Damascus Media Reaction: Israel/Lebanon, Syria/Iran,

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 003805 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: Israel/Lebanon, Syria/Iran, Syria/China, Syria/Italy, Syria/Iraq (8/2) ¶1. Summary: Syrian papers reported that President Asad and Chinese President Jintao exchanged letters of congratulation marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. President Asad expressed confidence that the relations of friendship and cooperation between Syria and China would improve consistently. The Chinese President praised the continuous development of bilateral relations between the two countries, which support their mutual interest in stability and development in the region and the world. Papers also reported the visit to Italy of Minister of Information Dr. Mohsen Bilal, who met a number of Italian dignitaries, to whom he explained Syria's points of view on solving the current crises in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories. Bilal reiterated the importance of rallying international efforts to revive the Middle East peace process on all tracks. Bilal met with Italian Senator and former Prime Minister Guilio Anderotti, Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee in the Italian House Ranieri Umberto, and member of the Italian Parliament and Secretary General of the Italian Communist Party Oliviero Diliberto. The Italian figures denounced the Israeli massacre in Qana, and expressed worry over the prolongation of the war in Lebanon. They also confirmed that "Syria is playing a significant and pivotal role to establish just and comprehensive peace in the region." Minister Bilal also met Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi, who pressed Italy's concern about developments in Lebanon and the region, as well as his country's efforts to find an urgent solution to end the current crisis. Papers also reported the visit to Syria by Mahmud Dawudal- Mashhadani, Speaker of the Iraqi Council of Representatives, who confirmed upon his arrival to Damascus that Iraq is an integral part of the Arab nation, interacting with it, sharing its concerns, defending its just causes, and always seeking to support it in crises and hardship and to confront the threats facing it. Al-Mashhadani said that he was visiting Syria because of the current situation in the region, especially the barbaric Israeli aggression on Lebanon and Israeli threats against Syria. He stressed that "Iraq's security is part of the region's security, which is an integrated whole. Iraq wants to remain in contact with its brothers and share common concerns." "There is a hostile plan to tear Iraq apart and push it to the brink of civil war, in order to abort the accomplishments that the Iraqi resistance has made." Al-Mashhadani described the US presence in Iraq as temporary. He added: "We count on the Iraqi parliament to end the occupation and wrest back sovereignty, for the parliament represents the sentiments of the Iraqi people and must rise to the level of these sentiments so that Iraq and Syria will return to what they always were and restore the Arab nation's pride, strength, and intellectual, geographic, and security harmony. Iraq will not allow itself to serve as a base exporting harm to fraternal Syria." Mahmud al-Abrash, Speaker of the People's Assembly, received Al-Mashhadani, saying that his visit to Syria "is a basic and important step in an expected historic transformation in the relations between the two sisterly countries." End of summary. ¶2. Selected Headlines: "President Asad reviews with Iranian Foreign Minister Mottaki developments of the Israeli aggression and stresses solidarity with Lebanese steadfastness and the brave resistance" (Government- owned Tishreen, 8/2) "President Asad and Chinese President Jintao exchange letters of congratulation on the 50th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between their countries, stressing continuing cooperation" (Government-owned Tishreen, 8/2) "Al-Mashhadani, Speaker of Iraqi Parliament, visits Damascus. Al- Abrash, Speaker of Syrian People's Assembly: Syria supports Iraq's territorial integrity." Al-Mashhadani: A plan to fragment Iraq and foil achievements of the resistance" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 8/2) "Italian Prime Minister Prodi discusses with Information Minister Bilal means of tackling the crisis in Lebanon and the region. Prodi: Withdrawal from Sheba Farms is a prelude to withdrawal from the Golan" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 8/2) "Over 35 Israeli soldiers killed and wounded in clashes with the Lebanese resistance fighters in Aita al-Shaab. President Lahoud: Lebanon will not surrender. Foreign Minister Salloukh: We are coordinating with Syria." (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 8/2) "Qatar criticizes some Arab countries' support of the Israeli aggression against Lebanon" (Government-owned Tishreen, 8/2) ¶3. Editorial Block Quotes: -------------- "Yawning in front of Children's Bodies" -------------- Ali Qasim, an editorialist in government-owned Al-Thawra, wrote (8/2): "The grief the US secretary of State expressed over Israel's killing of civilians in the southern Lebanese village of Qana was nothing but evidence of US disdain for the sentiments of the peoples and countries of the world, as she could not bother to utter a word condemning the horrible Israeli crime after the American rejection of a cease-fire led to this new Israeli massacre.... "President Bush showed more disdain when he said that the Israeli crime was not a war crime.... The American position in the Security Council frustrated hopes for an immediate cease- fire.... "It is obvious that the American position, which conflicted with all international positions, without exception, is aimed at containing the effects that the Israeli crime has left on the world public and engaging in new efforts to use the aggression to achieve objectives that Israel failed to achieve militarily.... "The problem is that Arab inaction persists while Arab blood continues to flow and the United States continues to work for a new Middle East serving its own agenda...." -------------- "Dirty Conspiracy" -------------- Omar Jaftali, an editorialist in government-owed Tishreen, wrote (8/2): "The international conspiracy against Lebanon and the Lebanese has been exposed.... Israel is given more time to score political achievements on the ground after it has failed to achieve anything militarily that could be used as a staging point for the New Middle East which Condoleezza Rice has promised.... "They want to crush Lebanon and set fire to what remains of its human and material components through a vicious civil war that will be followed by direct international intervention. The dispatch of international military forces will turn Lebanon into an occupied country robbed of its national will. It will turn Lebanon into a base for other attacks to extend hegemony in the region based on this new colonialist plan.... "One of the positive results of the war in Lebanon is that it has unified the Lebanese against the enemy of Lebanon and the nation.... Another positive result is that it has exposed the American policy and US claims about human rights, freedom, and democracy...." -------------- "A Massacre with US Cover" -------------- Bassam Radwan, a commentator in government-owned Tishreen, wrote (8/2): "The whole world has seen the extent of American involvement in the Israeli aggression against Lebanon through the unlimited military, political, and material support for Israel. But the war has not developed as Washington and Tel Aviv wanted.... The Lebanese national resistance, represented by Hizbollah, has demonstrated ability, resolve, courage, and discipline that exceed all the expectations of the aggressors.... "Israel's escape, thanks to US pressure, from punishment and international condemnation at the UN Security Council for its massacre in Qana is the most obvious image of US support for Israel and its full adoption of this war by reducing its cost for the Zionist entity.... ".... Condoleezza Rice is returning to the region soon to bring the Israelis out of their crisis and the deadlock they have reached." Corbin