Damascus Media Reaction: Syria/Italy, Syria/Libya,

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 03177 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/Italy, Syria/Libya, Palestinian Territories, Lebanon, Iraq (6/28) ¶1. Summary: Syrian papers today featured a statement by Italian Journalist Stefanou Ciarini calling for more communication between Syrian and Italian intellectuals to bridge the gap created by 9/11 between the Islamic and Western civilizations. "European governments are following the US policy represented by the neo-conservatives who resist every approach between the West and the East, exploiting this gap to dominate the world," Ciarini said in an open dialogue with Syrian writers and authors organized by the Arab Writers Union. He noted that extremism exits everywhere, in different religious and political aspects. "It is enough to hear the US Administration's words to know how extremist they are," Ciarini added, pointing to the main role Syrian and Italian intellectuals can play in combating all kinds of extremism. About the work of journalists in Italy, he underlined that a journalist can write as he wants but he may be exposed to great pressure if he writes a story about a politician or an important businessman, for example. "A journalist may be denied promotion or be marginalized or even lose his job if he writes about the Palestinian issue," he said, noting that Italian journalists in the occupied Palestinian territories are exposed to various kinds of Israeli pressure. Stefanou Ciarini is a journalist for the Italian Paper 'Manifesto', and is well known for defending Arab causes. He is a member of the Sabra and Shatella Committee. Papers also reported that Minister of Information Mohsen Bilal conferred with Gouma Elmahdi Elfazani, the Libyan Ambassador in Damascus. Their talks concentrated on agreements between Syria and Libya for news and program cooperation and exchange of expertise among media institutions. Both sides stressed the importance of developing this cooperation for the improvement of information and enhancing relations and coordination between the two countries. End of summary. ¶2. Selected Headlines: "Information Minister Bilal to Kuwaiti daily Al-Anbaa: Syria gave warning about against spread of terrorism, destruction and chaos in Iraq; those [Lebanese] who want to open dialogue with Syria must be serious and honest" (Government-owned Syria Times, 6/28) "Israeli occupation continues its aggression in Gaza. One Palestinian martyred, five injured. Israel threatens to assassinate Palestinian leaders. Palestinian factions endorse the amended 'Prisoners Document.' Israel rejects the document" (Government-owned Tishreen, 6/28) "A new session of the Lebanese National Dialogue will be held tomorrow. No reports on proceedings and anticipated results. No decision on the file of defense strategy. Continuing Lebanese calls to persist in maintaining the arms of the resistance" (Government-owned Tishreen, 6/28) "Prodi: Italy is keen to develop relations with Syria" (Government-owned Tishreen, 6/28) "Italian journalist Ciarini, in a meeting with Syrian journalists, calls for further rapprochement among civilizations, free from the influence of politics" (Government-owned Tishreen, 6/28) "Russia holds the US responsible for the killing of four Russian diplomats in Iraq. Three US soldiers killed in Baghdad" (Government-owned Tishreen, 6/28) "Information Minister Bilal discusses media cooperation with Gouma Elmahdi Elfazani, Libyan Ambassador to Syria" (Government- owned TIshreen, 6/28) ¶3. Editorial Block Quotes: -------------- "Terrorism and Dialogue" -------------- Isam Dari, an editorialist in government-owned Tishreen, commented (6/28): "Have those who claim to be combating terrorism asked themselves why they have failed in their reckless war against terrorism...? "The Bush Administration still refuses to acknowledge its mistakes and that its war on terrorism has failed badly.... The US policy has encouraged the emergence of terrorist groups that did not exist before. All this is an outcome of anti-Arab and anti-Islam US policies.... "The US, along with other world countries, can really combat terrorism by collective action that must start with defining terrorism and differentiating between it and the legitimate right of resistance.... "An international consensus on combating terrorism cannot be achieved without appropriate language, namely the language of dialogue, which the Bush Administration has erased from its dictionary.... The US Administration must adopt the language of dialogue.... It first must acknowledge that killing children in Palestine and Iraq is real terrorism." -------------- "Syria's Doors are Wide Open" -------------- Riad Zein, a commentator in government-owned Tishreen, wrote (6/28): "Endeavors are being made to bring Syrian-Lebanese relations back to normal.... But some Lebanese parties have lost the compass to Damascus.... "President Asad was crystal clear when he called upon all Lebanese officials participating in the National Dialogue to unite ranks and be faithful to their own country and its true interests. "In an interview with London-based al-Hayat, the president called for a united Lebanon that should have no room for local or sectarian interests.... President Asad asserted that Syria has no interest whatsoever in dividing Lebanon.... "President Asad welcomed any Lebanese leader, reiterating that the doors of Damascus are wide open to settle any problem facing Lebanon. The President warned against the game of 'border demarcation, saying that the demarcation can start from the north, not from the Shebaa Farms, which are still under Israeli occupation. He also referred to Syria's agreement to establish an Embassy in Lebanon, provided that it should not be imposed from outside. "Will reason and logic as well as real national interests govern the drive of those skeptical Lebanese parties before they turn into real losers?" Seche