Damascus Media Reaction: Syria/US, Syria/Palestine,

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 002071

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, Syria/Palestine,
Syria/Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran's Nuclear Program (5/4)



1. Summary: Syrian papers reported that Dr. Faisal Miqdad,
Deputy Foreign Minister, conferred with a delegation from the US
Institute of Peace now visiting Syria. He commented that "the
current US policy is contributing to complications in the region
and is blocking efforts to achieve stability in the Middle
East." Dr. Miqdad delivered a political review of Syrian policy
vis-a-vis political developments in the region and Syria's
principled stance on circumstances in Palestine and Iraq.

Papers also reported that the US delegation met with Dr.
Buthaina Shabaan, Minister of Expatriates, who called on the US
Administration to reconsider its policies in the Middle East,
noting that they serve neither US interests nor US-Arab ties.
Shabaan emphasized that "Syria is working with the international
community to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the
region in accordance with international legitimacy." She added,
"Syria is taking firm steps in the process of reforming and
developing all aspects of the life of Syrian society."

Papers also featured a lecture delivered at Damascus University
by Khaled Mashaal, Chairman of HAMAS' Political Bureau. Mashaal
praised Syria's financial support of Palestinians. He said that
"Syria's fundraising campaign represents a model of a positive
Arab role in support of the Palestinian cause." Mashaal
reviewed developments in the region and the siege that "has been
imposed on Palestinians due to their democratic choice."

The Syrian press also reported that Mohammad Suleimani, Iranian
Minister of Communications and Technology, and Amr Salem, his
Syrian counterpart, have signed a number of agreements in the
fields of communications and information technology, valued at
$30 million and expected to increase to $100 million. Later,
Minister Salem signed a contract with his Iranian counterpart to
import $70 million worth of communication cables from Iran.

End of summary.


3. Selected Headlines:

"Shabaan and Miqdad confer with a delegation from the US
Institute of Peace: US policy contributes to complications in the
region" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 5/4)

"The Syrian fundraising campaign continues. Mashaal: Syria is an
Arab and pan-Arab model of support for the Palestinian people"
(Government-owned Al-Thawra, 5/4)

"Author of the book of 'Hidden Evidence in Lebanon' and German
expert in criminal science, Kolpil: The Israeli Mossad disabled
the radars and Kolpil is ready to give evidence. A Lebanese call
to investigate the Israeli role in the crime of the Al-Hariri
assassination" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 5/4)

"The Palestinian government rejects Chirac's suggestions to solve
the crisis of salaries. Hahieh: We have collected the necessary
funds, but US pressures are blocking them" (Government-owned Al-
Ba'th, 5/4)

"A car bomb targets the Mayor of Al-Anbar. 58 Iraqis killed, two
injured in Fallujah. In its first session, the Iraqi parliament
discusses amendment of the constitution" (Government-owned Al-
Ba'th, 5/4)

"A European draft resolution to the Security Council to impose
sanctions on Iran. Bolton calls for an alliance of countries that
desire to impose sanctions on Iran [in case the UNSC fails to
endorse such a step]. Tehran denounces the US policy of
intimidation" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 5/4)


3. Editorial Block Quotes:

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"Alliance with Terrorism"

--------------


Isam Dari, an editorialist in government-owned Tishreen, wrote
(5/4): "Syria is coming under various forms of pressure these
days applied by big international and regional forces and

individuals who have volunteered to do everything they are
ordered to do....

"The US Administration has never stopped its pressure on
Damascus, whether directly or through quarters and individuals
who want to please the master of the White House and his
neoconservatives, even at the expense of dignity, sovereignty,
and the 'principles' that this anti-Syria team is falsely
bragging about....

"These people appear ready to do anything to tarnish Syria's
image.... Today they wanted to affirm their flagrant hostility
toward the Syrian people -- not the regime. They declared an
unholy alliance with a group that has committed every evil act,
spilled the blood of the Syrian people, and committed crimes
against humanity, not only against Syria and the Syrians [in
reference to the Syrian Muslim Brothers who are reportedly
visiting Lebanon]....

"The new Machiavellians, from Washington to Israel to some of
the 'neighbors', have exposed themselves and forged an alliance
with terrorism and the terrorists who are condemned by the
peoples of the earth and the laws of heaven, only because the
aim is to bring Syria to its knees and force it to turn against
its principles....

"Syria will not turn against itself or shed its skin. It will
not disavow its principles and the ambitions of its people and
the Arabs, even if its enemies ally themselves with the devil
himself, as well as with terrorism, terrorists, and highway
robbers...."

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"Insistence on Failure"

--------------

Omar Jaftali, a commentator in government-owned Tishreen, wrote
(5/4): "The US Administration is acting against international
legitimacy. It is using the logic of pressure and force against
countries whose policies are based on the logic of law and the
principles of international legitimacy, such as Syria. These
countries reject US policy only when the Bush administration
insists on pursuing an Israeli policy and surrendering to the
plans of neoconservatives, who embroiled Washington in a war on
Iraq and who insist on drawing a new map for our Arab region,
one that serves their hostile plans and totally avoids the
requirements and rights of the region in accordance with
international law and UN resolutions."

--------------

"Iran in Different Mirrors"

--------------

Ali Abdul-Karim, a columnist in government-owned Tishreen,
commented (5/4): "There are some regional apprehensions about
the Iranian nuclear program....

"A fair and balanced vision would show that Iran's power is a
guarantee more than a threat, because experience has proven that
Israeli aggression cannot be curbed by negotiations or
international resolutions unless there is a power for Israel to
take into consideration....

"Washington's threats to Tehran do not serve stability in the
region, especially since the United States has turned a deaf ear
to the calls of all countries of the region, including Iran, to
free the entire region from weapons of mass destruction...."


Seche