Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DAMASCUS2466
2006-05-30 12:51:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Damascus
Cable title:
Damascus Media Reaction: Syria/UAE, NAM Summit,
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UNCLAS DAMASCUS 02466
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/UAE, NAM Summit,
Syria/China, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestinian Territories (5/30)
UNCLAS DAMASCUS 02466
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/UAE, NAM Summit,
Syria/China, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestinian Territories (5/30)
1. Summary: Syrian papers reported Vice-President Farouk al-
Shara's visit to the UAE and his meeting with His Highness
Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, President of the UAE, who
received a message from President Asad regarding the latest
developments in the region. Shara and Sheikh Khalifa reviewed
developments in the region, particularly in Iraq and Palestine,
in addition to bilateral relations. Shara touched upon the UAE's
businessmen forum scheduled for Damascus next month and the
prospects it would open for investments in Syria. Later, Shara
met Prime Minister and Governor of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed Bin
Rashed Al Maktoum.
Papers also reported that Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Miqdad
conferred in Malaysia with his South African Counterpart Aziz
Bahad on proposed topics for the agenda of the ministerial
Conference of the Non-Aliened Movement (NAM) Coordinating Bureau.
Mr. Miqdad also met Amr Mousa, SecGen of the Arab League, Yemeni
Foreign Minister Abu Bakr Qurabi, Iran's Foreign Minister Mottaki
and Fujieh Namibia, Special Advisor to the UN Secretary General.
The meetings dealt with viewpoints about proposed topics for the
agenda of the ministerial conference, as well as the situation in
the Middle East.
Papers also reported that President Asad attended a field
maneuver conducted by one of the Syrian armed formations.
President Asad was briefed on the stages of the maneuver and its
objectives. He praised the efforts of the officers and soldiers,
and gave directions to continue qualitative training to improve
the combat preparedness of the armed forces.
End of summary.
2. Selected Headlines:
"President Asad attends a field maneuver conducted by Syrian
armed formations and gives his directions to continue qualitative
training to improve the combat preparedness of Syrian armed
forces" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 5/30)
"Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, President of the UAE,
receives President Asad's message conveyed by Vice-President
Farouk al-Shara on the latest developments in the region.
Conference of UAE Businessmen in Damascus opens new prospects for
investments" (Government-owned Tishreen, 5/30)
"Beijing gives a high evaluation to Syria's stance to boost peace
in the region. Foreign Minister Walid al-Mou'allem discusses with
his Chinese counterpart Li Zhao Xing political developments and
importance of enhancing the Syrian-Chinese relations" (Government-
owned Tishreen, 5/30)
"With the participation of a Syrian delegation headed by Deputy
Foreign Minister Faisal Miqdad, activities of the Ministerial
Conference of the Non-Aliened Movement (NAM) begin today in
Malaysia" (Government-owned Tishreen, 5/30)
"Lebanese emphasis on commitment to the arms and defense strategy
of the Lebanese resistance. President Lahoud: We are in a state
of war with Israel; he who talks of disarming the resistance is a
traitor" (Government-owned Tishreen, 5/30)
"Israeli violations of Lebanese airspace continue. Israeli
enhancement along Lebanese-Israeli borders. Hizbollah confirms
insistence on resistance" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 5/30)
"Two British soldiers killed, two others wounded in Basra, in
southern Iraq. Two journalists of US CBS TV network killed along
with scores of Iraqis in attacks in Baghdad and Baquba"
(Government-owned Tishreen, 5/30)
"One Palestinian martyred in Gaza. Conference of Palestinian
dialogue has not settled disagreements yet. Al-Zahaar: We will
not acknowledge Israel. Livni [Israeli Foreign Minister]: Turkey
will not support Olmert's plan on unilateral withdrawal from the
West Bank" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 5/30)
3. Editorial Block Quotes:
-------------- --------------
"Israeli Terrorism Strikes anew in the Lebanese Arena"
-------------- --------------
Sa'dallah Barakat, a commentator in government-owned Al-Ba'th,
maintained (5/30): "The assassination of Islamic Jihad leader
Mahmud al-Majdhub is one of Israel's terrorist crimes in
Lebanon....
"Al-Majdhub's killing in South Lebanon was an Israeli attempt to
destabilize Lebanon and raise suspicions between the Lebanese
and the Palestinian refugees at a time when the file of these
refugees is being discussed at the Lebanese national dialogue
conference.... There must be serious efforts to prevent Israel
from infiltrating Lebanon and spreading its venom in every
direction, especially since Mosad agents are moving freely
everywhere in Lebanon...."
-------------- --------------
"The Judicial Lawsuit against Jumblatt, A Legal Perspective"
-------------- --------------
Muhammad Salha, a commentator in government-owned Al-Thawra,
said (5/30): "The lawsuit that Syrian citizen Husam al-Din al-
Habash filed against Lebanese Deputy Walid Jumblatt should be
seen from an objective and legal perspective as a judicial
action against a person whom the plaintiff believes committed
the crime of insulting the Syrian people and inciting the United
States to occupy and destroy Syria....
"This is the citizen's right. The judiciary, as an independent
power, took the normal legal procedure to examine the case. The
Syrian government did not interfere in this issue in any way....
"Jumblatt's parliamentary immunity does not give him the right
to incite the United States to occupy Syria or the right to
attack Syria, its president, and its national policy....
"The Syrian citizen has the right to take Jumblatt to court,
either a Syrian or Lebanese court.... The lawsuit could have
been filed in Lebanon, had the situation in that country been
objective and balanced and the judiciary not been under the
onslaught of forces that call themselves the majority....
"There are some Lebanese who underestimate the legal action
against Jumblatt, saying that the memoranda of the Syrian
judiciary against him will end in the trash can. If these people
do not care about their Lebanese judiciary, which every Syrian
citizen respects, it is not their right to show disrespect for
the Syrian judiciary."
--------------
"No Alternative To Dialogue"
--------------
Muhammad Khair al-Jammali, an editorialist in government-owned
Al-Thawra, wrote (5/30): "The Palestinian people need to stick
to their national unity and renounce divisions and infighting
now more than ever before....
"There is no alternative to accord over the basic issues for the
sake of which the Palestinian people have sacrificed tens of
thousands of people; namely, liberation, the right of return,
and the establishment of a demographically and geographically
contiguous independent state....
"The Palestinian factions took a very good step as they launched
national dialogue to work out a unified national program seeking
to strengthen steadfastness and deepen national unity.... This
steadfastness is needed to confront the political and economic
hurricane that Palestinians are facing.... The dialogue,
however, should not be content merely with freezing the
differences, but should come up with decisive solutions to
them...."
--------------
"Injustice, For How Long?"
--------------
Omar Jaftali, an editorialist in government-owned Tishreen,
wrote (5/30): "The Israeli government is using the time factor
and absolute American support to complete the Judaization of
Jerusalem and annex the largest possible amount of the West Bank
within the implementation of Ehud Olmert's unilateral withdrawal
plan....
"The plan prevents the establishment of a Palestinian state and
isolates Palestinians in a number of cantons. If we add to this
the international siege and the Israeli military siege on the
Palestinian people and the daily terrorist operations against
them, we will find that the final plan seeks to uproot the
largest possible number of Palestinians and complete the
transfer process after turning the life of the Palestinians into
an unbearable hell.... All this is taking place under the eyes
of the international community.... Why all this injustice to
Palestinians? Where is the United Nations, which has the
responsibility of protecting nations' rights...?"
Seche
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/UAE, NAM Summit,
Syria/China, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestinian Territories (5/30)
1. Summary: Syrian papers reported Vice-President Farouk al-
Shara's visit to the UAE and his meeting with His Highness
Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, President of the UAE, who
received a message from President Asad regarding the latest
developments in the region. Shara and Sheikh Khalifa reviewed
developments in the region, particularly in Iraq and Palestine,
in addition to bilateral relations. Shara touched upon the UAE's
businessmen forum scheduled for Damascus next month and the
prospects it would open for investments in Syria. Later, Shara
met Prime Minister and Governor of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed Bin
Rashed Al Maktoum.
Papers also reported that Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Miqdad
conferred in Malaysia with his South African Counterpart Aziz
Bahad on proposed topics for the agenda of the ministerial
Conference of the Non-Aliened Movement (NAM) Coordinating Bureau.
Mr. Miqdad also met Amr Mousa, SecGen of the Arab League, Yemeni
Foreign Minister Abu Bakr Qurabi, Iran's Foreign Minister Mottaki
and Fujieh Namibia, Special Advisor to the UN Secretary General.
The meetings dealt with viewpoints about proposed topics for the
agenda of the ministerial conference, as well as the situation in
the Middle East.
Papers also reported that President Asad attended a field
maneuver conducted by one of the Syrian armed formations.
President Asad was briefed on the stages of the maneuver and its
objectives. He praised the efforts of the officers and soldiers,
and gave directions to continue qualitative training to improve
the combat preparedness of the armed forces.
End of summary.
2. Selected Headlines:
"President Asad attends a field maneuver conducted by Syrian
armed formations and gives his directions to continue qualitative
training to improve the combat preparedness of Syrian armed
forces" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 5/30)
"Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, President of the UAE,
receives President Asad's message conveyed by Vice-President
Farouk al-Shara on the latest developments in the region.
Conference of UAE Businessmen in Damascus opens new prospects for
investments" (Government-owned Tishreen, 5/30)
"Beijing gives a high evaluation to Syria's stance to boost peace
in the region. Foreign Minister Walid al-Mou'allem discusses with
his Chinese counterpart Li Zhao Xing political developments and
importance of enhancing the Syrian-Chinese relations" (Government-
owned Tishreen, 5/30)
"With the participation of a Syrian delegation headed by Deputy
Foreign Minister Faisal Miqdad, activities of the Ministerial
Conference of the Non-Aliened Movement (NAM) begin today in
Malaysia" (Government-owned Tishreen, 5/30)
"Lebanese emphasis on commitment to the arms and defense strategy
of the Lebanese resistance. President Lahoud: We are in a state
of war with Israel; he who talks of disarming the resistance is a
traitor" (Government-owned Tishreen, 5/30)
"Israeli violations of Lebanese airspace continue. Israeli
enhancement along Lebanese-Israeli borders. Hizbollah confirms
insistence on resistance" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 5/30)
"Two British soldiers killed, two others wounded in Basra, in
southern Iraq. Two journalists of US CBS TV network killed along
with scores of Iraqis in attacks in Baghdad and Baquba"
(Government-owned Tishreen, 5/30)
"One Palestinian martyred in Gaza. Conference of Palestinian
dialogue has not settled disagreements yet. Al-Zahaar: We will
not acknowledge Israel. Livni [Israeli Foreign Minister]: Turkey
will not support Olmert's plan on unilateral withdrawal from the
West Bank" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 5/30)
3. Editorial Block Quotes:
-------------- --------------
"Israeli Terrorism Strikes anew in the Lebanese Arena"
-------------- --------------
Sa'dallah Barakat, a commentator in government-owned Al-Ba'th,
maintained (5/30): "The assassination of Islamic Jihad leader
Mahmud al-Majdhub is one of Israel's terrorist crimes in
Lebanon....
"Al-Majdhub's killing in South Lebanon was an Israeli attempt to
destabilize Lebanon and raise suspicions between the Lebanese
and the Palestinian refugees at a time when the file of these
refugees is being discussed at the Lebanese national dialogue
conference.... There must be serious efforts to prevent Israel
from infiltrating Lebanon and spreading its venom in every
direction, especially since Mosad agents are moving freely
everywhere in Lebanon...."
-------------- --------------
"The Judicial Lawsuit against Jumblatt, A Legal Perspective"
-------------- --------------
Muhammad Salha, a commentator in government-owned Al-Thawra,
said (5/30): "The lawsuit that Syrian citizen Husam al-Din al-
Habash filed against Lebanese Deputy Walid Jumblatt should be
seen from an objective and legal perspective as a judicial
action against a person whom the plaintiff believes committed
the crime of insulting the Syrian people and inciting the United
States to occupy and destroy Syria....
"This is the citizen's right. The judiciary, as an independent
power, took the normal legal procedure to examine the case. The
Syrian government did not interfere in this issue in any way....
"Jumblatt's parliamentary immunity does not give him the right
to incite the United States to occupy Syria or the right to
attack Syria, its president, and its national policy....
"The Syrian citizen has the right to take Jumblatt to court,
either a Syrian or Lebanese court.... The lawsuit could have
been filed in Lebanon, had the situation in that country been
objective and balanced and the judiciary not been under the
onslaught of forces that call themselves the majority....
"There are some Lebanese who underestimate the legal action
against Jumblatt, saying that the memoranda of the Syrian
judiciary against him will end in the trash can. If these people
do not care about their Lebanese judiciary, which every Syrian
citizen respects, it is not their right to show disrespect for
the Syrian judiciary."
--------------
"No Alternative To Dialogue"
--------------
Muhammad Khair al-Jammali, an editorialist in government-owned
Al-Thawra, wrote (5/30): "The Palestinian people need to stick
to their national unity and renounce divisions and infighting
now more than ever before....
"There is no alternative to accord over the basic issues for the
sake of which the Palestinian people have sacrificed tens of
thousands of people; namely, liberation, the right of return,
and the establishment of a demographically and geographically
contiguous independent state....
"The Palestinian factions took a very good step as they launched
national dialogue to work out a unified national program seeking
to strengthen steadfastness and deepen national unity.... This
steadfastness is needed to confront the political and economic
hurricane that Palestinians are facing.... The dialogue,
however, should not be content merely with freezing the
differences, but should come up with decisive solutions to
them...."
--------------
"Injustice, For How Long?"
--------------
Omar Jaftali, an editorialist in government-owned Tishreen,
wrote (5/30): "The Israeli government is using the time factor
and absolute American support to complete the Judaization of
Jerusalem and annex the largest possible amount of the West Bank
within the implementation of Ehud Olmert's unilateral withdrawal
plan....
"The plan prevents the establishment of a Palestinian state and
isolates Palestinians in a number of cantons. If we add to this
the international siege and the Israeli military siege on the
Palestinian people and the daily terrorist operations against
them, we will find that the final plan seeks to uproot the
largest possible number of Palestinians and complete the
transfer process after turning the life of the Palestinians into
an unbearable hell.... All this is taking place under the eyes
of the international community.... Why all this injustice to
Palestinians? Where is the United Nations, which has the
responsibility of protecting nations' rights...?"
Seche