Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DAMASCUS2337
2006-05-18 12:10:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Damascus
Cable title:  

Damascus Media Reaction: UN Security Council resolution

Tags:  KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY 
pdf how-to read a cable
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O 181210Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9079
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 5963
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 3827
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 2340
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 7033
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 1001
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 4405
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM 0628
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA//
INFO RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 6769
UNCLAS DAMASCUS 002337 

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: UN Security Council resolution
1680, Beirut-Damascus Declaration (5/18)


UNCLAS DAMASCUS 002337

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: UN Security Council resolution
1680, Beirut-Damascus Declaration (5/18)



1. Summary: Syrian papers featured a statement by the Syrian
Foreign Ministry on the UN Security Council Resolution 1680 that
was passed on Wednesday saying it poses "an unprecedented
measure of interference in the core of sovereign and bilateral
issues for member states to the United Nations.
Commenting on the UNSC resolution dealing with diplomatic ties
between Syria and Lebanon and border demarcation, the source
noted that UNSC resolution 1559 did not refer to these two issues
which had been inserted into international envoy Larsen's report
in an artificial way and contrary to his mandate, ignoring that
Syria has announced that it has no objection in principal to
establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries when
there is adequate circumstances and atmosphere.

It said the issue was originally discussed in a positive way in
the recent meeting of the Syrian-Lebanese Higher Council. It
added that Syria had notified Lebanon by a letter from the Prime
Minister of Syria dated 11/14/2005 of its approval of the bill to
resume action of the joint border committee between the two
countries.

"Therefore the insistence of the resolution adopters to allow the
UNSC interfere in contrary to the charter rules as well as Vienna
Accord for diplomatic relations in issues under examination in a
positive way, poses as an unjustified pressure as well as a
provocation that will complicate issues instead of solving them,"
the source said.

The source added that Syria had repeatedly underscored that by
redeploying all its armed forces and security apparatus from
Lebanon on 4/26/05 Syria has met all its commitments under
resolution 1559, but the adopters of resolution 1680, ignored on
purpose Syria's positive stance and refrained from including it
in the resolution.

The MFA source said that Syria has taken the necessary procedures
to control borders with Lebanon and prevent infiltration from and
to Syria, pointing out that the report of Larsen underlined the

halt of all arms smuggling operations since February 2006 and
this is something that UNSC resolution did not mention. As
Larsen's report and the issued resolution both did not deal with
Lebanese media reports of arms smuggling operations to Lebanon by
sea in favor of some Lebanese political sides, "therefore its
ignorance does not serve the proclaimed quest for achieving
security and stability in Lebanon."

The source noted that if the aim of the resolution adopter is to
keep the sovereignty, independence and safety of the Lebanese
territories as they claim, then where is their keenness while
Israel's sea, land and air violations are repeated nonstop until
now. These issues are ignored on purpose in the resolution,
pointing out that their actions serve Israeli goals in the
region.

It added that Syria appreciates and thanks the understanding
stances that a majority of the UNSC members voiced via
consultations over Syria's stance that asserts her keenness on
Lebanon's sovereignty and independence as well as its regional
safety, and on establishing normal relations between Syria and
Lebanon reflecting the two peoples and sisterly countries
interests far away from any foreign interference. Therefore,
Syria sees that some parties that pushed to adopt the bill are
concerned in the first and last place with executing its
intentions and planned political schemes that target Syria and
Lebanon as well as the region regardless of the two peoples
interests and the security and stability in the region.

Papers also reported Foreign Minister Walid al-Mouallem's
political review at the People Assembly in which he renewed
Syria's desire to develop and boost relations with Lebanon in the
interest of both countries.

"There are several pending issues we wish to study with Lebanon
including diplomatic relations and border demarcation beginning
from the northern borders; this requires finding a suitable and

positive atmosphere between the two countries," Foreign Minister
said.

"To mount pressure on the country, they accused Syria of the
crime of assassinating former Lebanese Hariri without any
evidence though Syria is the main loser from this crime; this
proves that this crime is one part of a conspiracy against Syria
and Lebanon," Mouallem added.

On Iraq, the Minister said that "Syria has always asked for a
timetable for the foreign troops' withdrawal from Iraq; this
timetable could relieve the Iraqi people that occupation is going
to an end."

"At the same time, Syria supports the ongoing political process
in Iraq, particularly because its success will enable the would-
be national government to ask the withdrawal of occupation troops
and the restoration of Iraq sovereignty," Mouallem added.
On regional developments, the Minister underscored "We live in a
wavering world that is changing from a bipolar world to a
unilateral, and in our region, the world has changed to the
unilateral pole which is allying with Israel."

"Current developments rendered a complicated and tense situation
in the regional and international levels; in particular, those
conditions put Syria in the US sights due to her national stances
and rejection of war on Iraq," Foreign Minister said.

He added that the change of the regional power balances on the
ground didn't affect Syria's steadfastness led by President Asad
through commitment to her principles despite increasing US and
non-US pressures.

The Minister stressed that in spite of US pressure on Syria to
make the country isolated, Syria maintains good relations with
the Arab countries, Iran, China and Russia as well as most of the
Asian and European states. On relations with European countries,
Mouallem said that the Association Agreement has not been signed
as planned due to the US pressure and some EU states' stance,
adding "we are awaiting EU stances to be less affected by US
policies."

End of summary.


2. Selected Headlines:

"In a political review at the People's Assembly, Foreign Minister
Walid al-Mouallem: We are optimistic and our position is
improving despite all the tension.... The US project is
complicated and has failed in Iraq" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th,
5/18)

"An official source at the Foreign Ministry on the UN Security
Council resolution 1680 describes the resolution as an
unprecedented measure in international relations and it service
Israeli interests. The source added that we care for sovereignty
and independence of Lebanon and that Syria has met all
commitments with regard to resolution number 1559. Russia, China
and Argentina Representatives at the UN Security Council: "There
is no need for such resolution and it contradicts the Syrian-
Lebanese relations" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 5/18)


3. Editorial Block Quotes:


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

"Why was the Beirut-Damascus Declaration Issued Now? The
Declaration Absolves Israel and the United States and Accuses
Syria"

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

A political commentator wrote in government-owned Tishreen
(5/18): "Two days ago, and in a surprising move, a number of
Syrian and Lebanese 'intellectuals' issued a statement they

called 'the Beirut-Damascus Declaration'. The statement painted
a gloomy picture of the Syrian-Lebanese relations and contained
many exposed falsehoods that do not convince a sensible mind or
stand up to logic and evidence.

"Irrespective of the mistakes it contained, the injustice it did
to Syria and its role, and the disregard it showed for all the
sacrifices that Syria made over the years for the sake of
Lebanon, the declaration suspiciously coincided with the
intensive efforts that the administration of US President George
Bush is making to obtain a new Security Council resolution
calling on Syria to establish diplomatic relations with Lebanon.
These malicious efforts are part of an American-Israeli campaign
of pressure and threats against Syria. The question is: Why was
the declaration issued at this particular time?

"One of the peculiarities of the declaration is that it tried to
link the tension and the deterioration in the Syrian-Lebanese
relations to the extension of President Emile Lahhud's term, not
to the attempt by some Lebanese to use the bilateral relations
in the recent period to serve their own interests and,
consequently, to their exploitation of the assassination of
former Prime Minister Rafiq al-Hariri to blow up the relations
between the two countries and use Lebanon as a tool for
aggression, invasion, and flagrant interference in Syria's
affairs.

"It is strange that the signatories to the declaration ignored
the most important stages in the history of the relations
between the two countries and Syria's role before, during, and
after the civil war. Syria worked at the various stages to
preserve Lebanon's sovereignty and independence, whether during
the American intervention in 1958 or during the Israeli
aggressions before the deployment of the Syrian troops, a
deployment that was based on a Lebanese, Arab, and international
request. The signatories also ignore Syria's role over 30 years
in ending the civil war, foiling the 17 May agreement, and
confronting Israeli aggression.

"Today the signatories to the Declaration have acquitted Israel
and the Bush administration of all the disasters and tragedies
that Lebanon experienced and is still experiencing under the
American policy of hegemony and domination and leveled the
accusation to Syria. We cannot assume good intentions here.

"We will not mention all the falsehoods in which the
declaration's signatories entrapped themselves, from the issue
of the assassination of Prime Minister Al-Hariri to the claim
that the presence of the Syrian workers in Lebanon 'harms the
Lebanese' -- something with which the Lebanese politicians and
economists themselves disagree. Falsehoods, mistakes, and
unfairness to Syria and the truth characterize the declaration
and the signatories. This calls for legitimate questions about
the motives of the declaration, the instigators, and the
signatories. We leave this for the enlightened citizens to
judge."

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

"Submerge in Shame"

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

Isam Dari, an editorialist in government-owned Tishreen, wrote
(5/18): "The Syrian and Lebanese intellectuals, who signed the
Beirut-Damascus Declaration, have forgotten all the sacrifices
and martyrs that Syria offered for the sake of Lebanon and
became involved, in good or bad faith, in the unjust and obvious
campaign that the administration of US President Bush is leading
against Syria....

"These intellectuals suggest in their statement that Syria
threatens Lebanon while they forget Israel, its subversive role,
and its ceaseless aggression....

"Despite this, we still believe that the genuine national

intellectuals realize the dimensions of the unjust campaign
against Syria. Throughout the Arab world, these intellectuals
defend Damascus' national and pan-Arab positions. In every time
and place we see rare groups that ignore facts and accept to
sink in shame and get involved in campaigns against the forces
of resistance and steadfastness. And we realize that even within
these groups some individuals were misled by attractive slogans.
But the truth will expose these people no matter how long it
takes...."

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

"Upcoming Dues"

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

Khalid al-Ashhab, an editorialist in government-owned Al-
Thawrah, wrote (5/18): "There are growing indications that the
American political plan in the Arab region has reached the last
stages of bankruptcy, or let us say entered the stage of retreat
and withdrawal....

"While, historically, the failure of US plans in the region is
nothing new, the failure of this particular plan will be
different because it will affect not only the administration
that adopts it and the tools that are being used to implement
it, but also a whole trend that brings together many Americans
who agreed, consciously or unconsciously, on a host of ideas and
thoughts that constitute the ideological structure of this
plan....

"This ideology turned the United States into an international
enemy that will need many years before it comes out of the
corner into which it backed itself.

"If the United States and Americans get a chance to clean and
rehabilitate themselves, what chance do those non-Americans who
gratuitously recruited themselves in the service of American
plan will have to clean a picture that has become worse and
uglier than the American picture itself?"

Seche