Damascus Media Reaction: Syria/Iraq/Italy,

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 002376

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/Iraq/Italy,
Lebanon/Egypt, Resolution 1680, Palestinian Territories,
Israel/US (5/22)



1. Summary: Syrian papers reported that Prime Minister Ottri
sent cables of congratulation to Iraqi PM al-Malki and to
Italian PM Prodi on the occasion of forming the new Iraqi and
Italian governments. He expressed his confidence in developing
cooperation between Syria and Italy to serve their joint
interests.

Papers reported President Mubarak's meeting with Lebanese
President Lahoud, on the sidelines of the International Economic
Forum for the Middle East held in Sharm al-Sheikh. Mubarak
underlined to Lahoud that Lebanon should have good relations with
the Arab world, particularly Syria. "I agree with President
Lahoud's stance, which calls for unifying the Lebanese and
putting an end to any foreign intervention in Lebanese internal
affairs," Mubarak said. Mubarak added that "negative stances by
some Lebanese parties, particularly negative statements and
campaigns, would only increase doubts about Lebanon's ability to
recover." For his part, President Lahoud underlined that all
Lebanese seek excellent ties with sisterly Syria, adding,
"Lebanon will be stronger through Arab solidarity". Lahoud
pointed out that his country welcomes every effort to enhance
security and stability in Lebanon, particularly regarding
restoring distinguished relations with Syria.

Syrian newspapers continued to criticize UNSC Resolution 1680 as
a "violation of the UN Charter" and "interference" in the
domestic affairs of Syria and Lebanon. Ahmad Dawwa said in Al-
Thawrah that Resolution 1680 shows US "despotic hegemony" and
indicates that the US Administration has not learned from its
mistakes. Papers also reported that the Arab Bar Association
criticized UN Security Council resolution 1680 as a flagrant
violation of legal principles and state sovereignty. Papers also
reported Lebanese criticism of the resolution, from Mohammed
Raad, Lebanese MP and Leader of al-Wafaa Bloc for Resistance,
and Suleiman Franjieh, former Lebanese Minister, who stressed
that Resolution 1680 is an intervention in internal Syrian-
Lebanese affairs and sovereignty.

End of summary.


2. Selected Headlines:

"Prime Minister Ottri congratulates Iraqi PM al-Malki on forming
the Iraqi government and Italian PM Prodi on forming the new
Italian government. Ottri: Syria supports Iraq in all fields"
(Government-owned Tishreen, 5/22)

"President Mubarak confers with President Lahoud in Sharm al-
Sheikh. Murbarak: There are foreign sides seeking to destroy
Lebanon. Warnings against the repercussions of UNSC resolution
1680 on Syrian-Lebanese relations" (Government-owned Tishreen,
5/22)

"The Arab Bar Association condemns UN Security Council Resolution

1680. A new cycle in the American plot to weaken Syria's
steadfastness" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 5/22)

"Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov: Preventing the arrival of
assistance to Palestinians is unacceptable and the West is
afflicted with megalomania" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 5/22)

"Abbas meets Peres and Levi in Sharm al-Sheikh. A Palestinian
woman is martyred in Nablus. The Palestinian resistance shells
Sedrot settlement" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 5/22)

"Scores of Iraqis killed in various attacks in Iraq. A security
force is formed to keep security in Baghdad" (Government-owned Al-
Thawra, 5/22)


3. Editorial Block Quotes:

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

"Lebanon Is Targeted before Syria"


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

Isam Dari, an editorialist in government-owned Tishreen,
commented (5/22): "Issuing a UNSC resolution asking a country to
establish diplomatic relations with another sets a precedent in
international relations....

"Who will guarantee that the Bush administration will not ask
the Security Council to force Arab countries to establish
diplomatic, economic, and other relations with Israel, even
though it occupies their lands, besieges a peaceable people, and
practices aggression and terrorism at the highest levels...?

"Syria did not oppose the establishment of diplomatic relations
with Lebanon. It publicly informed the Lebanese side of this.
Nor did Syria object to the demarcation of the border, beginning
with the north, not with the land that is under Israeli
occupation....

"Syria announced this without UNSC resolutions, manipulations,
threats, and pressure. The relations that have existed between
the two countries and peoples for thousands of years are
hundreds of times deeper than any diplomatic relations, as they
are relations of family bonds, blood, and common destiny....

"If diplomatic relations are imposed through the force of
international resolutions resulting from American and French
pressure, if this takes place today amid deterioration in the
relations between the two countries, who will guarantee that the
relations will not be broken off tomorrow or the day after due
to incitement by Lebanese groups that have publicly declared
their hostility toward Syria and received anti-Syrian forces
that harbor evil intentions with respect to this country and its
people...?

"Syria wishes everything good for Lebanon. This is why it paid a
heavy price with the blood of its people and the sweat of its
workers for the sake of Lebanon and its unity and prosperity.
But in the current situation and in light of the blatant
hostility that some Lebanese are declaring, it is difficult to
establish diplomatic relations immediately. When these
individuals stop their hatred toward Syria, everything will
become possible, without international mediation and foreign
interference that target Lebanon more than Syria."

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

"Another Wedge in the UNSC Body"

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

Ahmad Dawwa, an editorialist in government-owned Al-Thawra,
wrote (5/22): "UNSC Resolution 1680 shows the power of US
hegemony and indicates that the Bush administration has not
learned from its mistakes....

"The Bush administration is mistaken if it believes the policy
it adopts toward the Security Council, which is based on
hegemony and despotism, can smooth over the failure of its
direct Middle East policy....

"The drafters of the resolution drove another wedge into the
body of the Security Council, setting a serious precedent for
the Council's interference in sovereign issues, contrary to the
UN Charter. And by failing to ask Israel to discontinue its
land, air, and sea violations of Lebanese sovereignty, they
proved by words and deeds that they have no credibility with
regard to the paragraphs on Lebanon and Syria in the
resolution....

"The Lebanese political forces that welcomed the resolution
miscalculated its internal and external risks because the
internationalization of the Lebanese decision in this way is a
grave violation of sovereignty, paving the way for later
resolutions that might greatly endanger Lebanon....



"The American failures require that the Bush administration not
show further stubbornness and ferocity in its approach to the
region, but return to dialogue and the language of common
interests. To resolve existing differences, this way is much
shorter and more effective than the policy of dictates, which
often produces negative and disastrous results...."

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

"Olmert's Visit to Washington"

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

Maha Sultan, a commentator in government-owned Tishreen, wrote
(5/22): "Palestinians have the right to be worried about Israeli
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's upcoming visit to Washington....

"The US Administration has not hidden its intention to support
Olmert's unilateral withdrawal plan, which he wants to impose
not only on Palestinians but also on the international
community....

"American statements that have tried to play down the importance
of the visit in the past two days were meant for European
consumption, because Bush needs Europeans in his current battle
with Iran.... The US Administration actually does not need this
diplomacy, because Europeans have repeatedly proven their
subservience to American policy, whether they like it or not,
especially when it comes to the Palestinian question...."

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