Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05DOHA206
2005-02-03 10:12:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Doha
Cable title:  

Special Media Reaction: Qatari coverage of the

Tags:  OIIP KMDR KPAO PREL OPRC QA IZ MEPP 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DOHA 000206 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR INR/R/MR, NEA/PPD, NEA/ARP, NEA/IPA
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PREL OPRC QA IZ MEPP
SUBJECT: Special Media Reaction: Qatari coverage of the
Iraqi elections, Doha 02/03/2005


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DOHA 000206

SIPDIS

STATE FOR INR/R/MR, NEA/PPD, NEA/ARP, NEA/IPA
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PREL OPRC QA IZ MEPP
SUBJECT: Special Media Reaction: Qatari coverage of the
Iraqi elections, Doha 02/03/2005



1. SUMMARY: All the Qatari papers from 01/29-02/03/2005
provided front-page coverage for the Iraqi elections. The
papers focused on the absence of Sunni Iraqi voters in the
Elections, linking the poor participation to the
deteriorating security situation. Today, all the papers
front-paged the Qatari official statement on elections in
Iraq. The First Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh
Hamad bin Jassem Al Thani (HBJ),while presiding over the
regular weekly cabinet meeting at the Emiri Diwan, stated
the cabinet position that the "elections constituted the
first tangible step that will be followed by other steps
that would open the door in front of all Iraqis with no
exception to take part equally in exerting their rights to
rebuilding their nation." This step, the cabinet further
stated, "would certainly give Iraqis confidence that the
political operation is the only way out of chaos and would
ensure the solidarity of the Iraqis toward regaining
stability." END SUMMARY


2. Headlines: All the headlines of the Qatari papers on the
Iraqi election over the week focused on the security
situation, the generally poor participation of voters, the
absence of Sunni participation and the heavy Kurdish-Shi'i
turn out. Examples of headlines:

Iraq close down the borders and the Iraqis outside voted
Iraq witnessed the first election in 50 years
Exceptional security measures were taken in the night of the
elections
25000 people were deployed to observe the Elections in Iraq
Iraqis voted with ink and blood
72 percent participated in the elections
Wide Shit'i and Kurdish participation and tangible absence
of the Sunni participation
Ramadi did not participate in the elections, and one voter
only voted in Samarra
Life back to normal in Iraq
Iraqi PM Allawi vows to represent all Iraqis
Allawi started dialogue with the Sunnis.


3. BLOCK QUOTES:


1. "Poll's Consequences are still uncertain"

Semi-independent English daily "Gulf Times," (02/01/05):

"Iraqi citizens have been giving some very mixed reactions

to Sunday's poll. One doctor told the BBC that he had voted
and kissed the ballot box as he did. It is possible that
Sunday's election marked the beginning of a great change
that will eventually affect the whole Arab world. But it
could also be a brief aberration, which will have no long-
term effect. Clearly, the Iraqi people would like to take
control of their destiny and run their own affairs - without
the interference of foreigners and without being subjected
to tyranny - but the bullet rather than a ballot may still
decide the outcome of the war.
The expressions of satisfaction from Washington and London
were predictable and even the deaths of some 40 Iraqis, 10
British servicemen and two Americans could not damp their
enthusiasm. The real winner, however, was Grand Ayatollah
Ali al-Sistani, who did not even have the right to vote. He
wanted Iraq's Shia majority to be able to make themselves
heard and to change the country's political reality and that
is what has happened. Officials of the United Iraqi
Alliance, formed under Sistanis auspices, believe they have
won almost half of the 275 assembly seats. Their exit polls
indicate that the Kurdish bloc has come second while Prime
Minister Iyad Allawis secular party being squeezed into
third place. As expected, the Sunni community seems certain
to be woefully under-represented and the insurgents will
continue their fight against the US military and Iraqi
authorities. If the problem of Sunni representation is not
t
solved the insurgency will be long and bitter. The danger of
the country splitting up is still real and the Kurds
actually voted for that in a separate, unofficial
referendum. Ultimately, the election has solved nothing. It
has produced the result everybody expected and left the
Sunnis politically weaker than before."



2. "The suffering of voting, Vote to End the Occupation"

Mazen Hamad, columnist, semi-independent Arabic "Al-Watan"
(01/30-31-02/01):

"Despite the presence of the American occupation in Iraq,
despite the destroyed buildings and the dead bodies, and
despite the anger boiling inside the chest of the voters
themselves, the Iraqi elections on January 30 were a chance
to move away from chaos and violence. This election, despite
its results, will reveal the true intentions of the United
States with regards to its vision of the future of Iraq.
This election should push the United States and UK to start
thinking of a scenario for leaving Iraq. This Election
actually had 57 percent of Iraqi participation and showed
that, despite the bombings and explosive cars, the Iraqis
were keen to vote and they were not voting only to choose a
national government but also they were voting to end the
occupation. However, we should not be deceived. The
Americans will never leave Iraq or the region until they
finally succeed in placing their troops on the borders of
Syria, Iran, Turkey, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. The Americans
will cut down the number of the visible presence of their
troops in Iraq, but permanent American bases will be built
in all over Iraq."

MCGEHEE