Damascus Media Reaction: Syria/China, NAM Summit,

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 002490 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/China, NAM Summit, Palestinian Territories, Iraq, Lebanon, Kabul Riots (5/31) ¶1. Summary: Syrian papers reported the speech by Dr. Faisal Miqdad, Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister, at the ministerial conference of the Non-Aliened Movement in Malaysia. Miqdad said that the continued Israeli occupation of the Syrian Golan is a result of defying international resolutions and of the unlimited support given by some countries to Israel's colonial policies. Papers also reported meetings by Miqdad on the sidelines of the ministerial conference with Algerian Foreign Minister Mohammad Bedjaoi, Moroccan Foreign Minister Mohammad Bin Issa, Ghanaian Foreign Minister Nana Akufo-Addo, Indonesian Foreign Minister Hasan Wirajuda and Malaysian Foreign Minister Sayyed Hamid al- Bar. All papers featured the final communique of the conference, supporting Syria's right to restoration of the occupied Golan on the basis of the Madrid Conference, UN resolutions 242 and 338 and the land-for-peace principle. "The decision to annex the occupied Golan is null and void and has no legal effect," the final statement said, calling on Israel to implement UN Security Council resolution 497 of 1981 in order to achieve just and comprehensive peace in the region. The statement also rejected unilateral US sanctions on Syria, considering the so-called Syria Accountability Act a violation of international law and conventions. It renewed support of the Palestinian people's right to establish an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital. On Syrian-Chinese relations, papers reported Foreign Minister Walid al-Mouallem's visit to China and his meeting with Wen Jiabao, Chairman of the Chinese State Council. Talks addressed bilateral relations and means of developing them in all fields. "We agreed, during President Asad's visit to Beijing in 2004, on establishing comprehensive cooperation and friendship ties between Syria and China," Jiabao said. "These relations are characterized by confidence, mutual respect and economic cooperation." The Chinese Premier stressed the importance of enhancing coordination between the two countries and underscored the necessity of enhancing economic cooperation. As for trade, Jiabao expressed his country's wish to increase the volume of trade with Syria. For his part, FM al-Mouallem conveyed to the Chinese Premier Syria's appreciation for China's continuous support of just Arab causes. End of summary. ¶2. Selected Headlines: "Chinese Head of State stresses Beijing's interest in overall friendship with Syria, confirming that issues of the region must be settled by peoples in the region" (Government-owned Tishreen, 5/31) "The Non-Aligned Movement stresses solidarity with Syria and rejects American sanctions against her. Deputy Foreign Minister Miqdad: Israel challenges legitimate international resolutions and receives unlimited support of its colonial policy. We are called upon to uphold the UN Charter to increase participation in international decision-making" (Government-owned Tishreen, 5/31) "Deputy Foreign Minister Miqdad delivers Syria's speech at the NAM Summit. The final communique supports Syria's right to reclaim the Golan, and rejects sanctions on Syria" (Government- owned Al-Thawra, 5/31) "Due to Palestinian students' sufferings, British scholars boycott their Israeli counterparts who support racism" (Government-owned Tishreen, 5/31) "The Palestinian dialogue witnesses some progress. Partial payments of salaries will come soon. Seven Palestinians killed, 41 injured in an Israeli attack against Gaza. A French call for mutual cool-down" (Government-owned Tishreen, 5/31) "The Lebanese Government calls for adopting a clear stance regarding Israeli aggression. President Lahoud: 'We maintain our rights by maintaining national resistance.' Former Prime Minister Karami: 'Discourse of the February 14 group is a US requirement" "US military reinforcements in Al-Anbar. British worry in Basra. One US soldier, scores of Iraqis killed in an attack on the headquarters of the Iraqi Interior Ministry" (Government-owned Tishreen, 5/31) ¶3. Editorial Block Quotes: -------------- "Restoring Memory" -------------- Ali Qasem, a commentator in government-owned Al-Thawra, said (5/31): "The recent assassination of the Islamic Jihad official in Sidon and the Israeli aggression against southern Lebanon have brought back to the Lebanese mind Israeli threats to the country.... "Israel did not hesitate to blow the Lebanese situation apart once again through a series of escalatory steps, assassinations, and aggressions after the Lebanese arena became exposed and fertile soil for Israeli security agencies and US and French intelligence.... "Although many people warned against Israeli threats to Lebanon, some Lebanese forces considered that an exaggeration.... The Israeli aggressions against south Lebanon on 28 May have ushered in a new stage in the Israeli approach to the Lebanese situation, which was brought about by reckless practices and positions that imagined that US sponsorship could offer protection from Israeli bites.... "Everyone knows that what has been happening for years revolves around one essential point, namely, disarming the resistance through a process of revenge that Israel has planned, the US Administration is implementing, and many Lebanese parties became involved in when they went too far. The aim of this process of revenge is to ease the defeat that was inflicted on Israel and open a gap in the opposition to allow Israel to resume tampering in the Lebanese arena...." -------------- "The Advantage of Heading towards the East" -------------- Sa'id Musallam, a commentator in government-owned Al-Thawra, wrote (5/31): "The Syrian foreign minister held important talks with Chinese officials in Beijing.... There is an urgent need to develop relations with the Asian countries, especially as American and European pressure and blackmail against Damascus increase. "Syria and the Asian countries have much in common, such as political and social systems, appropriate climates for economic integration, the need to open big markets, and independent political decision-making and rejection of colonialism and subservience." "In general, the people of the East know us very well and we know them very well. You do not find a Chinese, a Russian, or an Asian saying that Arabs must be annihilated, denying Arab civilization, or ignorant of how Israel occupied Arab territories or of what the United States and the West want from our region." -------------- "Kabul Uprising" -------------- Bassam Radwan, a commentator in government-owned Tishreen, wrote (5/31): "Although the immediate cause of the popular uprising in Kabul on May 29 was a road accident, the political, social, and security situations in that country were the indirect reasons for the confrontations between Afghans and US soldiers. The security situation in the country is worsening, the political situation is tense, and the Afghan people are experiencing abject poverty and miserable living conditions under occupation.... "But what is more important is that the Afghan people are known for their hatred of occupation...." Seche