MEDIA REACTION ON THE MEHLIS REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 008361

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 TSOU

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: KMDR JO
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON THE MEHLIS REPORT

Summary

-- The lead story in all papers today, October 24,
focuses on King Abdullah's visit to Yemen to discuss
mutual relations and regional issues. The second lead
story reports on developments on Hariri's
assassination following release of the Mehlis report,
with attention focusing on Syria.

Editorial Commentary

-- "Mehlis' report: the end or beginning of Al-Baath
[resurrection]?"

Columnist Manar Rashwani writes on the op-ed page of
the independent, centrist Arabic daily Al-Ghad
(10/24): "True, the United States and others are
going to use the report to finish off the last of the
Arab pan-Arab campaign of slogans, namely the Syrian
Baath party. It is equally true that many will not be
sorry to see that party and its heritage go. Thus,
the real influence of the Mehlis report is revealed -
even if the entire international community does not
adopt negative procedures against Syria - in the
Lebanese joy and welcoming of the report. The cover
of the Arab pan-Arab slogans is lifted, and now we
have to face the reality about the depth of the gap
that exists between us, not just as countries but also
as individuals and groups within the state. The
Mehlis report may just be the declaration of the end
of the Baath party in Syria and then the entire Arab
world, especially now that the American invasion has
terminated its existence in Iraq. Having said that,
both that invasion and the report provide
opportunities for us to acknowledge the termination of
the age of 'pan-Arab slogans' that are no longer able
to pull in our ranks. We genuinely need new thought
and practice that lead to the real resurrection of the
nation."

-- "Notes about the report"

Daily columnist Jamil Nimri writes on the back-page of
Al-Ghad (10/24): "I read Mehlis' report carefully and
I must say that I found its presentation of the work
of the committee not very convenient. It fluctuates
in terms of style and professionalism, so that there
are boring details vis-a-vis some formalities and
procedures, and extreme summaries of important
clarifications.... The result is that the very strong
suspicions do not leave much room for Syria other than
giving its full cooperation to the investigation.
This will protect it from international decisions and
sanctions until that time when the investigation that
could last years and the trials that could also take
years are concluded."

-- "What's after the Mehlis report?"

Columnist Raja Talab writes on the op-ed page of semi-
official, influential Arabic daily Al-Rai (10/24):
"The Security Council will tomorrow hold a session to
discuss the [Mehlis] report with the likelihood that
it will call for completing the investigation and will
ask Damascus to cooperate and to respond to the
committee's demands.... This calls upon the Arab
countries that are concerned for Syria's welfare to
advise the Syrian leadership to respond to the demands
of the investigation committee. I believe that the
spirit by which the Syrian leadership handled the
implementation of Resolution 1559 on Syria's
withdrawal from Lebanon should be the same spirit by
which Damascus handles the upcoming Security Council
decisions. Otherwise, Syria would just be allowing
America, France and Britain to get at it very easily.
Going along with the international will and desire is
not weakness and going against is not strength. The
experience of the former Iraqi regime is still before
us and it is an experience we do not wish upon our
brothers in Syria."

-- "Tomorrow's Security Council session: an
opportunity for Bush and his administration"
Columnist Mohammad Kharroub writes on the op-ed page
of Al-Rai (10/24): "President Bush wants to direct
attention away from his domestic problems, which are
real problems and cause him a great deal of worry, not
just because his popularity is deteriorating, but also
because congressional elections are at hand and the
loss of the Republicans would mean that Bush is held
to blame. That is why he wants to use the Mehlis
report for a political accomplishment, which he badly
needs following the humble or insignificant political
and field results yielded by the Iraqi referendum on
the constitution and the rising indications that pre-
referendum Iraq is itself post-referendum Iraq."

-- "Mehlis report, what's next?"

Daily columnist Fahd Fanek writes on the back-page of
Al-Rai (10/24): "The Mehlis report was not written to
be presented to a court of law but rather to a
political entity. That is why Mehlis allowed himself
to state not just facts and evidence, but also a group
of observations and convictions that would otherwise
be worthless in a court of law and that would create
the required climate for further procedures such as
economic and political sanctions. Hariri's killing
might have gone by as easily as other killings have
gone by before had the circumstances been different
and had Syria and the Syrian regime not been targeted.
America is not upset about Hariri's killing, but it
saw this crime as its opportunity to tighten the noose
around Syria's neck to bring it on board.... Syria's
situation today is very similar to that of Iraq
previously when it had been required to prove that it
did not have weapons of mass destruction. Syria is
now required to prove its innocence. In other words,
the accused is guilty until proven innocent."

-- "The report: political rush and judicial delay"

Daily columnist Rakan Majali writes on the back-page
of center-left, influential Arabic daily Al-Dustour:
"It has become clear that the report is targeting
Syria, and that the United States considers it a
stepping stone for rallying international support for
its plans against Syria by going through the Security
Council and snatching whatever kind of condemnation,
thus allowing it to get international coverage for
escalating its pressures on Syria.... We believe that
the investigative committee's report was addressed to
the Security Council and that there will not be any
legal proceedings."
HALE