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

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 004071

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: Lebanon/Israel, Syria/Norway,
Syria/Venezuela, Syria/Canada, Syria/Lebanon, Iraq, Palestinian
Territories, Iran (8/18-20)



1. Summary: Syrian papers reported Israel's violation of the
cease-fire in Lebanon through its landing attempt in Boudai
village in the Bekaa Valley, and the ongoing dispute concerning
France's participation in the international force.
Papers also reported a meeting on Saturday between Foreign
Minister Walid Mouallem and Elsides Rodon, Venezuelan Deputy
Foreign Minister, that focused on means of boosting bilateral
relations. Both sides reviewed the situation in the region.
Earlier, a session of talks was held between Syrian Deputy
Foreign Minister Faisal Miqdad and his Venezuelan counterpart,
touching on developments in the Middle East and in Latin America
and on bilateral issues. Miqdad expressed high appreciation for
Venezuelan President Chavez' condemnation of the Israeli
aggression against Lebanon and defense of Arab rights. For his
part, Rodon stressed his country's determination to boost
relations with Arab countries, particularly Syria. He also
expressed gratitude for the help Syria offered in evacuating
Venezuelan citizens from Lebanon during the Israeli aggression.
Foreign minister Walid al-Mouallem also held talks with Norway's
envoy to the Middle East. Talks dealt with the situation in
Lebanon and the means of establishing a just and comprehensive
peace the Middle East.

Papers reported that Deputy Foreign Minister Dr. Faisal Miqdad
held talks with delegations from the Canadian and Indian
parliaments. Talk centered upon the situation in the region and
repercussions of the Israeli military aggression on Lebanon.
Both delegations emphasized the need "to deal with the deeply-
rooted causes of the struggle in the Middle East," and called for
ending the Israeli occupation of occupied Arab territories and
implementation of relevant UN resolutions. Discussions touched
upon the status of the occupied Palestinian territories and
Israel's continuing illegal practices and violations of
international law and UN resolutions. The Canadian delegation
"expressed interest in what is taking place in the region" and
announced its stand against "the unjustified war" waged by Israel
against Lebanon, and its condemnation of "Israel's intentional
targeting and destruction of Lebanese infrastructure."

Papers also reported that Minister of Information Mohsen Bilal
called on the European Union and western countries to play a
neutral role in securing peace in the Middle East. During a
meeting with the Canadian Parliament delegation, the Minister
warned against "the aggressive polices that the US and Israel are
following in the region that are turning the Middle East into a
focal point of crisis and tensions." The delegation pointed out
that "there is a Canadian parliamentary movement, with which this
delegation is associated, whose task is to enhance Canada's role
in the international arena." The delegation added that their
visit to Syria "comes within this framework due to Syria's
important role in the region." Talks during the meeting also
dealt with the situation in the Middle East and the role that
Canada can play to solve the struggle in the region in a way that
boosts international and regional security and stability.

Syrian editorialists and columnists responded to attacks against
the Syrian position by Lebanon's Saad al-Hariri and Walid
Junblatt. They defended the Syrian position as representative of
the Arab peoples and accused critics of "defeatism" or
involvement in Israeli-American plans against the Arab nation.

End of summary.

Selected Headlines:

"Lebanon calls on the United Nations to condemn the Israeli
violation of cease-fire. The Lebanese Resistance foils an
Israeli landing in Balabak, killing one officer and wounding two
others. France's hesitation complicates European participation
in international force" (Government-owned Tishreen, 8/20)
"Syria expresses appreciation for Venezuelan President Hugo
Chavez' stances. Foreign Minister Walid al-Mouallem discusses
with Venezuelan Deputy Foreign Minister Elsides Rondon boosting
of bilateral relations" (Government-owned Tishreen, 8/20)
"The UN is shocked by France's modest participation in the UNIFIL
forces. Lebanese army units continue deployment in South
Lebanon. Displaced Lebanese, whose houses were demolished during
the war, receive compensations from Hizbollah. Olmert, Peretz
and Halutz request the assistance of a team of lawyers to
eliminate the repercussions of the defeat" (Government-owned
Tishreen, 8/19)
"Foreign Minister al-Mouallem and Norway's envoy to the Middle
East review the situation in Lebanon and means to establish a
just and comprehensive peace in the region" (Government-owned
Tishreen, 8/19
"Vice President Shara holds talks with OIC delegation on
consequences of the Israeli aggression against Lebanon"
(Government-owned Al-Thawra, 8/18)

"Speaker of the People's Assembly confers with Canadian and
Indian parliamentarian delegations. World parliaments express
solidarity in facing sole superpower hegemony" (Government-owned
Al-Thawra, 8/18)

"Foreign minister reviews the situation in Lebanon during a phone
call with Dutch Foreign Minister, reiterating the importance of
an Israeli withdrawal behind the blue line" (Government-owned Al-
Thawra, 8/18)

"Minister of Information: Supporting the Resistance does not
contradict the principle of peace" (Government-owned Al-Thawra,
8/18)

"The Lebanese army deploys south of the Litani River. President
Lahoud: We appreciate Syria's support; The Resistance weapon is
an internal issue" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 8/18)

"Arab political analyst Haykal: The Israeli aggression was
premeditated" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 8/18)
"Change in mood of the Russian street; a bias towards Lebanon
and a decrease in the number of Russians sympathizing with
Israel" (Government-owned Tishreen, 8/19)
"Three Palestinians martyred. Hanieh sets conditions to join a
national unity government. Olmert reconsiders his unilateral
withdrawal plan from the West Bank after his failure in Lebanon"
(Government-owned Tishreen, 8/19)

"One Palestinian martyred in Gaza. Chairman of the Palestinian
Legislative Council rejects legality of the Israeli court"
(Government-owned Al-Thawra, 8/18)
"Two US soldiers killed in Iraq. Intensive security measures in
Baghdad" (Government-owned Tishreen, 8/19)
"Iran commences comprehensive military maneuvers all over the
country to face any potential attack" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th,
8/20)


2. Editorial Block Quotes:

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"The Band of Shame"

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

Isam Dari, an editorialist in government-owned Tishreen,
commented (8/19): "It was not surprising for the leaders of the
band of shame [Lebanese March 14 group] to come out of their
holes to stab the Lebanese national resistance and Syria. This
is the role it is assigned to play, and no one blames it for
playing this role as long as its survival depends on it....

"We wonder where the leaders of this group were when the heroes
of the Resistance were confronting, with legendary courage, the
world's fourth-ranking army and inflicting heavy losses and a
miserable defeat on it....

"During the war, the 'armed militias' of Walid Junblatt were
erecting roadblocks to prevent the entry of Syrian and other
foreign humanitarian assistance to South Lebanon.

"Lebanon will not be taken hostage by this deviant group, which
is conspiring against Lebanon and its Arabism...."

--------------
"Age of Heroes"
--------------

Samir al-Shibani, a commentator in government-owned Tishreen,
wrote (8/19): "A new Arab age of honor and resistance has begun
with the great achievement that the Lebanese Resistance scored
in the battle against Israel.... Hizbollah's fighters presented
the most wonderful epics of heroism and pride.... Lords of the
civil war and the henchmen of the American-Israeli plan in
Lebanon wagered on a defeat for the Resistance. But when the
Resistance triumphed, they could not bear the glow of the Arab
victory in Lebanon, which helped the nation regain its vitality,
dignity, and pride....

"Those Lebanese came out of their holes and began to encroach
upon leaders for whom the whole nation chanted and under whose
banners they pledged to fight.... The positions of Junblatt and
Al-Hariri were not surprising because the two mortgaged
themselves to the American devil at the beginning of the US plan
to control the region, using every possible means to create
civil strife in Lebanon and urge a new 17 May agreement...."

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

"The May 17 Group in Action"

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

Abd-al-Fattah al-Awad, chief editor of government-owned Al-
Thawra, wrote (8/18): "In his last visit to Beirut, Sa'd al-
Hariri, leader of the Lebanese Future Block, presented himself
as a stuttering spokesman for the enemies of Syria.

"Instead of focusing on support for the Resistance and laying
the blame on Israel and the United States for their barbaric
aggression against Lebanon, Al-Hariri, the deviant son, helps
provide cover for the Israeli defeat and declares a hostile
position toward Syria.

"The attack against Syria, the country that supports the
Resistance, was an attack on the Resistance itself.... But the
role that Al-Hariri is playing will not bear fruit....

"As for Junblatt, he was so stupid that he revealed the main
objective behind his attack against Hizbollah. He began giving
lessons to the people of the south, and he appeared as a clown
playing the role of a lecturer....

"The military defeat that Israel suffered has driven these
people to punish those who caused this huge loss for Israel.
The leaders of the May 17 group rushed to attack the victors and
help Israel achieve, through press conferences, what its
military machine failed to achieve....

"The forces of 17 May will continue to bark in the next phase.
Their demands are Israeli demands. They demand that Hizbollah
be disarmed, just as Israel is demanding. They demand the
deployment of international forces to disarm Hizbollah, just as
Israel is demanding. They are calling for an end to the
Resistance, just as Israel is doing. They also want a big rift
in Syrian-Lebanese relations, just what Israel seeks to create.

"The more these people attack Syria and its positions the more
Syria knows it is correct and moving in the right direction."

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

"They Exposed Themselves"

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

Ahmad Dawwa, a columnist in government-owned Al-Thawra, wrote
(8/18): "After President Asad's speech, the March 14 group
began to act in a way that shows its involvement in the Zionist-
American scheme.



"The hysteria that the March 14 group showed after Al-Asad's
speech proves that this group is involved in the aggression and
in covering it up.... Al-Asad offered conclusive proof of this
involvement.

"It is true that the war against Lebanon exposed and identified
suspicious and collaborative roles, but President Al-Asad's
speech was the blow that knocked out all those who tried to
disguise, hide, or wriggle out of their roles and join the new
reality and reap part of the fruits of the major victory that
the Resistance achieved. The crocodile tears and theatrical
acts by some did not work....

"The next few days will show more of these facts and the failure
that awaits this group as it tries to implement its new
orders.... The time has changed, and the climate is not
appropriate for a new May 17 agreement...."

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

"No Place for Little Ones at Time of Victory"

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

Dr. Adnan Mahmud, a columnist in government-owned Al-Thawra,
commented (8/18): "The new May 17 trend will not be cleared of
what happened in Lebanon, no matter how hard it tries to
disguise and hide its nature, which has become clear to
everyone, because its positions and trembling words that fear
the victory of the Resistance bear the hallmarks of its allies
in the United States and Israel...

"The Arab masses will not forgive those who wagered on Israel's
victory and will not court those who fear the victory of the
heroic Resistance, because they revealed their true faces when
they renounced the action of the Resistance from the first
moment of the aggression.

"Syria, against which they are plotting, today expresses the
conscience of the Arab peoples, whose millions went out to chant
for the Resistance and to announce their support for it and
their readiness to stand with it and offer every dear thing to
regain the dignity of the nation....

"We were not surprised by statements of those petty fools, who
are plotters by instinct. Their attack against Syria will only
serve as an incentive for it to continue its honorable pan-Arab
positions....

"History will never forgive those who are today trying to
slaughter the Resistance and offer it as a present to Olmert and
Bush after they failed to get it through the repressive machine
they unleashed in Lebanon....

"The masks have fallen, and it is no longer useful for people to
assume different colors. Those who were yesterday inciting the
enemy against the Resistance will not be able to talk today, at
the time of victory, pride, and dignity."

Corbin