Damascus Media Reaction: Syria/Lebanon, Syria/Greece,

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 003899 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/Lebanon, Syria/Greece, Syria/China, Israeli Operation in Lebanon, Palestinian Territories (8/8) ¶1. Summary: Syrian papers reported that President Asad called Lebanese President Lahoud on August 8 to discuss the French- American draft UNSC resolution and the international positions on it. Both presidents stressed that any formula must have unanimous Lebanese support. During the conversation, President Asad pointed out that some powers are seeking to create circumstances that will allow Israel to achieve politically what it has failed to achieve militarily. President Asad also received a phone call from the President of the Greek Socialist Party, George Papandreou. They discussed the latest developments in the Israeli aggression against Lebanon and the role Europe can play to end it. President Asad renewed Syria's full support to all that the Lebanese agree upon. Papers reported that President Asad received a delegation from the Egyptian Popular Movement. The president gave a detailed 1explanation of current political developments, the dimensions of the Israeli aggression on Lebanon, and the plans that threaten the existence and identity of the Arab nation. He stressed that Syria has always been eager to safeguard the Arab nation, and that it proceeds, in its policies and positions, from its belief in the common fate of the one Arab nation. He stressed the importance of entrenching pan-Arab thought among all sectors of Arab society and confronting the false representations about the nation. President Asad said the current situation has proven that resistance is the only way to regain rights. Papers also reported that VP Shara received Sun Bigan, Special Chinese Envoy to the Middle East, with whom he discussed the tense situation in the region as well as the ongoing consultations at the UN Security Council. VP Shara stressed the importance of China's role as a permanent member of the Security Council and urged it not to allow some powers to impose their will on the Council in the service of their policies of domination of the Middle East at the expense of the interests of the region's countries and peoples. For his part, the Chinese envoy emphasized his country's support for just Arab causes, stressing that establishing a just and comprehensive peace is the only means to achieve stability in the Middle East. Bigan stated in a press conference in Damascus that his government "has a special vision comprising a number of points, most importantly the immediate cessation of all military operations to achieve an immediate ceasefire." He stressed the importance of outlining a political framework to settle the Lebanese- Israeli conflict and achieve stability in the region, saying "the UN Security Council should listen to the Arab countries' stances and visions during its debates." He underlined the necessity of reviving the peace process in the region soon, referring to his country's keenness to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the region based on relevant international resolutions and the Land-for-Peace formula. Mr. Bigan called on the international community to exert greater efforts to establish a fair international system, stressing his country's rejection of the policy of hegemony and power in international relations. Papers also reported that FM Mouallem hailed the Lebanese national resistance, and reiterated the importance of Arab support for it after 28 days of crushing war and continuous Israeli aggression on Lebanon. In remarks at the extraordinary Arab foreign ministers' meeting in Beirut, Mouallem addressed Lebanese PM al-Saniora saying: "You are strong as head of the Lebanese Government, thanks to the Lebanese national resistance, its steadfastness, and the military defeat it has inflicted on Israel. Do not fear that the Security Council will impose a resolution on Lebanon that the Lebanese do not accept. He warned against the danger of the Security Council imposing a resolution on Lebanon and holding it responsible for the negative repercussions of such a resolution without taking Lebanon's demands into consideration. He stressed that Israel must not be allowed to make political gains in the name of the Security Council at the expense of Lebanon, when the Israeli aggression failed to achieve such gains militarily." Papers also reported that the Syrian People's Assembly condemned Israel's abduction of Aziz Duwaik, Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council, describing it as an Israeli act of piracy and state terrorism against the Palestinian people. End of summary. ¶2. Selected Headlines: "President Asad discuses developments of the Israeli aggression against Lebanon in phone calls with President Lahoud and President of the Greek Socialist Party Papandreou. The President receives an Egyptian delegation: Resistance is the only way to restore rights, any formula for solution must represent Lebanese consensus. VP Shara discusses the tense situation in the region with the Special Chinese Envoy, reiterating the importance of not allowing some powers to impose their will on the UN Security Council" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 8/8) "In Beirut, FM Mouallem praises the brave Lebanese resistance. An Arab delegation to New York to explain Lebanon's demands" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 8/8) "25 Israeli soldiers and settlers killed or injured, three vehicles and two tanks demolished, by the Lebanese national resistance" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 8/8) "The People's Assembly condemns Israel's abduction of Aziz Duwaik, Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council" (Government-owned Tishreen, 8/8) ¶3. Editorial Block Quotes: -------------- "Responsibility for International Impotence" -------------- Muhammad Khair al-Jammali, an editorialist in government-owned Al-Thawra, wrote (8/8): "The United Nations has never shown flagrant impotence toward a regional or international crisis similar to what it is showing now toward the Israeli aggression against Lebanon. "For over 24 days the Security Council has failed to adopt a just resolution putting an end to the explosive crisis, identifying the party responsible for it, and opening an international investigation into the crimes that Israel has committed against the Lebanese people during its aggression. "The United States is to blame for this failure.... Washington is adopting Israeli conditions and working to deploy an international force in south Lebanon for two reasons: to provide international protection for Israel, although it is the aggressor state, and to internationalize the conflict in the region.... "The United States would not have been able to play this role had it not been for the naked collusion with the aggression by some Arabs, who agreed to serve as Washington's agents and partners in the implementation of the new Middle East plan. But what matters is the certain victory that the resistance has achieved.... This victory will be the decisive factor in rejecting any Security Council resolution that fails to ensure the rights of the Lebanese people, primarily the liberation of the Shebaa Farms, a swap of prisoners, and an investigation into the Israeli war crimes...." -------------- "What Is Really Regrettable" -------------- Izz-al-Din al-Darwish, an editorialist in government-owned Tishreen, said (8/8) "The United States and France worked together at the UN Security Council to serve Israel's interests without heeding Lebanon's interests.... "The international community was ultimately conquered by the French-American will, which is an Israeli will par excellence, as Lebanese sources announced.... It is regrettable that the official Arab order, or some of its parties, is closer to Israeli positions than to Lebanese positions.... "The US support and cover for Israel is nothing new. The French have come noticeably closer to Israel in an unprecedented way, despite their claim that they care about Lebanon.... As for the Lebanese national resistance, it has proven correct, as it has always relied on itself, the battlefield, and sacrifice.... "The American draft resolution seeks, among other things, to confiscate the field victory that the Lebanese resistance has scored and reward Israel for the war crimes it has committed in Lebanon...." "Lebanese Politicians Serving the CIA and the Mosad" -------------- An unsigned editorial in government-owned Al-Ba'th on (8/8) reads: "Some Lebanese politicians do not want to rise to the level of the difficult situation their country is facing.... Those politicians, who recently presented an award to John Bolton and found in the corridors of the CIA and the Pentagon open ears and plans, are today searching for roles in line with the positions they accepted for themselves when they placed themselves at the service of the American-Israeli plan against the region, including Lebanon. "These politicians who, in harmony with the Israelis, leveled accusations against Syria, saying that Damascus is trying to return to Lebanon, still prefer to target Syria and the resistance whenever they receive signals or clear instructions from the embassies that sponsore them, and they have embraced their plan, which is facing complete failure as the resistance shines and scores major victories in south Lebanon despite Israel's targeting of its civilians and its infrastructure.... "Those politicians have begun to revise their malicious plans, alarmed by the legendary steadfastness of the resistance, supported by the forces of opposition and steadfastness, represented by Syria.... "Syria, which has paid dearly for the sake of Lebanon, will continue to support Lebanon with everything in its power, despite pressures and threats.... "There are reports that Samir Ja'ja, leader of the Lebanese Forces party, is now receiving direct support from the Mosad and the CIA to incite violence and unrest among the displaced Lebanese, as part of a plan to create civil strife in Lebanese society.... The plan also provides for spreading this unrest to Syria to give Israel and the United States a pretext to take measures against Syria.... "Some analysts believe that the CIA and the Mosad are depending on Ja'ja, Junblatt, and other figures to implement this plan and others.... "Yesterday, these people, insolently and with all the hatred they harbor, attacked the Syrian Foreign Minister's visit to Lebanon and incited dozens of their followers and other agents to demonstrate against the visit. That reflected their persistence and constant willingness to harm and sabotage relations between the two fraternal countries and peoples. They thus send a message of loyalty to Condoleezza Rice and her policy, which has brought upon Lebanon and the region nothing but death and destruction.... "Syrians and Lebanese will remain one people in two countries no matter how hard the United States, Israel, and their local agents try to harm this historical relationship...." -------------- "Impotence of Different Kind" -------------- Ahmad Dawa, an editorialist in government-owned Al-Thawra, wrote (8/8): "Are certain Arab regimes aware of their state of impotence to accomplish what they are expected or obliged to do for their homelands and peoples? "The Israeli aggression against Lebanon and the position adopted by those Arabs who have remained bystanders to the daily events in Lebanon after providing this aggression with the needed cover, have left no doubt that the impotence of Arab regimes has increased immensely, and that some of these regimes are playing a role that is limited to carrying out instructions received from outside or that fall within the framework of rescue work they were given permission to carry out, that is, if the Israeli planes allow them to assume this role. Is it not true that some of these Arab regimes asked Washington's permission to allow their planes to land at Beirut International Airport? Perhaps, in return, these regimes offered Washington certain facilitations that affect their sovereignty and the interests of their people. "It is a great tragedy that portends great danger for the geopolitical situation in the region. An Arab state, in which massacres are being committed and in which the basic fundamentals of life are being targeted, is being shelled and destroyed while Arab regimes wrangle over issues that are never an object of disagreement among rational people. "Is it conceivable for France and the United States to be involved in a dispute over a resolution that calls for a ceasefire in an Arab state under attack, as if the Arabs do not exist in this world? How is it possible for two states to negotiate over an issue that involves a third party, which has no role or voice whatsoever in this dispute? We do not know how these Arabs would have reacted if this situation had posed a danger to their own states, homelands, and thrones. "It is not unlikely that these Arab regimes will soon fail in assuming their rescue role. US hegemony might compel them to pay money to US relief organizations as well as to other institutions in order for them to assume this role, under the pretext of guaranteeing the delivery of this aid to those who need it.... "Reality suggests that these regimes can do nothing but carry out the actions dictated to them or whatever else they are asked to do. These regimes have become part of the problem in the region and there is no hope that they can get back on the right track." Corbin