, CIRCULATION
90,000)

"THE CRIME OF ASSASSINATING AL-HARIRI, A PROMINENT INTERNATIONAL
FIGURE, IS A SINFUL ACT WITH POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC RAMIFICATIONS
AIMED TO RUIN CIVIL STABILITY AND PEACE IN LEBANON, AND SPREAD
CHAOS REGIONALLY. THERE IS ONLY ONE SIDE THAT WILL BENEFIT FROM
DESTROYING LEBANON, FROM SHAKING ITS STABILITY AND TRYING TO TURN
IT BACK TO THE TIMES OF FIGHTING, CIVIL WAR AND ISRAELI INVASION.
REGARDLESS OF WHO COMMITTED THIS CRIME, THE ONLY BENEFICIARY SIDE
IS OUR ZIONIST ENEMY. THE ONLY LEBANESE RESPONSE TO THIS CRIME
SHOULD BE THE UNITY OF ALL THE LEBANESE. WE HOPE THAT ALL
LEBANESE PEOPLE, REGARDLESS OF THEIR POLITICAL AFFILIATIONS, WILL
STAND TOGETHER TO MAINTAIN A UNITED LEBANON."


5. POINTING OUT THAT ASSASSINATING AL-HARIRI IN LEBANON
YESTERDAY IS AIMED AT THE COUNTRY'S SECURITY AND STABILITY, "AL
BAYAN" EDITORIALIZED 02/15: (ARABIC DAILY, DUBAI-BASED BUSINESS-
ORIENTED, CIRCULATION 40,000)
". THIS ASSASSINATION COMES AT A TIME WHEN LEBANON STANDS AT AN
IMPORTANT CROSSROAD. THE CHOICES LEBANON MAKES NOW WILL HAVE A
SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON A WIDE RANGE OF INTERNAL AND REGIONAL
ISSUES. IT IS EASY TO BLAME MORE THAN ONE SIDE BOTH INTERNALLY
AND EXTERNALLY, BUT THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THERE WAS A POWERFUL
AUTHORITY BEHIND COMMITTING THIS CRIME IN SUCH A PROFESSIONAL
WAY. AND THIS AUTHORITY ACHIEVED ITS GOALS BY ASSUMING THAT
LEBANON IS STILL IN A WAR ENVIRONMENT. WHAT IS REQUESTED FROM
THE LEBANESE PEOPLE AT THIS CRUCIAL AND DANGEROUS TIME IS TO TURN
THEIR BACKS ON CONFLICT AND DENY THE GOALS OF THE PERPETRATORS OF
THIS CRIME, AND AGAIN RESCUE THEIR OWN COUNTRY."


6. ALL MAJOR ARAB TV STATIONS INCLUDING AL-JAZEERA, AL-ARABIYA
AND ABU DHABI DEVOTED THEIR ENTIRE COVERAGE ON FEBRUARY 14 TO THE
ASSASSINATION OF FORMER LEBANESE PRIME MINISTER RAFIQ AL-HARIRI.
ABU DHABI TELEVISION WAS THE FIRST CHANNEL IN THE ARAB WORLD TO
ANNOUNCE THE HARIRI'S ASSASSINATION.
SISON