Damascus Media Reaction: Syria/US, Shara, Iraq (4/3)

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 001465

SIPDIS


SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR PA, NEA/ARN, INR/IC/CD, INR/S:STHIBEAULT AND
JMCCARTER, VOA NEWS CA, NEA/PPD:CBOURGEOIS, DBENZE AND
AFERNANDEZ, IIP/G/NEA-SA RWINCHESTER
WHITE HOUSE FOR NSC
CENTCOM FOR CCPA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY
SUBJECT: Damascus Media Reaction: Syria/US, Shara, Iraq (4/3)



1. Summary: Syrian papers reported President Asad's meeting
with a US delegation from the Churches Panel for Peace in the
Middle East, in which he reiterated the importance of
coexistence and dialogue on all levels, asserting that
all heavenly religions call for amity, moderation and humanity.
Talks also dealt with the ongoing reforms in Syria and the
influence of the regional situation on the reform process, in
addition to the issue of combating terrorism and extremism. The
President and the delegation reviewed the necessity of ensuring
security and stability in the region. President Asad reminded
the delegation of Syria's continued endeavors for peace in the
Middle East and its commitment to UN resolutions as the terms of
reference for the realization of security, peace and stability
in the region.

Syrian papers also reported Vice President Shara's meeting with
Information Minister Muhsen Bilal and directors and editors-in-
chief of media institutions, in which he described the Arab
Summit in Khartoum as "successful" and "positive."

Papers also featured a statement by Nabih Berri, Speaker of the
Lebanese Parliament, preceding resumption of the Lebanese
national dialogue and stressing that "Syrian-Lebanese relations
are relations of kinship, neighborhood and brotherhood."

"We didn't hold a single session without Israeli planes
violating our airspace.... So our main concern is the Israeli
assaults, and not the arms that are in our hands for a strategic
defensive plan pertaining to the Israeli occupation," Berri
said.

"Lebanon's strength is not in its weakness but in the
resistance," Berri added, saying that the "issue of Hizbollah
can only be solved unanimously."

End of summary.


2. Selected Headlines:

"President Asad discusses with a delegation representing U.S.
Churches Panel for Middle East Peace the importance of
coexistence and dialogue on all levels and influence of the
regional situation on reform in Syria. President Asad underscores
Syria's constant endeavor to maintain peace in the Middle East
and adhere to UN resolutions" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 4/3)

"Vice-President Shara gives an overview of Syrian policy during a
meeting with Information Minister Mohsen Bilal, and directors and
editors-in-chief of information foundations. Shara: With every
passing day Syria becomes stronger than before" (Government-owned
Al-Thawra, 4/3)

"On the eve of resuming the 4th session of the Lebanese National
dialogue, Lebanese circles stress commitment to the resistance;
Nabih Berri [Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament] underlines that
Syrian-Lebanese relations are relations of kinship, neighborhood
and brotherhood" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 4/3)

"US calls for Donald Rumsfeld's resignation: Disastrous mistakes
were committed in Iraq. Will Rice's and Straw's rescue mission
succeed in solving the cabinet-formation crisis in Iraq?"
(Government-owned Tishreen, 4/3)


3. Editorial Block Quotes:

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"Dangers of the US-Israeli Policies on the Arab Region"

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Nasim al-Damuni, in an op-ed in government-owned Al-Ba'th, wrote
(4/3): "Israel, in the US strategy, is a military base used to
oppress any pan-Arab or national liberation movement in the
region.

"Successive US administrations have always sought to find a
formula for US-Israeli relations that will not negatively affect
US-Arab relations so as to create a balance. In order to
further reinforce US-Israeli relations, the two countries signed
the Strategic Cooperation Agreement in 1981--an agreement that
shows a total US bias toward Israel.

"US military support for the Zionist entity is aimed at
preserving Zionist superiority over Arab countries on the pretext
of maintaining a balance of power in the region. Said strategic
agreement has given the Zionist entity a distinguished status in
the US global strategy, without which the Zionist entity would
have collapsed as a result of its economic and social problems.

"This may create a historic crisis for Arabs because of their
dependence on the US in resolving the Arab-Zionist conflict. At
a time when the US ignores the Zionist entity's nuclear arsenal,
it accuses the DPRK and Iran of possessing or trying to possess
nuclear weapons....

"The Arab countries must draw up a clear-cut strategy in light
of the current disparity in the balance of power in the region."

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"These Are Human Rights in America"

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Issa al-Shammas, a columnist in government-owned Al-Thawra,
wrote (4/3): "In its annual Human Rights Report, the US condemns
this or that country for violating human rights, ignoring its
own violations of the human right of individuals, nations, and
countries.... This is in addition to its serious human rights
violations in Guantanamo and Abu Ghurayb prisons, which have
drawn international condemnation.... The US arrests, imprisons,
and tortures opponents of its policies without trial.... US and
British soldiers chase and even beat Iraqi citizens to death
before the eyes of the world community....

"For their part, Zionist forces have recently stormed the
Jericho prison and abducted the Secretary General of the Popular
Front for the Liberation of Palestine in violation of
international laws and norms....

"In the US view the invasion of countries is not a violation of
human rights...."

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"US Testimony on Failure of War on Iraq"

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Ali Sawwaha, a columnist in government-owned Al-Thawra, wrote
(4/3): "Once again, US President Bush has held the Iraqi people
responsible for the absence of security in Iraq.... By this, he
has ignored the fact that the reason behind the current chaos in
Iraq is the US presence....

"The US President has not yet realized that his project in Iraq
has failed and that the drop in his popularity is due to his
unjust war against Iraq.... For their part, US research centers
say that the United States has made grave mistakes in Iraq by
discharging the Iraqi Army and security forces and ignoring the
weight of Iraqi resistance...."

Seche