Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DAMASCUS1922
2006-04-27 13:47:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Damascus
Cable title:
Damascus Media Reaction: Syria/Palestinians, Lebanon,
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UNCLAS DAMASCUS 001922
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/Palestinians, Lebanon,
Egypt (4/27)
UNCLAS DAMASCUS 001922
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/Palestinians, Lebanon,
Egypt (4/27)
1. Summary: Syrian papers reported that PM Mohammed Naji Ottri,
in a cabinet meeting, called on Syrian citizens to take part in
the fund-raising campaign for the Palestinian people scheduled to
be launched next Sunday all over the country.
Papers also reported that the first Arab-Euro Dialogue Forum was
inaugurated in Paris under the Title, "Towards an Arab-Euro
Strategic Partnership," with the participation of Syrian Minister
of Economy and Trade, Amer Hosni Lutfi. In an opening speech,
Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa hoped that the forum
would be a framework for critical dialogue and intellectual
interaction, as well as joint action that would upgrade ties
between the Arab world and Europe in various domains.
French FM Philip Doust Blazy delivered a speech stressing the
importance of ties between Europe and the Arab world and the need
to maintain them.
The Syrian press reported that Information Minister Muhsen Bilal
met with Necmi Uce, Chairman of the Board of General
Mediterranean Holding Corporation, and Maha al-Faqir, Secretary
General of Anglo-Arab Organization in the UK, to discuss the best
means to convey a positive image of Arabs to western public
opinion and launch inter-cultural dialogue between Arab and
western intellectuals.
End of summary.
2. Selected Headlines:
"Speaker of the People's Assembly al-Abrash congratulates al-
Mashhadani on his election as Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament"
(Government-owned Tishreen, 4/27)
"On the Eve of resumption of the national dialogue, Berri,
Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, emphasizes the importance of
relations with Syria" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 4/27)
"Palestinian Foreign Minister Zahar: It would have been better
had we been received in Jordan instead of being accused. Norway
offers donations to Palestinians. President of Switzerland
criticizes the European position towards Palestinians"
(Government-owned Tishreen, 4/27)
"Less than 48 hours after Dahab explosions, two unsuccessful
suicide bombings hit northern Sinai" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th,
4/27)
"A number of car bomb explosions in Baghdad and Fallouja. An Air-
strike against Yousifiya. US Secretary of State Rice and
Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld are in Baghdad: Forming the Iraqi
SIPDIS
cabinet is the key to partial withdrawals" (Government-owned Al-
Ba'th, 4/27)
"The Arab-Euro Dialogue Forum is inaugurated in Paris with
Syria's participation. Philip Doust Blazy, French Foreign
Minister, acknowledges Western double standard towards the Arab
and Moslem worlds" (Government-owned Tishreen, 4/27)
3. Editorial Block Quotes:
-------------- --------------
"Syria and Palestine, Continuing Support and Constant Stands"
-------------- --------------
Ibrahim Shuqyar, an editorialist in government-owned Al-Ba'th,
wrote (4/27): "Syria never hesitated to support the Palestinian
cause and the Palestinian people in their effort to attain all
their legitimate national rights and establish their independent
state with Jerusalem as its capital....
"Meanwhile, the Jordanian position toward the Palestinian
government was surprising and contradictory. The Jordanian
government suddenly postponed Mahmud al-Zahhar's visit
indefinitely on the pretext that the Jordanian authorities had
seized weapons smuggled by HAMAS. HAMAS leaders denied smuggling
or storing any weapons in Jordan. The movement noted that the
Jordanian accusations followed the martyrdom operation in Tel
Aviv and came in response to pressure by Israel and the United
States, which did not want Jordan to receive Al-Zahhar or deal
with the Palestinian government before it complies with the
Israeli conditions and demands....
"Why this sudden announcement of the discovery of weapons at
this particular time, when the Palestinian people are coming
under siege in an effort to subjugate them and force them to
relinquish their national and pan-Arab principles? The
Palestinian government has repeatedly announced that it
represents the entire Palestinian people, not a certain faction,
and that the rotation of power is a natural process resulting
from the democratic choice of the Palestinian people. What is
unacceptable and unnatural is this calculated accusation, which
adds to the pressure that is being exerted on the Palestinian
people, who will not surrender no matter what the hardship.
Previous experience offers the best proof."
--------------
"Larsen Approaching Annan's Post"
--------------
Salim Abbud, a commentator in government-owned Al-Thawra, wrote
(4/26) "Through its hostile nature and explicit accusations
against Syria, the Palestinians, and Hizbollah, Roed-Larsen's
third report to the UN Security Council on progress in the
implementation of Resolution 1559, which he submitted a few days
ago, was worse than the previous two....
"The UN envoy deliberately ignored the Israeli air violations of
Lebanese airspace and interfered in issues that are none of his
business....
"With Kofi Annan's term as UN SeGen coming to an end, Roed-
Larsen appears to be the candidate that the US and Israel have
chosen for this post. He, therefore, has to adopt positions that
serve Israel and the United States. This is why his third report
was the worst...."
--------------
"Oppression Is Doomed to Failure"
--------------
Isam Dari, an editorialist in government-owned Tishreen,
commented (4/26): "The Arab region has turned into a field for
horror, terror, wars, and destruction....
"All this serves Israel's interests only.... Some Arabs have
willingly agreed to join this game and implement everything
dictated to them, even if this drives them to lie, twist facts,
forge history, and mislead the Arab opinion....
"The terrorism that is sweeping the world today was created by
Israel and has been adopted by the United States. The current US
administration is fully responsible for everything that is
happening in the world in general and in this region in
particular. The policy of this administration is contributing to
the spread of terrorism and the expansion of chaos, tension, and
explosions in the region, from Afghanistan in the east to
Morocco in the West....
"Washington's politicians and their allies are mistaken if they
believe they can impose their plans and schemes on nations and
countries...."
-------------- --------------
"When the Prey Is Lured to the Bait outside Hunting Season!"
-------------- --------------
Dr. Id Abu-Sikkah, a commentator in government-owned Al-Ba'th,
commented (4/26): "Was it just a coincidence that the Bin-Ladin
audiotape was released at a time when Donald Rumsfeld and the US
administration in general are coming under strong criticism at
home? At a time when US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is
coming under harsh verbal attacks by six American generals...?
"At a time when Madeline Albright, the Secretary of State
throughout President Bill Clinton's second term, is making
strong statements against the American war in Iraq, describing
it as the worst political disaster in the history of the United
States, stressing that Saddam Hussein did not pose a threat to
American national security, and saying that it is not possible
or acceptable to invade a country just because we do not like
its leader?
"At a time when Senators John Kerry and Edward Kennedy have
joined the extensive campaign against a Secretary who sees the
world only through the buttonholes of his old military uniform,
with the first holding him responsible for the failure to arrest
Usama Bin Ladin and calling on him to resign and the second
going much further and demanding that the US Administration
withdraw its troops from Iraq?
"At this very time, a new tape from Usama Bin Ladin is
broadcast! Was the timing of this latest broadcast just a rare
coincidence? Or does the incident, in and of itself, go beyond
the absurdity of coincidences, which people on our planet,
including Americans themselves, have boringly been seeing
repeated like a ridiculous play since 11 September, forming an
integral part of the US Administration's tedious discourse,
which can be summed up as follows: All the war's repercussions,
consequences, disasters, and mistakes -- which have been
estimated in the thousands -- are not equivalent, and must not
be, to the mere thought that Usama Bin Ladin is still alive,
threatening Americans from a tent in a cave somewhere on Planet
Earth....
"It is, then, the rare, historic, ideal opportunity when the
prey is lured to the bait outside hunting season!"
Seche
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/Palestinians, Lebanon,
Egypt (4/27)
1. Summary: Syrian papers reported that PM Mohammed Naji Ottri,
in a cabinet meeting, called on Syrian citizens to take part in
the fund-raising campaign for the Palestinian people scheduled to
be launched next Sunday all over the country.
Papers also reported that the first Arab-Euro Dialogue Forum was
inaugurated in Paris under the Title, "Towards an Arab-Euro
Strategic Partnership," with the participation of Syrian Minister
of Economy and Trade, Amer Hosni Lutfi. In an opening speech,
Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa hoped that the forum
would be a framework for critical dialogue and intellectual
interaction, as well as joint action that would upgrade ties
between the Arab world and Europe in various domains.
French FM Philip Doust Blazy delivered a speech stressing the
importance of ties between Europe and the Arab world and the need
to maintain them.
The Syrian press reported that Information Minister Muhsen Bilal
met with Necmi Uce, Chairman of the Board of General
Mediterranean Holding Corporation, and Maha al-Faqir, Secretary
General of Anglo-Arab Organization in the UK, to discuss the best
means to convey a positive image of Arabs to western public
opinion and launch inter-cultural dialogue between Arab and
western intellectuals.
End of summary.
2. Selected Headlines:
"Speaker of the People's Assembly al-Abrash congratulates al-
Mashhadani on his election as Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament"
(Government-owned Tishreen, 4/27)
"On the Eve of resumption of the national dialogue, Berri,
Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, emphasizes the importance of
relations with Syria" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 4/27)
"Palestinian Foreign Minister Zahar: It would have been better
had we been received in Jordan instead of being accused. Norway
offers donations to Palestinians. President of Switzerland
criticizes the European position towards Palestinians"
(Government-owned Tishreen, 4/27)
"Less than 48 hours after Dahab explosions, two unsuccessful
suicide bombings hit northern Sinai" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th,
4/27)
"A number of car bomb explosions in Baghdad and Fallouja. An Air-
strike against Yousifiya. US Secretary of State Rice and
Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld are in Baghdad: Forming the Iraqi
SIPDIS
cabinet is the key to partial withdrawals" (Government-owned Al-
Ba'th, 4/27)
"The Arab-Euro Dialogue Forum is inaugurated in Paris with
Syria's participation. Philip Doust Blazy, French Foreign
Minister, acknowledges Western double standard towards the Arab
and Moslem worlds" (Government-owned Tishreen, 4/27)
3. Editorial Block Quotes:
-------------- --------------
"Syria and Palestine, Continuing Support and Constant Stands"
-------------- --------------
Ibrahim Shuqyar, an editorialist in government-owned Al-Ba'th,
wrote (4/27): "Syria never hesitated to support the Palestinian
cause and the Palestinian people in their effort to attain all
their legitimate national rights and establish their independent
state with Jerusalem as its capital....
"Meanwhile, the Jordanian position toward the Palestinian
government was surprising and contradictory. The Jordanian
government suddenly postponed Mahmud al-Zahhar's visit
indefinitely on the pretext that the Jordanian authorities had
seized weapons smuggled by HAMAS. HAMAS leaders denied smuggling
or storing any weapons in Jordan. The movement noted that the
Jordanian accusations followed the martyrdom operation in Tel
Aviv and came in response to pressure by Israel and the United
States, which did not want Jordan to receive Al-Zahhar or deal
with the Palestinian government before it complies with the
Israeli conditions and demands....
"Why this sudden announcement of the discovery of weapons at
this particular time, when the Palestinian people are coming
under siege in an effort to subjugate them and force them to
relinquish their national and pan-Arab principles? The
Palestinian government has repeatedly announced that it
represents the entire Palestinian people, not a certain faction,
and that the rotation of power is a natural process resulting
from the democratic choice of the Palestinian people. What is
unacceptable and unnatural is this calculated accusation, which
adds to the pressure that is being exerted on the Palestinian
people, who will not surrender no matter what the hardship.
Previous experience offers the best proof."
--------------
"Larsen Approaching Annan's Post"
--------------
Salim Abbud, a commentator in government-owned Al-Thawra, wrote
(4/26) "Through its hostile nature and explicit accusations
against Syria, the Palestinians, and Hizbollah, Roed-Larsen's
third report to the UN Security Council on progress in the
implementation of Resolution 1559, which he submitted a few days
ago, was worse than the previous two....
"The UN envoy deliberately ignored the Israeli air violations of
Lebanese airspace and interfered in issues that are none of his
business....
"With Kofi Annan's term as UN SeGen coming to an end, Roed-
Larsen appears to be the candidate that the US and Israel have
chosen for this post. He, therefore, has to adopt positions that
serve Israel and the United States. This is why his third report
was the worst...."
--------------
"Oppression Is Doomed to Failure"
--------------
Isam Dari, an editorialist in government-owned Tishreen,
commented (4/26): "The Arab region has turned into a field for
horror, terror, wars, and destruction....
"All this serves Israel's interests only.... Some Arabs have
willingly agreed to join this game and implement everything
dictated to them, even if this drives them to lie, twist facts,
forge history, and mislead the Arab opinion....
"The terrorism that is sweeping the world today was created by
Israel and has been adopted by the United States. The current US
administration is fully responsible for everything that is
happening in the world in general and in this region in
particular. The policy of this administration is contributing to
the spread of terrorism and the expansion of chaos, tension, and
explosions in the region, from Afghanistan in the east to
Morocco in the West....
"Washington's politicians and their allies are mistaken if they
believe they can impose their plans and schemes on nations and
countries...."
-------------- --------------
"When the Prey Is Lured to the Bait outside Hunting Season!"
-------------- --------------
Dr. Id Abu-Sikkah, a commentator in government-owned Al-Ba'th,
commented (4/26): "Was it just a coincidence that the Bin-Ladin
audiotape was released at a time when Donald Rumsfeld and the US
administration in general are coming under strong criticism at
home? At a time when US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is
coming under harsh verbal attacks by six American generals...?
"At a time when Madeline Albright, the Secretary of State
throughout President Bill Clinton's second term, is making
strong statements against the American war in Iraq, describing
it as the worst political disaster in the history of the United
States, stressing that Saddam Hussein did not pose a threat to
American national security, and saying that it is not possible
or acceptable to invade a country just because we do not like
its leader?
"At a time when Senators John Kerry and Edward Kennedy have
joined the extensive campaign against a Secretary who sees the
world only through the buttonholes of his old military uniform,
with the first holding him responsible for the failure to arrest
Usama Bin Ladin and calling on him to resign and the second
going much further and demanding that the US Administration
withdraw its troops from Iraq?
"At this very time, a new tape from Usama Bin Ladin is
broadcast! Was the timing of this latest broadcast just a rare
coincidence? Or does the incident, in and of itself, go beyond
the absurdity of coincidences, which people on our planet,
including Americans themselves, have boringly been seeing
repeated like a ridiculous play since 11 September, forming an
integral part of the US Administration's tedious discourse,
which can be summed up as follows: All the war's repercussions,
consequences, disasters, and mistakes -- which have been
estimated in the thousands -- are not equivalent, and must not
be, to the mere thought that Usama Bin Ladin is still alive,
threatening Americans from a tent in a cave somewhere on Planet
Earth....
"It is, then, the rare, historic, ideal opportunity when the
prey is lured to the bait outside hunting season!"
Seche