Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DAMASCUS4635
2006-09-25 08:20:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Damascus
Cable title:
Damascus Media Reaction: UNGA session, UNSC Session on
how-toVZCZCXYZ0008 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHDM #4635/01 2680820 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 250820Z SEP 06 FM AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1713 RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 6291 RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 4116 RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 2690 RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 7303 RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 1310 RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 4681 RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM 0898 RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA// INFO RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 7033
UNCLAS DAMASCUS 004635
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: UNGA session, UNSC Session on
Middle East Peace, Lebanon, Palestinian Territories, Iraq (9-22-
24)
UNCLAS DAMASCUS 004635
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: UNGA session, UNSC Session on
Middle East Peace, Lebanon, Palestinian Territories, Iraq (9-22-
24)
1. Summary: Papers continued to report meetings held by FM
Walid al-Mouallem on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly
meetings in New York, citing his meetings with Iraqi President
Jalal Talbani, Costa Rica's Foreign Minister Bruno Ugharti,
Iranian FM Manouchehr Mottaki, German Foreign Minister Frank-
Walter Steinmeier, Guatemalan Minister for External Relations
Gert Rosenthal Koenigsberger, and an Italian parliamentary
delegation headed by Chairman of the Italian Senate Foreign
Relations Committee Lamberto Dini.
On Lebanon, papers reported an address by Hassan Nasrallah,
SecGeneral of Hizbollah, at the "Festival of Victory" held on
Friday in Beirut. Nassrallah said that "the steadfastness of the
Lebanese Resistance foiled the New Middle East project about
which US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice has spoken."
Nassrallah underlined that "a new era is beginning in which the
Resistance can dictate its conditions to the enemy."
Papers also reported an address by Ibrahim Othman, Director
General of the Syrian Atomic Energy Commission, to the 50th
session of the International Atomic Energy Agency Conference,
emphasizing the role of the IAEA in investing in atomic energy
for development, and in promoting international peace and
security. In his address, Othman expressed the disappointment
of the countries of the region in the failure of the IAEA to
apply comprehensive safeguards early enough to all countries in
the region. He said that the exclusive possession of nuclear
arms in the region by Israel without any international
supervision will serve as a catalyst for an arms race in the
region, foreboding an environmental catastrophe. He expressed
Syria's support of Iran's right to the peaceful use of nuclear
technology, demanding that the international community
relinquish double standards and open the Israeli nuclear file.
End of summary.
2. Selected Headlines:
"Foreign Minister Mouallem's meetings in New York focus on the
situation in the region, the peace process and on bilateral
relations" (Government-owned Tishreen, 9/23)
"Foreign Minister al-Mouallem: Peace opportunity may be lost due
to American hegemony" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 9/24)
"Foreign Minister al-Mouallem discusses Syrian-European relations
with his Austrian Counterpart " (Government-owned Al-Thawra,
9/22)
"In a statement from New York, Italian Premier Prodi reiterates:
Syria is an important factor for the achievement of stability"
(Government-owned Al-Thawra, 9/22)
"Lebanese circles and figures call for changing the government
and stopping UNIFIL violations" (Government-owned Tishreen, 9/24)
"The UN Security Council convenes a special session to discuss
the Middle East Peace Process. Lebanese President addresses the
UN General Assembly: We will sue Israel for its crimes in
Lebanon" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 9/22)
"Hizbollah finalizes preparations for the festival of victory.
Hasan Fadlulah, Member of al-Wafa Bloc for Resistance, to Al-
Thawra newspaper: Forces of March 14th bet on defeating the
Resistance" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 9/22)
"Hassan Nasrallah, Hizbollah SecGen: Lebanese national
Resistance takes pride in its relationship and friendship with
Syria's people and leadership.... No force in the world can
disarm Hizbollah as long as the people have belief in the
national Resistance. The ruling team in Lebanon cannot remain in
authority.... Our current government is impotent to protect and
rebuild Lebanon" (Government-owned Tishreen, 9/23)
"Washington aggravates Palestinian disputes. Palestinian
President Abbas announces new talks to form a national unity
government" (Government-owned Tishreen, 9/24)
"The Palestinian resistance wounds 7 Israeli troops near Nablus.
Israel rejects a 10-year truce with the Palestinians" (Government-
owned Tishreen, 9/23)
"Over 34 Iraqis killed in al-Sader city explosion. 8 American
and Danish soldiers killed or injured in Iraq" (Government-owned
Tishreen, 9/24)
"International Atomic Energy Agency debates today a resolution
condemning Israel nuclear activity" (Government-owned Al-Thawra,
9/22)
"A German intelligence report: Israeli Mossad was involved in
9/11 attacks" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 9/24)
3. Editorial Block Quotes:
-------------- ---
"The Security Council Debates the Peace Process"
-------------- ---
Hanan Hamad, an op-ed writer in government-owned Tishreen,
commented (9/23): "Arabs were overly optimistic when they
thought they could revive the peace process and get the Security
Council to adopt the Arab peace initiative.... The Arab effort
collided with American-Israeli conditions, and Arabs returned
empty-handed from the Security Council session....
--------------
"Peace is not a Luxury"
--------------
Muhammad Ali Buzah, an editorialist in government-owned Al-
Thawra, wrote (9/22): "A just and comprehensive peace based on
international legitimacy and Security Council resolutions is not
a luxury. It is a need for everyone. It is a need for the
region. It is a need for the United States itself and the rest
of the world, which has various and numerous vital interests in
the region. And it is a vital need for Israel, which has
deluded itself into thinking that it can survive through the
logic of force and intimidation and impose itself as part of the
region's equation. Events have proven the futility of this
thinking ....
"The experience of the past 15 years has been discouraging
because the United States has monopolized the political process
and changed its role from a broker to a supporter and protector
of the occupation and a partner to its aggressions and wars
against the Arabs. It is therefore inconceivable to rely and
count on mere statements and promises about peace that ...
collide with the performance of the Bush administration and
neoconservatives, a performance that blocks any endeavor to
resume the political process and legitimizes the acts of piracy
of Tel Aviv's rulers....
"Israel and its American ally might be able to continue to play
with fire and lead the region away from peace and stability, but
not indefinitely and through defiance of the international
community and its laws and through bullying of and disregard for
millions of Arabs who realize full well that they are paying a
dearer price for these policies and for submissiveness than the
price they would pay if they took the option of opposition and
resistance, an option that guarantees victory and upsets the
calculations of the neo-Nazis and forces them to accept peace."
--------------
"Is There Hope?"
--------------
Izz-al-Din al-Darwish, an editorialist in government-owned
Tishreen, wrote (9/22): "The American position hinders efforts
to achieve a just peace in the Middle East.
"We do not expect the current UN General Assembly session or the
Security Council session which will be held upon an Arab request
later this month to produce results so long as the American
position remains unchanged and Arab positions continue to be in
this miserable situation, which is more than shameful, and which
tempts hostile forces to attack the Arabs, loot their resources,
or at least treat them with no respect.
"Israel occupies Arab lands by force and launches aggressions on
Arabs. It has killed tens of thousands of Arabs and is
threatening to kill more every day. The current US
Administration, which is under the influence of the Zionist
neoconservatives, blesses all these hostile Israeli practices
and publicly participates in some of them.
"The reason for all this is that Arabs surrendered and made no
effort to defend their rights and sovereignty. They accepted
this shameful situation and they even went further, when some of
them rushed to cajole the United States and woo Israel under the
pretext of rationalism, political realism, and civility."
--------------
"The World Would BE Better Without Bush"
--------------
Ahmad Burghul, a commentator in government-owned Al-Thawrah,
wrote (9/22): "The way of thinking, the distorted mind, and the
unmatched arrogance of Bush and his Administration will make
Americans a permanent target of terrorism in every country
because of the hostile and haughty US policy....
"The Bush Administration created a climate for reproduction of
the terrorism about which it is complaining today.... Americans
destroyed Iraq, killed its women and children, and displaced its
inhabitants. Yet they do not want the suppressed people of Iraq
to resist occupation and remove injustice. What logic governs
this foolish administration?
"The image of the United States in the Arab and Muslim world has
never been worse.... The United States has become today the
biggest threat to world peace and security. The mistakes it is
constantly making will definitely lead to a disaster if it keeps
its leadership in the hands of an arrogant group that believes
it has the right and duty to violate international human rights
laws."
Corbin
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: UNGA session, UNSC Session on
Middle East Peace, Lebanon, Palestinian Territories, Iraq (9-22-
24)
1. Summary: Papers continued to report meetings held by FM
Walid al-Mouallem on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly
meetings in New York, citing his meetings with Iraqi President
Jalal Talbani, Costa Rica's Foreign Minister Bruno Ugharti,
Iranian FM Manouchehr Mottaki, German Foreign Minister Frank-
Walter Steinmeier, Guatemalan Minister for External Relations
Gert Rosenthal Koenigsberger, and an Italian parliamentary
delegation headed by Chairman of the Italian Senate Foreign
Relations Committee Lamberto Dini.
On Lebanon, papers reported an address by Hassan Nasrallah,
SecGeneral of Hizbollah, at the "Festival of Victory" held on
Friday in Beirut. Nassrallah said that "the steadfastness of the
Lebanese Resistance foiled the New Middle East project about
which US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice has spoken."
Nassrallah underlined that "a new era is beginning in which the
Resistance can dictate its conditions to the enemy."
Papers also reported an address by Ibrahim Othman, Director
General of the Syrian Atomic Energy Commission, to the 50th
session of the International Atomic Energy Agency Conference,
emphasizing the role of the IAEA in investing in atomic energy
for development, and in promoting international peace and
security. In his address, Othman expressed the disappointment
of the countries of the region in the failure of the IAEA to
apply comprehensive safeguards early enough to all countries in
the region. He said that the exclusive possession of nuclear
arms in the region by Israel without any international
supervision will serve as a catalyst for an arms race in the
region, foreboding an environmental catastrophe. He expressed
Syria's support of Iran's right to the peaceful use of nuclear
technology, demanding that the international community
relinquish double standards and open the Israeli nuclear file.
End of summary.
2. Selected Headlines:
"Foreign Minister Mouallem's meetings in New York focus on the
situation in the region, the peace process and on bilateral
relations" (Government-owned Tishreen, 9/23)
"Foreign Minister al-Mouallem: Peace opportunity may be lost due
to American hegemony" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 9/24)
"Foreign Minister al-Mouallem discusses Syrian-European relations
with his Austrian Counterpart " (Government-owned Al-Thawra,
9/22)
"In a statement from New York, Italian Premier Prodi reiterates:
Syria is an important factor for the achievement of stability"
(Government-owned Al-Thawra, 9/22)
"Lebanese circles and figures call for changing the government
and stopping UNIFIL violations" (Government-owned Tishreen, 9/24)
"The UN Security Council convenes a special session to discuss
the Middle East Peace Process. Lebanese President addresses the
UN General Assembly: We will sue Israel for its crimes in
Lebanon" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 9/22)
"Hizbollah finalizes preparations for the festival of victory.
Hasan Fadlulah, Member of al-Wafa Bloc for Resistance, to Al-
Thawra newspaper: Forces of March 14th bet on defeating the
Resistance" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 9/22)
"Hassan Nasrallah, Hizbollah SecGen: Lebanese national
Resistance takes pride in its relationship and friendship with
Syria's people and leadership.... No force in the world can
disarm Hizbollah as long as the people have belief in the
national Resistance. The ruling team in Lebanon cannot remain in
authority.... Our current government is impotent to protect and
rebuild Lebanon" (Government-owned Tishreen, 9/23)
"Washington aggravates Palestinian disputes. Palestinian
President Abbas announces new talks to form a national unity
government" (Government-owned Tishreen, 9/24)
"The Palestinian resistance wounds 7 Israeli troops near Nablus.
Israel rejects a 10-year truce with the Palestinians" (Government-
owned Tishreen, 9/23)
"Over 34 Iraqis killed in al-Sader city explosion. 8 American
and Danish soldiers killed or injured in Iraq" (Government-owned
Tishreen, 9/24)
"International Atomic Energy Agency debates today a resolution
condemning Israel nuclear activity" (Government-owned Al-Thawra,
9/22)
"A German intelligence report: Israeli Mossad was involved in
9/11 attacks" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 9/24)
3. Editorial Block Quotes:
-------------- ---
"The Security Council Debates the Peace Process"
-------------- ---
Hanan Hamad, an op-ed writer in government-owned Tishreen,
commented (9/23): "Arabs were overly optimistic when they
thought they could revive the peace process and get the Security
Council to adopt the Arab peace initiative.... The Arab effort
collided with American-Israeli conditions, and Arabs returned
empty-handed from the Security Council session....
--------------
"Peace is not a Luxury"
--------------
Muhammad Ali Buzah, an editorialist in government-owned Al-
Thawra, wrote (9/22): "A just and comprehensive peace based on
international legitimacy and Security Council resolutions is not
a luxury. It is a need for everyone. It is a need for the
region. It is a need for the United States itself and the rest
of the world, which has various and numerous vital interests in
the region. And it is a vital need for Israel, which has
deluded itself into thinking that it can survive through the
logic of force and intimidation and impose itself as part of the
region's equation. Events have proven the futility of this
thinking ....
"The experience of the past 15 years has been discouraging
because the United States has monopolized the political process
and changed its role from a broker to a supporter and protector
of the occupation and a partner to its aggressions and wars
against the Arabs. It is therefore inconceivable to rely and
count on mere statements and promises about peace that ...
collide with the performance of the Bush administration and
neoconservatives, a performance that blocks any endeavor to
resume the political process and legitimizes the acts of piracy
of Tel Aviv's rulers....
"Israel and its American ally might be able to continue to play
with fire and lead the region away from peace and stability, but
not indefinitely and through defiance of the international
community and its laws and through bullying of and disregard for
millions of Arabs who realize full well that they are paying a
dearer price for these policies and for submissiveness than the
price they would pay if they took the option of opposition and
resistance, an option that guarantees victory and upsets the
calculations of the neo-Nazis and forces them to accept peace."
--------------
"Is There Hope?"
--------------
Izz-al-Din al-Darwish, an editorialist in government-owned
Tishreen, wrote (9/22): "The American position hinders efforts
to achieve a just peace in the Middle East.
"We do not expect the current UN General Assembly session or the
Security Council session which will be held upon an Arab request
later this month to produce results so long as the American
position remains unchanged and Arab positions continue to be in
this miserable situation, which is more than shameful, and which
tempts hostile forces to attack the Arabs, loot their resources,
or at least treat them with no respect.
"Israel occupies Arab lands by force and launches aggressions on
Arabs. It has killed tens of thousands of Arabs and is
threatening to kill more every day. The current US
Administration, which is under the influence of the Zionist
neoconservatives, blesses all these hostile Israeli practices
and publicly participates in some of them.
"The reason for all this is that Arabs surrendered and made no
effort to defend their rights and sovereignty. They accepted
this shameful situation and they even went further, when some of
them rushed to cajole the United States and woo Israel under the
pretext of rationalism, political realism, and civility."
--------------
"The World Would BE Better Without Bush"
--------------
Ahmad Burghul, a commentator in government-owned Al-Thawrah,
wrote (9/22): "The way of thinking, the distorted mind, and the
unmatched arrogance of Bush and his Administration will make
Americans a permanent target of terrorism in every country
because of the hostile and haughty US policy....
"The Bush Administration created a climate for reproduction of
the terrorism about which it is complaining today.... Americans
destroyed Iraq, killed its women and children, and displaced its
inhabitants. Yet they do not want the suppressed people of Iraq
to resist occupation and remove injustice. What logic governs
this foolish administration?
"The image of the United States in the Arab and Muslim world has
never been worse.... The United States has become today the
biggest threat to world peace and security. The mistakes it is
constantly making will definitely lead to a disaster if it keeps
its leadership in the hands of an arrogant group that believes
it has the right and duty to violate international human rights
laws."
Corbin