Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DAMASCUS388
2006-02-02 13:59:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Damascus
Cable title:  

Damascus Media Reaction: HAMAS Election Win, Lebanon,

Tags:  KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY 
pdf how-to read a cable
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FM AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6835
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 5762
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 3658
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 2117
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RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA//
INFO RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 6628
UNCLAS DAMASCUS 00388 

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: HAMAS Election Win, Lebanon,
Prophet Muhammad Cartoons, Iraq (2/2)

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 00388

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: HAMAS Election Win, Lebanon,
Prophet Muhammad Cartoons, Iraq (2/2)


1. Summary: Syrian papers reported President Asad's meeting with
a delegation from the Council for the National Interest, a U.S.
NGO. A SANA release stated that the talks dealt with ways of
activating ties in the interest of both countries and thereby
achieving security and stability in the region, through the
language of dialogue and by listening to the views of the other.
President Asad reviewed with the delegation Syria's stances on
current events in the region. There was a discussion of terror
and how to combat it, Iraq, and the latest developments in the
Palestinian arena. The U.S. delegation stressed the importance
of Syria's pivotal role in the region.

Edward Peck, Chairman of the Council for the National Interest,
underlined the need for diplomatic dialogue between Syria and
the US on issues of mutual concern, the region and international
issues in general. Peck told reporters, after meeting FM Shara,
that the delegation he is heading includes former diplomats and
ambassadors of the United States and noted that it dedicates its
work to bringing more balance to U.S. policy in the Middle East.
He pointed out that the group might not agree with U.S. policy
on many issues.

Peck said the delegation would put on its website a film about
the visit and hold many meetings and seminars to explain the
viewpoint of the officials the delegation had met. "The aim of
this will be to find appropriate means to boost dialogue among
countries, particularly between Syria and the U.S.," Peck said.

Syrian papers also featured a SANA statement that the Foreign
Ministry has summoned the Syrian ambassador to Copenhagen for
consultation and explanation of the measures taken by the Danish
government against insults to the Prophet Mohammed that are a
violation of sanctity and holiness to hundreds of millions of
Arabs and Muslims.

End of summary.


2. Selected Headlines:

President Asad reviews with a delegation from the U.S. Council
for the National Interest Syria's positions on events in the

region and means of reactivating US-Syria relations" (Government-
owned Tishreen, 2/2)

"Foreign Ministry summons Syrian Ambassador to Copenhagen for
explanation of measures taken by the Danish government against
condemned insults to the personality of Prophet Mohammed"
(Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 2/2)

"Lebanese calls to solve the cabinet's crisis and to deal
seriously with the Arab initiative" (Government-owned Tishreen,
2/2)

"In response to HAMAS' victory, Israel suspends revenues of
Palestinian taxes. Relief organizations warn against suspending
aid to the Palestinian Authority" (Government-owned Tishreen,
2/2)

"Straw announces the possibility of withdrawing British forces
from Iraq. The National Reconciliation Front threatens a mutiny
if militias are not dismantled and detainees released"
(Government-owned Tishreen,


3. Editorial Block Quotes:

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

"Democracy Upon Request"

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

Isam Dari, an editorialist in government-owned Tishreen, wrote
(2/2): "No person, group, or party raising the slogan of
resistance and fighting for freedom is allowed to assume power
or enter Arab parliaments because they endanger world peace and
security. This is the view of the champions of freedom, the

advocates of democracy, and defenders of human rights who occupy
the White House and decision-making centers in the United
States....
"Those who want to rule in the Arab world must recognize
Israel's right not only to exist but also to practice
aggression, occupation, destruction, intimidation, and
terrorism.

"The United States does not have the right to impose its own
version of democracy on the world. Is it not shameful for a
superpower to threaten to cut off aid from peoples and to
besiege and starve them only because they dare to choose their
representatives in parliaments and governments...?"

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

"Palestinian Victims and Blind Bias"

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

Ahmad Suwwan, an editorialist in government-owned Tishreen,
wrote (2/2): "The American and European positions on aid to the
Palestinian Authority appear as a kind of punishment of the
Palestinian people for expressing their will, choosing their
representatives, and deciding their own affairs and policies....

"These positions, taken under clear Israeli pressure, create
obstacles in the way of the Palestinians as they seek to regain
their rights and liberate their lands. The pressure on HAMAS
renders a big service to the aggression and occupation and to
Israeli policy, which has never served the interest of peace,
security, and stability in the Palestinian territories or the
region in general....

"The time has come to formulate an American policy, and even a
European policy, without blind and absolute bias toward the
Israeli occupation and without the Palestinian people being
always the victims of this bias."

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

"Symptoms of Bankruptcy"

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

Abd-al-Fattah al-Awad, Chief Editor of government-owned Al-
Thawra, wrote (2/2): "Repetition of the same anti-Syria
statements, talk about a deal between Syria and the United
States, and praise for the American position toward Syria are
signs that the anti-Syria team in Lebanon is weakening and that
the Syrian response has been convincing and the Syrian argument
powerful....

"The Syrian people have discovered the falsehood of those
Lebanese and the link between their positions and a conspiracy
that targets Syria....

"Those who talk about a deal between Syria and the United States
want to cast doubt on Syria's commitment to its positions and
principles....

"Syria calls for transparent dialogue and rejects the logic of
secret deals.... The signs of weakness among the champions of

SIPDIS
the campaign against Syria do not mean the battle is over. All
these battles are doomed to failure because we have sufficient
tools and will to foil them...."

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

"Insulting Sanctities"

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

Hasan Yusuf, an editorialist in government-owned Tishreen, wrote
(2/2): "We condemn the cartoons of Prophet Muhammad in a Danish

newspaper and every encroachment on any religion in the
world.... This is not the first time that Islamic sanctities
have been insulted.... Why did no one call for a boycott of
American products when the Koran was desecrated in Guantanamo
and Al-Fallujah...?
"Insulting sanctities is undoubtedly unacceptable, but remaining
silent on an insult here and declaring anger at a similar insult
there is something that raises questions.

"There are some active and growing forces in Norway and Denmark
that want to support Arab rights in Palestine. This is why
Zionists, through their agents in the media worldwide, work to
drive wedges between Arabs and Muslims, on the one hand, and
their potential friends, on the other...."

Seche