EGYPTIAN MEDIA THEMES, NOVEMBER 13-20: IRAQI

UNCLAS CAIRO 008933

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAO IS IZ LE EG
SUBJECT: EGYPTIAN MEDIA THEMES, NOVEMBER 13-20: IRAQI
RECONCILIATION CONFERENCE IN CAIRO


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Summary
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1. In contrast to the Egyptian media's previous distancing
itself from coverage of Iraqi developments, this week's
Arab League-organized Iraqi reconciliation conference
received remarkably thorough coverage. Pro-government
papers endorsed the conference warmly, while independent
papers treated it matter-of-factly and reported on the
disagreements among the Iraqi participants. Opposition
papers took due note of the conference, but in the main
reserved the brunt of their coverage for the run-off
elections for the people's assembly. End summary.


2. Headlines in pro-government newspapers on November 20
blared: "President Mubarak inaugurates the Iraq
conciliation conference held at the Arab League" (Al-Ahram,
circulation: 750,000). "Mubarak: National reconciliation
ensures gradual ending of foreign presence in Iraq"
(Akhbar, circulation: 780,000). "Mubarak: Iraq's unity is
the path to success" (Al-Gomhouriya, circulation: 200,000).
"Mubarak: "Iraq's unity and people are above all
considerations" (Rose Al-Youssef magazine, circulation:
50,000). Independent print media headlines were slightly
less ebullient: "Iraqis set off on the road to
reconciliation in Cairo" (Nahdat Masr, circulation:
20,000); "Differences among Iraqi parties threatens Cairo
meeting" (Al-Ahrar, circulation: 20,000). Opposition
newspapers reported on the conference but only on
tangential issues, as they were preoccupied with covering
the latest round of parliamentary elections.


3. Coverage: Pro-government papers Al-Ahram, Al-Akhbar, and
Al-Gomhouriya, on November 20, gave the conference full
coverage and published the entire transcripts of the
speeches of President Mubarak, Iraqi President Jalal
Talabani and Arab League Secretary General Amr Mousa. A
walk-out of the 24-member delegation of the Unified Iraqi
Coalition led by Dr. Hamam Baqer Abdul-Majeed Hamoody,
protesting statements made by Menas Ibrahim Al-Yousefi, who
had asserted that the Iraqi constitution was largely
drafted by the United States and that the members of the
current Iraqi government had come to power through the
occupation forces, received prominent coverage, as did Amr
Mousa's admonition to the session to "act in a responsible
manner." Iraqi Prime Minister Al-Jaafari's warning about
the return of the Baath being a "red line" and the Chairman
of the Muslim Scholars Board calling for a timetable for
withdrawal of occupation forces were highlighted in pro-
government Rose El-Youssef magazine.


4. Commentaries: In Al-Ahram, on November 20, the Iraqi
writer Dawood El-Farhan wrote that the conference should
have focused on building an Iraqi-Iraqi dialogue to stop
the bloodshed first, and that all other political issues
could be settled through continuing dialogue. Commentator
Emad Galal wrote in the same paper that despite clear
differences at the opening session, Iraqis should find
common ground for reconciliation, including a timetable for
withdrawal of foreign forces; a position on the role of the
Baath and the armed militias; and the problem of
terrorists. Former editor of Al-Ahram and highly respected
commentator, Ibrahim Nafie, wrote in Al-Ahram that Egypt
and the Arab League have given maximum support to the
conference and that it is now the responsibility of the
Iraqis to have the courage to reach a common understanding.
In Al-Akhbar newspaper, columnist Badr El-Din Adham
welcomed the fact that it was the Arab League that had
convened the conference saying that it is the "House of all
the Arabs," and that despite differences of opinion, the
meeting was a first step toward reconciliation. Highly
respected columnist and former editor of Al-Akhbar
newspaper Galal Duweidar criticized recent statements by
Secretary Rice in which she stressed that the United States

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is offering aid to rebuild Iraqi infrastructure, saying it
would be better to announce a timetable for withdrawal from
Iraq. Editor in Chief of the opposition paper Al-Wafd
(circulation: 180,000),Abbas Tarabily, welcomed the
conference and wished it success, but noted that Ahmed
Chalabi "America's man in the early days of the American
occupation of Iraq" was not present. He also noted that
the conference coincided with demands by the American
Congress to withdraw American forces from Iraq. In Al-
Osboa magazine (circulation: 50,000),known for its harshly
anti-U.S. line, writer Mahmoud Tamimi, criticized the
conference saying that the main focus should have been on
solving the "core" problem in Iraq, which is the "criminal
American occupation."
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