Damascus Media Reaction: Syria/Saudi Arabia,

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 001515

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/Saudi Arabia,
Syria/Lebanon, Golan, Palestinian Territories, Iraq (4/6)


1. Summary: Syrian papers reported the meeting of Syrian
Minister of Expatriates, Buthaina Shaaban with Emir Salman Bin
Abed al-Aziz Al Saud, Emir of the Saudi city of Riyadh, who
described the Syrian-Saudi relations as distinguished, and
pointed out continuing consultations between the two countries
in different regional issues. In an earlier meeting with Saudi
Emir Al-Walid Bin Talal, Minister Shaaban stressed the
significance of cooperation between both countries, calling on
Saudi and Syrian businessmen to invest in Syria.

Syrian papers also featured a statement by Former Lebanese
Minister Talal Arslan who said, "for a year, the current
government has been unable to run the country and has failed at
all economic, political and social levels."

End of summary.


2. Selected Headlines:

"Minister of Labor Haj Aref receives the UN fact-finding
committee on conditions of Syrian workers in occupied Golan:
Israeli repressive measures in occupied Golan continue without
any international deterrent" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 4/6)

"Dr. Shabaan, Minister of Expatriates, confers with Emir Salman
Bin Abed al-Aziz Al Saud, Emir of the Saudi city of Riyadh.
Discussion focuses on bilateral ties between Syria and Saudi
Arabia" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 4/6)

"The Lebanese Cabinet holds a meeting headed by President Lahoud
to discuss the reform plan. Lebanese parties, circles and
personalities call for enhanced relations with Syria and
protection of the Lebanese resistance" (Government-owned
Tishreen, 4/6)

"The Palestinian government holds its first meeting. Prime
Minister Hanieh: We inherited a poor treasury. We are working to
pay salaries of employees. Olmert will be announced Chairman of
the Israeli cabinet today" (Government-owned Tishreen, 4/6)

"Pressures increase for Al-Jaffari. Al-Madi presents himself as
an alternative" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th)


3. Editorial Block Quotes:

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"Deadly US Mistakes"

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Isam Dari, a columnist in government-owned Tishreen, wrote
(4/6): "The US is implementing Israel's policy toward Arab
issues instead of having its own independent policy....

"Therefore, it is useless to imagine that the United States is
willing to bring about a just and comprehensive peace in the
region.... Moreover, the United States bases its policy on the
assumption that the region's countries are hostile to Israel and
that it has to pressure these countries....

"We wonder how US Secretary of State Rice shamelessly
acknowledges that her country has committed thousands of
mistakes but does not apologize to the Iraqi people.

"The Bush administration is making thousands and even millions
of mistakes in Palestine, Afghanistan, Lebanon, and other
countries.... Bush also protects Israeli terrorism against the
Palestinian people.... The nations of the world will hold the
United States accountable for its mistakes sooner or later."

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"Occupation of Iraq, Failure and Absence of Horizons"

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Ali Rahhal, a columnist in government-owned Al-Ba'th, wrote
(4/6): "Research and studies that have been published on the
Iraq war, indicate that the invasion of Iraq under false
justifications was a grave mistake by the Bush
administration....

"The Iraq war has destroyed Iraq and its people and reflected
negatively on US interests. Nevertheless the US Administration
goes ahead with its mistakes, despite the increasing US losses
and the American people's rejection of the war.... The US
Administration is trying to impose its vision even though it is
wrong.... Studies indicate that the current crisis in Iraq has
not resulted from operations by terrorists or the resistance,
but from the occupation's mistakes and the misconduct of the US
Army...."

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"Occupation is Behind Increasing Sedition in Iraq"

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Na'im Muhammad Qaddah, former Ambassador, comments in Al-Thawrah
(4/6): "It is the US-made sectarian climate that has ignited the
fire in Iraq.... Agents of US occupation bombed the holy shrine
in the northern Iraqi city of Samarra, which was under the
control of the US Army at the time of the bombing.

"Observers warn that certain circles in the United States are
now calling for partitioning Iraq along ethnic and sectarian
lines.... The atmosphere created by the US occupation has
encouraged foreign intelligence services, such as Mosad, to
interfere in Iraqi affairs.

"The bombing of the tombs of two imams in the city of Samarra is
part of the US divide and rule policy.... The United States is
seeking to trigger sectarian strife among Iraqi Arabs, who form
about 80 percent of the Iraqi people and are known for their
adherence to their Arab and Islamic heritage."

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"Recent Elections Were Not Decisive"

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Ghassan Muhammad, a columnist in government-owned Al-Ba'th,
wrote (4/6): "Israeli media organs have cast doubt on Ehud
Olmert's plan to carry out a unilateral withdrawal from the West
Bank.... Qadima has announced the plan in order to distinguish
itself from the Labor Party and the Likud Party by pretending to
accept a limited unilateral withdrawal from the West Bank....
The Labor Party is ready to accept such a plan through
negotiations with Palestinians, while the Likud Party completely
rejects the idea of withdrawal and insists on total control of
the Palestinian territories....

"This does not mean there is a difference between this or that
Israeli party over withdrawal, which is used by Israeli parties
as a political maneuver....

"The idea of unilateral withdrawal was intended to win votes
during the Israeli parliamentary elections.... Although Olmert
believes that the occupation of Palestinian territories in 1967
was a mistake, he has no courage to translate his belief into
action...."

Seche