Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05MUSCAT1588
2005-10-25 04:34:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Muscat
Cable title:  

MEDIA REACTION: MEHLIS REPORT, ARAB LEAGUE, AND SYRIA

Tags:  KPAO KMDR OIIP MU 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS MUSCAT 001588 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PPD, NEA/P, INR/R/MR

LONDON FOR TSOU
PARIS FOR ZEYA
USCENTCOM FOR PLUSH
FOREIGN PRESS CENTER FOR SILAS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO KMDR OIIP MU
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: MEHLIS REPORT, ARAB LEAGUE, AND SYRIA

---------------------
Malice Towards Mehlis
---------------------

UNCLAS MUSCAT 001588

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PPD, NEA/P, INR/R/MR

LONDON FOR TSOU
PARIS FOR ZEYA
USCENTCOM FOR PLUSH
FOREIGN PRESS CENTER FOR SILAS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO KMDR OIIP MU
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: MEHLIS REPORT, ARAB LEAGUE, AND SYRIA

--------------
Malice Towards Mehlis
--------------


1. The privately owned Arabic daily "al-Watan" ran an editorial
on October 23 entitled "About The Mehlis Report":

"The Mehlis report was well-received in Lebanon, but it would
have been better for Mr. Mehlis to provide us with a
comprehensive report, supported by substantial evidence and
buttressed by real names. Instead, the report is incomplete,
confused, dubious, and can be interpreted in many ways. Fingers
have long been pointed at the involvement of the Syrian and
Lebanese security services in the assassination of Rafik al-
Hariri, and this report also appears to implicate President
Lahoud. However, it will take more than this vague, obscure
document to prove any culpability."

--------------
Fair And Balanced
--------------


2. "Oman," the government-owned Arabic daily, featured an
editorial on October 22 entitled "Iraq, Past And Present":

"The efforts of the Arab League and its Secretary General Amre
Moussa to improve the situation in Iraq are balanced and
moderate. These efforts have taken the interests of all parties
- without exception - into consideration. At the same time, the
Arabs are trying to stop the bloodshed of innocent Iraqis as well
as of the American soldiers, who on a daily basis are paying the
price of the bad policies designed in the corridors of European
capitals. Such efforts should receive the continuous support of
fellow Arab states, in a clear and obvious manner, so that the
entire world is reassured that the Arab League is working for
peace."

--------------
You Can't Be Syrious
--------------


3. The privately owned Arabic daily "al-Shabiba" published an
editorial on October 23 entitled "Syria Is The Key":

"In a statement before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
last Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
announced that the Bush administration would be taking new
diplomatic steps to isolate Syria. Rice renewed the
administration's accusations towards Syria, alleging that
Damascus allows foreign militants to cross its borders on their
way to Iraq . . . There is an American project, better known as
UN Security Council Resolution 1559, which is being exploited by
the U.S. in order to please Israel. This American project
started with the evacuation of Syrian troops from Lebanon, moved
on to accusing the Syrians of allowing terrorists to cross into
Iraq, and now aims to implicate Syria in the Rafik al-Hariri
assassination."

BALTIMORE