Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DAMASCUS2406
2006-05-25 14:31:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Damascus
Cable title:  

Damascus Media Reaction: Syria/Lebanon, Syria/Spain,

Tags:  KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY 
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VZCZCXYZ0018
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHDM #2406/01 1451431
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 251431Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9163
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 5981
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 3843
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 2357
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 7049
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 1020
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 4422
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM 0645
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA//
INFO RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 6786
UNCLAS DAMASCUS 002406 

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/Lebanon, Syria/Spain,
Syria/Canada, Resolution 1680, Olmert's US Visit (5/25)


UNCLAS DAMASCUS 002406

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/Lebanon, Syria/Spain,
Syria/Canada, Resolution 1680, Olmert's US Visit (5/25)



1. Summary: Syrian papers commemorated the anniversary of the
liberation of south Lebanon and featured a statement by former
Lebanese Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss criticizing the Lebanese
government's cancellation of the formal holiday, which had been
approved earlier for celebrating the liberation and resistance.
He stressed that the 25th of May is a national day symbolizing
the great national and Pan-Arab achievement of liberating
occupied Lebanese lands from the Israeli occupation. For its
part, the Lebanese Democratic Party, headed by Talal Arslan,
stressed that the Lebanese resistance is "a strategic balance and
strength in the face of the Israeli enemy," adding that any
dialogue about resistance should aim to reinforce it, not target
it. The party warned against Western plans to internationalize
the Lebanese issue, calling on all parties to behave wisely and
adopt dialogue to solve all disputes. Papers cited a message of
congratulation from the Golan prisoners to the Lebanese
resistance on Liberation Day in Lebanon, saying, "we are a nation
living in dignity, not fearing pressures and conspiracy against
us." They stressed that their liberation from Israeli prisons is
inevitable as long as there are men of great will.
Papers also reported that Syria and Lebanon signed a memorandum
of understanding to fight money laundering and terrorism
financing within the framework of Syrian efforts to join the
EGMONT GROUP [of Financial Intelligence Units.] Governor of the
Central Bank of Syria, Dr. Adib Mayala, who also chairs the
Commission to Fight Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing,
signed the memorandum with Mohammed Al-Baasiri, Secretary of the
Lebanese Special Investigation Commission. The memo is part of
the Commission's quest to widen international cooperation to
fight money laundering, and the persistent efforts of Syria to
join the International EGMONT GROUP of financial intelligence
entities. The EGMONT GROUP is an international network that
works to collect information on suspicious activities from the

financial industry, to analyze the data, and to make it
available to national authorities and other intelligence units
for use in combating terrorism and other financial crimes.

Papers also reported that Bernardino Leon, Spanish State
Secretary for Foreign Affairs, underlined the important role of

SIPDIS
Syria in the Middle East, saying "Syria is a central country in
the region, and it is difficult to ignore its role." "Syria is
witnessing important and attractive developments on the social,
tourist and economic levels; Spanish companies wish to
contribute effectively to investments in Syria so as to boost
relations between the countries," the Spanish Minister added,
during a meeting with Buthaina Shaaban, Minister of Expatriates.
Shaaban underlined the importance of Syrian-Spanish relations on
all levels and expressed appreciation for Spain's positive role
on Arab issues.

Papers reported that Mahmoud al-Abrash, Speaker of the People's
Assembly, discussed with Brad Trust, Head of a Canadian economic
parliamentary delegation, strengthening of parliamentary
relations between the two countries. During the meeting, al-
Abrash expressed Syria's readiness to enhance economic relations
with all countries, and with Canada in particular, in way that
will reflect positively on Syrian development. The Canadian
delegation, for its part, expressed its country's desire to
contribute to an economic role in the region, particularly in
Syria, who enjoys good investment climate.

End of summary.


2. Selected Headlines:

"Lebanon celebrates Liberation Day. President of Lebanon Lahoud:
Disarming the national resistance is a conspiracy against
Lebanon. Former Lebanese Premier al-Hoss: Liberation Day is an
historical day. Prisoners of occupied Golan congratulate the
Lebanese resistance on Liberation Day" (Government-owned Al-
Thawra, 5/25)

"A memorandum of understanding with Lebanon on combating money
laundering and financing terrorism" (Government-owned Al-Thawra,
5/25)

"Speaker of the People's Assembly al-Abrash discusses with a
Canadian economic delegation boosting parliamentary and economic
relations" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 5/25)
"US President Bush supports Israeli Prime Minister Olmert's plan,
and the Palestinian Authority rejects a unilateral settlement.
Scores of Palestinians martyred and injured in an Israeli
Incursion into Ramallah" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 5/25)

"Spain: Syria is a pivotal country that can't be ignored"
(Government-owned Al-Thawra, 5/25)

"FE-ARAB [Arab Federation for Latin America] Venezuela condemns
pressures and threats against Syria" (Government-owned Al-Thawra,
5/25)

"Iraqi Prime Minister Al-Maliki expects to control security in
Iraq within 18 months. Washington acknowledges difficulties
facing its forces in Iraq" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 5/25)

"UN SecGen Annan reiterates the importance of solving crisis with
Iran through negotiation. Iranian President Nejad: We will react
to any aggression by a historic blow" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th,
5/25)


3. Editorial Block Quotes:


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

"Resistance Is the Way to Freedom"

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

Isam Dari, an editorialist in government-owned Tishreen,
commented (5/25): "No military power can defeat a nation
aspiring to freedom, adopting resistance as a strategic option,
and rejecting surrender and bargaining....

"The unprecedented accomplishment of the Lebanese national
resistance, with its limited resources but unyielding resolve,
forced the strongest terrorist military power in the region to
retreat....

"These days, while the Lebanese people commemorate the
anniversary of the May 2000 victory, when the Israeli Army ran
away from the hell of south Lebanon, dragging behind it the
agents who betrayed the homeland and stabbed it in the back,
some Lebanese parties are trying to disavow the resistance, or
perhaps take revenge against it. They throw all their weight
behind the attempts to disarm the resistance under feeble
pretexts, to expose Lebanon to a vicious enemy that cannot
forget its miserable defeat in the south six years ago and that
is still trying to take revenge against the Lebanese national
resistance and its forces and leaders....

"However, these desperate attempts will not succeed, and the
resistance in Lebanon and in every other place and time will
remain the only way to freedom."

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

"Flagrant Intervention in Lebanon's Domestic Affairs"

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

Dr. Sa'id Musallam, a columnist in government-owned Al-Thawra,
commented (5/25): "UN Security Council Resolution 1680 is a
flagrant violation of international conventions and a blatant
interference in the domestic affairs and sovereignty of UN
member states....

"The Syrian position toward the resolution is based on the right
of states to exercise their sovereignty and authority on their
land and the fact that national laws and sovereignty have
supremacy and cannot be touched, no matter what international

resolutions may say....

"The United Nations is turning into a forum for American-Zionist
tutelage over the world, particularly the Arab region and
Islamic nations...."
-------------- ---

"What Is Hidden and What Is Announced on Olmert's Visit"

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

Adnan Ali, a commentator in government-owned Al-Thawra, wrote
(5/25): "We expect that during his visit to Washington Israeli
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will fail in his effort to gain
American support for the two main points on the agenda of his
visit: the unilateral withdrawal plan and the Iranian nuclear
file....

"The United States, which is facing problems in Iraq, Iran, and
Afghanistan, does not want to appear to be abandoning the
Roadmap at a time when it needs the international community's
support and perhaps the support of some of the countries in the
region for its anti-Iran policy. Also, Washington does not want
any Israeli appearance on the stage of the Iranian nuclear
crisis, as this would embarrass the US Administration, which is
portraying this crisis as a confrontation between Iran and the
entire international community....

"But these ostensible differences between the two allies must
not conceal the fact that they often work for the same
objectives. The situation sometimes dictates that they use
certain tactics and take particular factors into consideration
until the right time comes for them to market their joint
approach...."

SECHE