Damascus Media Reaction: Syria/Lebanon, Peace Process,

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 04436

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, Peace Process,
Syria/Palestinians, 9/11 Anniversary (9/11)



1. Summary: Syrian papers today led with a statement to
Egyptian TV by Information Minister Muhsen Bilal denying media
reports that Syria accepted the deployment of European border
guards to monitor the Syrian-Lebanese border. He stressed that
the telephone conversation between President Asad and Italian PM
Romano Prodi on September 8 did not touch on this issue. The
talk was only about Italy offering technical assistance to Syrian
border guards, he said. Minister Bilal explained that UNSC
Resolution 1701 does not call for the deployment of international
forces on the Syrian-Lebanese border.

Al-Thawra featured a press conference held by Spanish FM
Moratinos in Cairo with Egyptian FM Abul-Ghait, in which
Morations confirmed that there is no need to change the
principles of the peace process, primarily the land-for-peace
formula, which, he said, is the only solution to the Palestinian
crisis, and the Golan and Shebaa Farms issues.

On Syrian-Palestinian issues, papers reported Syrian Vice
President Shara's meeting with a Palestinian academic
delegation headed by Dr. Azmi Bishara. Both sides agreed that
developments in the Middle East are not in accord with US-
Israeli desires and that a just and comprehensive peace that
ends the Israeli occupation is the only guaranty of security and
stability in the region.

Papers also featured US preparations to commemorate the 9/11
attack and reported that President Bush is trying to use the
occasion to bolster his declining popularity and restore his
lost credibility.


End of summary.


2. Selected Headlines:

"Italian PM Prodi corrects media reports: President Asad did not
intend at all to accept any deployment of European troops along
the Syrian-Lebanese border; Syrian forces will monitor borders
with Lebanon. Information Minister Bilal denies Syria's
acceptance of European border guards" (Government-owned Al-
Thawra, 9/11)

"Spanish Foreign Minister Moratinos: There is no need to change
the principles of the peace process, mainly, the land-for-peace
formula" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 9/11)

"Lebanese circles warn against foreign tutelage. Lebanese MP
Aoun accuses the government of stealing international aid.
Lebanese MP Hashem: Syria constitutes Lebanon's depth"
(Government-owned Al-Thawra, 9/11)

"Vice-President Shara briefs Palestinian academic delegation on
latest developments and repercussions of the Israeli aggression
against Lebanon" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 9/11)

"Palestinian President Abbas talks about a national unity
government within days and Prime Minister Hanieh rejects the
Quartet's conditions" (Government-owned Tishreen, 9/11)

"The US observes the 9/11 anniversary. Bush with no popularity.
Combating terrorism is a permanent war" (Government-owned Al-
Ba'th, 9/11)


3. Editorial Block Quotes:

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

"Desperate Endeavors to Foil Victory"

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

Ali Nasrallah, an editorialist in government-owned Al-Thawra,
commented (9/11): "As expected, the March 14 forces' statement
continued attacking the Resistance and its weapons, ridiculing
the victory that Hizballah achieved, and directing the fire of

hatred toward Syria....

"All attempts in the statement to undermine the victory that the
valiant Resistance achieved were expected and consistent with
the line that the embassies of the trusteeship countries have
drawn for the 14 March forces.... The March 14 leaders realize
the serious threat that Hizbollah's victory posed to their
political future. This is why you see them pushing ahead, first
to protect themselves and second to please the capitals of the
trusteeship and tell them: We are still able to play the role
and perform the mission you assigned us...."

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

"The Mentality With Which They Act"

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

Izz-al-Din al-Darwish, an editorialist in government-owned
Tishreen, wrote (9/11): "The international political and
military activity in the region after Israel's defeat in Lebanon
is primarily meant to maintain Israel's security and the comfort
of the Israelis, not to bring about a just peace in the Middle
East....

"The US Administration, which is an adventurous Likudist
administration, is using everything in its power to support
Israel and is recruiting its allies for this purpose....
Europeans, who are following behind the Bush Administration,
tirelessly travel to and from the region and never stop
consulting among themselves and with other parties, but only
after obtaining approval from Israel. Prior Israeli approval is
basic and indispensable.... The Arab allies of the United
States, for their part, are acting in a way that shows both
political stupidity and provocation....

"Unfortunately, this is the way Israel is being treated, even
though everyone is convinced that Israel is a power of
occupation, aggression, and terrorism.... However, the recent
Israeli defeat in Lebanon at the hands of the Lebanese national
Resistance turned the equation of the Arab-Israeli conflict
upside down and imposed new facts that cannot be ignored in any
way....

"The Resistance in Lebanon proved that Israel's defeat requires
nothing but the will and determination to achieve victory and
regain rights...."

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

"We, America and 9/11"

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

Abd-al-Fattah al-Awad, chief editor of government-owned Al-
Thawra, commented (9/11): "Five years after the start of the
war on terrorism, the world and the United States are less
safe....

"The Bush Administration is acting foolishly with its war on
terrorism. It is turning into a war against Arabs and Islam,
and its efforts to promote democracy are resulting in sectarian
sedition.... After five years, the security situation in
Afghanistan is in its worst shape, with the country suffering
from poverty, unemployment, and a growth in drug cultivation.
Iraq, for its part, continues to bleed, with daily killings and
a fertile soil for civil war....

"It is important for Arabs to learn the lessons of the past five
years and evaluate their relations with the United States....
American plans that came out of the 9/11 womb were hostile
plans, and they are now in the throes of death.

"Under the 9/11 umbrella, the US Administration has committed
many sins. No country can promote democracy and at the same
time boast that it keeps secret prisons around the world. And

no supporter of personal freedom can accept the idea of
eavesdropping on telephone calls and monitoring personal
mail....
"The most important lesson to be learned from the results of
Bush's policy is that accepting American conditions is a
disgrace.... One of the big mistakes of the US Administration is
that it did not talk with those who opposed its policy.... But
its biggest mistake was this blind bias for and mad sponsorship
of Israel.

"The experience of the past five years has proven that force
cannot achieve security for anyone.... The US Administration
must change its policy because the road it is taking is open to
all negative possibilities."

Corbin