MEDIA REACTION: APPEAL FOR THE RELEASE OF UAE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 002119 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP; NEA/PPD; NEA/RA; INR/R/MR; PA; INR/NESA; INR/B; RRU-NEA IIP/G/NEA-SA WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE; NSC SECDEF FOR OASD/PA USCINCCENT FOR POLAD LONDON FOR MCKUNE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR AE KPAO TC SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: APPEAL FOR THE RELEASE OF UAE DIPLOMAT/PROPOSED REGIONAL MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM ¶1. SUMMARY: Three daily Arab newspapers appealed for the release of the kidnapped UAE diplomat. A columnist in "Al-Bayan" warns Arabs against counting on America because its policies have always served Israeli interests. An editorial in English daily "Gulf News" rejects the concept of a regional missile defense system. End Summary. ¶2. Under headline "An Appeal from Al-Khaleej", Sharjah-based pan-Arab daily "Al-Khaleej" (circulation 85,000) wrote 5/21 unsigned editorial: "This is another appeal, which Al-Khaleej sends to our brothers in Iraq, to quickly work on releasing the UAE Diplomat Naji Al- Nuami so that he can return safely to his family and resume his work helping the Iraqi people with the disastrous situation they face today... This appeal, whether official, political or spiritual, is to reach the Arab and Muslim leaderships so that they can help release Al-Nuami. Hopefully, this intervention could open a new era of stabilization, sovereignty and unity." ¶3. A UAE columnist, Abdulla Rasheed, wrote in his daily column 5/22 in Abu Dhabi-based Arabic daily "Al-Ittihad" (circulation 65,000): "Humanity appeals to those who kidnapped Naji Al-Nuami to examine the humanitarian deeds this person has accomplished, and into what his country has given to Iraq and Iraqis whom they strongly love without discriminating between one faction and another. The UAE... is proud to belong to the Arab nations and is waiting for an initiative to save its innocent son Naji Al-Nuami and return him safely to his mother and his family." ¶4. Under headline "Naji Al-Nuami", a UAE columnist, Adel Mohamed Al-Rashed, wrote 5/22 op-ed in Arabic language daily "Emarat Alyoum" (circulation 20,000): "Naji Al-Nuami is simply a soldier following UAE's ideologies, who is concerned with his brother's concerns. He and his friends are messengers of love and support; their simple goal and mission in Iraq is to help orphans and widows and try to meet the basic needs of Iraqis. We hope that the UAE's role is not swept from Naji and his colleagues..." ¶5. Under headline "The futile reliance.. and the conciliation", an Egyptian columnist, Jalal Aref, wrote 5/21 op-ed in Dubai- based Arabic daily "Al-Bayan," (circulation 90,000): "Since the beginning, we have warned the Arabs of the futility of counting on Washington. The USA knows more than anybody else that its political disagreement is with the Arab countries and that these countries will not swallow the American policies that its regimes are swallowing. The Arabs will not accept to have their fate being decided by others. Moreover, Arab countries will not forget Palestine, no matter what, and will not excuse the American policy... Also not to be forgiven, are America's crimes committed daily against Iraq, which has up to now lost more than 100,000 citizen and who is being led to a civil war submerging the region in a sea of hatred and factional wars. This all serves the main political criminal, the Zionist lobby, governing Washington and Tel Aviv..." ¶6. Unsigned editorial in English language daily "Gulf News" under the headline "An American offer we must refuse," 5/22 (circulation 95,000): "As if the region was not volatile enough, the U.S. now wants to install an advanced missile system in GCC states. Officials argue that with such a system it will be able to deter any expansion plans in the region by Iran brought about by the development of any nuclear capacity. The U.S. is concerned that if there was any additional strife in the region, then, as countries in the region are major suppliers of oil, global markets could be affected and subsequently nations' economies. However, it should not be assumed that the concern by the U.S. was totally altruistic. More realistically, it is for purely selfish reasons and the desire to suppress and contain Iran from its development of nuclear energy that Iran all along claims to be for peaceful purposes. In the absence of any information to the contrary, Gulf neighbors have been content to accept Iran's claim not only because they cannot prove otherwise, but also because they have no desire to ratchet up the equation to confrontation levels. Yet it appears the U.S. is least concerned about increasing tensions in the region, presumably believing its alleged concern for U.S.- friendly Gulf countries will ensure acceptance of the proposed missile system and other security measures. Gulf countries already have enough problems trying to walk a narrow path between the various positions adopted by people of differing political persuasions and beliefs. So there is no need to exacerbate things further by introducing into the region such controversial measures as heightened security controls and advanced missile systems. Having such material can be seen as an act of aggression towards a neighboring country. Once a nation adopts a more aggressive stance to its neighbors, the chance of relations escalating out of hand increases. And with the increased armaments, the outcome could become even more frightening." SISON