Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DAMASCUS3049
2006-06-25 12:17:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Damascus
Cable title:  

Damascus Media Reaction: Asad/Mubarak Summit,

Tags:  KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY 
pdf how-to read a cable
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TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9898
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RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 6052
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 3911
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UNCLAS DAMASCUS 003049 

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: Asad/Mubarak Summit,
Syria/PLO, Syria/Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq (6/23-25)

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 003049

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: Asad/Mubarak Summit,
Syria/PLO, Syria/Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq (6/23-25)


1. Summary: Syrian papers highlighted the Syrian-Egyptian summit
held Thursday between Presidents Asad and Mubarak that focused on
the situation in the Arab region and bilateral relations. The
opening session was attended by VP Faruk al-Shara and FM Walid al-
Mouallem, as well as Minister of Information Mohsen Bilal. The
meeting was attended from the Egyptian side by Prime Minister
Ahmed Nazeif and Foreign Minister Ahmad Abul Ghait, as well as
Minister of Information Anas al-Faqi. The two presidents reviewed
the brotherly ties between the countries in all fields and means
of boosting them. Both Presidents reiterated the importance of
enhancing Palestinian unity and backing the inter-Palestinian
dialogue, and renewed support for Iraq's stability and
territorial integrity.
Papers also reported telephone conversations between VP Shara
and Mahmud Abbas, Chairman of Palestinian Authority, and Faruq
Qaddumi, Chief of the PLO Political Department and Secretary of
Fatah Central Committee. Both phone calls discussed Palestinian
developments, progress of the inter-Palestinian dialogue and the
need to make it a success.

On Syrian-Jordanian relations, papers reported a statement by
Hashem Shabboul, Jordanian Ambassador to Syria, confirming that
the Syrian-Jordanian Higher Committee was scheduled to convene in
Damascus on June 28 and 29 under the chairmanship of PM Otri and
Jordanian PM Maarof Bakhit. He added that the committee would
discuss ways of boosting trade, investment and economic relations
between the two countries. He said that the standing cooperation
between the two countries covers all political, economic and
educational spheres, pointing to the ever growing relations
between the two countries.

End of summary.


2. Selected Headlines:

"VP Shara discusses progress of the inter-Palestinian dialogue
with Palestinian Chairman Abbas and briefs him on the outcome of
President Asad's visit to Egypt" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th,
6/25)

"Presidents Asad and Mubarak confirm continuing consultation,

supporting inter-Palestinian dialogue and backing Iraq's
territorial integrity. Foreign Minister Mouallem: We distinguish
between resistance and terrorism; Opening a Syrian Embassy in
Lebanon requires a positive atmosphere. Egyptian FM Aboul-Gheit:
There is joint Syrian-Egyptian vision on HAMAS and the Arab
initiative" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 6/23)

"951 Palestinian infants are martyred by Israeli crimes. Italy
calls on Israel to stop its massacres. Israeli occupation troops
attack Jennin and Southern Gaza" (Government-owned Tishreen,
6/25)

"HAMAS refuses to prejudge the outcome of inter-Palestinian
dialogue. Olmert at the Noble Prize Conference: Israel's borders
are from the river to the sea" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 6/23)

"Lebanese criticism of the annual report by UN Assistant
Secretary General Ibrahim al-Ghambari for ignoring the Mossad

SIPDIS
network" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 6/25)

"Lahoud calls for finalization of the investigation of the
Israeli network, so as to block the path of attempts to hide its
truth" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 6/23)

"Minister of Information meets a delegation of Lebanese
journalists: Syria encourages and blesses the national dialogue"
(Government-owned Al-Thawra, 6/23)

"PM Ottri reviews tendencies of development and reform plans with
the Serbian Radical Party" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 6/23)

"Jordan's Ambassador to Syria confirms strong relations between
Syria and Jordan" (Government-owned Syria Times, 6/25)

"Jordanian PM will visit Syria next Wednesday" (Government-owned

Al-Thawra, 6/23)

"Warnings against failure of the Iraqi National Reconciliation
Plan" (Government-owned Tishreen, 6/25)

"Five US soldiers killed in Iraq. Scores of Iraqis killed in
clashes and attacks in Baghdad, Kirkuk and Basra" (Government-
owned Tishreen, 6/24)


3. Editorial Block Quotes:

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

"So We Do Not All Drown"

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

Isam Dari, an editorialist in government-owned Tishreen, wrote
(6/24): "The Syrian-Egyptian summit that was held in Cairo on 22
June was very important, at a time when the suffering of the
Iraqi and Palestinian Arab peoples continues as a result of the
aggression and flagrant terrorism practiced by the two strategic
allies and partners in the aggression and its objectives, the
United States and Israel....

"Talks during the summit dealt with the Palestinian and Iraqi
files based on the Syrian-Egyptian and general pan-Arab concern
for the interests of the Arab peoples in Iraq and Palestine and
throughout the Arab world.

"The two leaders stressed their support for the unity and
stability of Iraq and for the Palestinian national dialogue....
Arabs might differ over details, and their positions might not
be fully identical -- although it is necessary and inevitable to
have identical positions -- but they must never differ over the
essence so long as this essence affects every Arab. Differences
over the essence are fatal and destructive to all Arab
countries, not only to this individual country or that. The
danger does not threaten Syria alone. The experience of bleeding
Iraq should prove to Arab brothers that they are all targeted in
their existence, identity, and future.

"The Arab situation is unhealthy and perhaps in its worst shape
since the fall of Granada.... There is a pressing need for Arab
solidarity and a unified Arab strategy for the sake of coming
generations.... This is an historic responsibility that all Arab
leaders, and all Arabs without exception, must shoulder. History
will not have mercy on those who turn their backs on their
brothers, no matter what the reasons...."

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

"Bombing the Future"

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

Samir al-Shibani, a commentator in government-owned Tishreen,
commented (6/24): "The Zionist terrorism is deep rooted in
history, and...the recent attacks in which Palestinian civilians
were killed and wounded in Gaza came as no surprise.

"The astonishing surprise, however, lies in this horrible world
silence about organized state terrorism that targets
children.... Israel does not care about Kofi Annan's regret or
about international laws, because it knows for sure that no one
in this world can pressure or disturb it as long as it dominates
the White House and as long as the aggressive US administration
offers all protection, sponsorship, and support for this
terrorism....

"This is a lesson for Arabs to learn before it is too late."

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

"A US Witness Verifies"

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

Ahmad Hamadah, an editorialist in government-owned Al-Thawra,
commented (6/23): "US Ambassador in Baghdad Zalmay Khalilzad has
sent a letter to the US State Department in which he painted a
gloomy picture about the situation in Iraq....

"Although the entire world -- governments, humanitarian
organizations, and research centers -- warned Washington and
London of the dire and disastrous consequences of the occupation
of Iraq and its destructive impact on the future of the Iraqi
people and Iraq's establishments and infrastructure, Bush and
Blair remained stubborn and invaded Iraq without thinking of
these repercussions....

"Khalilzad's letter exposes to Iraqis, British, Americans, and
the whole world statements previously made by Bush and Blair
....

"After all these testimonies, the pressing question is: For how
long will Bush and Blair continue to try to beautify the painful
reality in Iraq with slogans of democracy, human rights, and
concern for the freedom and security of the Iraqis?"

Seche