Damascus Media Reaction: Terrorism, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran,

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 001987 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: Terrorism, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Palestinian Territories (4/28-5-1) ¶1. Summary: Syrian papers featured a statement by the Syrian Foreign Ministry refuting the US annual report on terrorism, saying that the US war on terrorism hasn't achieved any positive results, but rather, increased terrorism, for two main reasons. One is the US and Israeli rejection of what Syria had repeatedly asserted, namely, that terrorism must be combated by uprooting its causes. "The second reason is that the invasion of Iraq has created new fertile land for terrorism...," the source added. "Syria has taken all necessary measures to guarantee border security with Iraq," the source said, adding that US military officials have previously made many statements that contradict the report on that issue. The source denied as "null and void" accusations that Syria sponsors terrorism through Palestinian information offices in Damascus, saying that the Palestinian people have proven, through the ballot box, that Syria has been right in distinguishing terrorism from the legitimate right of resistance. "One cause of the violence that our region is undergoing is the US policies that prolong the Israeli occupation and exacerbate the Iraqi people's suffering, causing the US administration to lose credibility inside the U.S., in the region and in the world as a whole." the source concluded. Papers also reported that Lebanese political parties and figures have called for stronger ties with Syria, recalling Damascus' sacrifices for Lebanon's national unity and stability. "Syria has always supported the Lebanese national resistance and helped liberate most of South Lebanon from Israeli occupation through its support for the Palestinian resistance," said Tawfik Muhanna, representative of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP) in a Beirut ceremony on the anniversary of the foundation of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). Mr. Muhanna added that Syria "stood by Lebanon in its most difficult times and helped consolidate its territorial integrity and stability." In a similar speech, the head of the Popular Conference Party, Kamal Shatilla, described UN Resolution 1559 as "intervention in Lebanon's internal affairs and an attempt to disarm the national resistance and antagonize Syria." Mr. Shatilla said that "the Palestinian struggle is now threatened by American and Zionist pressure which aims to destroy Palestinian national unity." Mr. Abbas Mawlawi, of Hizbollah, strongly criticized the latest report by the US State Department on terrorism, saying that describing the Lebanese national resistance as terrorist "is a fresh indication of US blind bias towards Israel." The Hizbollah official said his party has turned down recent proposals to revive a truce with Israel, adding that resistance, not truce, is the guarantee for Lebanon. Former Lebanese MP Elie Ferzli has stressed that the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri was part of an international conspiracy targeting Lebanon and Syria through the Greater Middle East Project or through the establishment of small sectarian countries. End of summary. ¶2. Selected Headlines: "In implementation of President Asad's directives, Syria launches a national fundraising campaign to back Palestinians and ease their suffering" (Government-owned Tishreen, 5/1) "An official Syrian source: US policy is one of the main causes of violence in the region. The US war on terrorism hasn't yet achieved any positive results. Terrorism is on the rise. The US invasion of Iraq has created fertile land for terrorism. Terrorism cannot be tackled and combated without combating its causes" (Government-owned Tishreen, 5/1) "Pessimistic expectations on the upcoming session of the Lebanese national dialogue. Aoun: The majority does not have popular support and the government is incompetent. Lebanese figures: The US report on the Lebanese resistance shows blind bias toward Israel" (Government-owned Tishreen, 5/1) "The Palestinian dialogue is due to resume between May 15-20. Israel modifies track of its separation wall. Thousands of Palestinians will be isolated from their lands. Fifteen settlements are annexed" (Government-owned Tishreen, 5/1) "Three foreign contactors killed in Iraq. Italy and Denmark plan to pull forces out of Iraq" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 5/1) "Dozens of members of Syrian civil societies stage a sit-in outside the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Damascus in solidarity with the Palestinian people" (Government-owned Al- Thawra, 4/30) "A national fundraising campaign to support Palestinians kicks off today" (Government-owned Tishreen, 4/30) "Lebanese personalities call for protecting the resistance and completing the national dialogue. Berri: We will face a catastrophe in case of failure. Ferzli: The assassination of Al- Hariri is an international conspiracy" (Government-owned Al- Thawra, 4/30) "Head of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, calls for a national dialogue. The Hanieh government welcomes Abbas' call. Occupation forces renew shelling of northern Gaza. Seven Palestinians, including two children, wounded in Israeli bombing of eastern Gaza Strip" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 4/30) "The Lebanese national dialogue resumes today. Lahoud calls on Lebanese to open a new page. Nasrallah: The weapons of the resistance are sacred and a defensive guarantee. Karami: All of Lebanon seeks outstanding relations with Syria" (4/28) ¶3. Editorial Block Quotes: -------------- "Double Language" -------------- Ahmad Dawwa, an editorialist in government-owned Al-Thawra, commented (4/30): "It is no secret that Lebanese Prime Minister Al-Saniora uses language with double meaning when he talks about Lebanese and Arab issues.... "After every foreign trip, Al-Saniora and his team need to recruit Lebanese and Arab media to explain his position and what he claims he wanted to say. He and his team do not ask themselves why this happens only to him, not to others. "It is wrong to believe that distortion and minimization can hide the facts and the reasons behind these conflicting statements. After his return from Washington, the head of the Lebanese government should have been busy not with explaining his positions and statements there, but with informing the Lebanese people of President Bush's responses to his requests that Israel withdraw from the Shab'a Farms, halt its daily violations of the Lebanese sovereignty, release Lebanese prisoners and detainees, submit maps of landmines, and so on -- requests that Al-Saniora promised his people, before traveling, that he would present to the US president and other American officials. "Regrettably, Al-Saniora's agenda was completely changed in Washington and replaced by another agenda that was not announced before the visit - an agenda that helps deepen the split in Lebanese society and create tension in relations with Syria. "In his statements, Al-Saniora remained silent about all the requests that were related to Israel and the economic issue. Instead of admitting that he failed to persuade US officials to listen to the demands of his country, he made statements about the international investigation into the Al-Hariri assassination, Lebanese-Syrian relations, and the topics of the Lebanese national dialogue, which is making no progress because the plans of some of its parties are connected to the American agenda in the region. Those statements were made at the wrong time and in the wrong place. "Al-Saniora is mistaken if he believes any Syrian is convinced of his claim that he is eager to establish fraternal and equal relations with Syria, no matter how hard he tries to choose his words and emotional statements. "No person in his right mind can explain Al-Saniora's statement that he does not accuse Syria of killing Al-Hariri and, at the same time, his talk, from an American podium, about Syrian threats against Al-Hariri. "It has become clear that the foreign trusteeship of Lebanon does not want Syrian-Lebanese relations to improve. Regrettably, some Lebanese parties respond favorably to this.... "Syria will not give in to blackmail, pressure, and bullying by people who draw strength from foreigners. Dealing with it in this language will be useless. Syria's positions are clear, and others have to shoulder their responsibilities and stop using double language." -------------- -------------- "Please Save Us from the Consequences of This War Against Terrorism" -------------- -------------- Izz-al-Din al-Darwish, an editorialist in government-owned Tishreen, commented (4/30): "There was a sharp increase in the number of terrorist operations worldwide in 2005 compared to 2004.... How can anyone in this world believe the US Administration when it says day and night that it has made significant progress in its war against world terror...? "After the start of this war, these figures began to jump crazily, to the point where they are now. And this sequence (a fourfold increase) will continue so long as the US Administration says that it is still in a long-term war that might last for years, as the enemy is adapting to the new circumstances at each stage...." -------------- "Summer and Winter under One Surface" -------------- Ali Nasrallah, an editorialist in government-owned Al-Thawra, wrote (4/28): "There are contradictions in the positions of the US Administration toward the United Nations.... While it says that the referral of the Iranian nuclear file to the Security Council is a serious test for the United Nations, it forgets previous descriptions of this organization and ignores the fact that it thwarted dozens of Security Council resolutions and actions and repeatedly threatened the Security Council's unity through the unjust veto that it used against just causes supported by the majority of UN members.... "The world seems more convinced today that the problem lies not with Iran and its peaceful nuclear activities but with Israel and its arsenal and occupation.... The American people are expressing their resentment at the positions and statements that the White House and the State Department issue on democracy and human rights.... "If the official and popular international mood opposes the imposition of smart or not-smart sanctions against Iran, any American-Israeli military adventure against it will not be a picnic. It will lead the world to a more complicated situation, with undesirable consequences. This strongly dictates that the world governments undermine the ideas of the warmongers and deter those who tamper with international security and stability." Seche