Damascus Media Reaction: Prophet Muhammad Cartoons,

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 000473 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: Prophet Muhammad Cartoons, Lebanon, Syria/Jordan, Iran, Iraq, Palestinian Territories (2/7) ¶1. Summary: Syrian papers reported that President Asad received Al-Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr, leader of Al-Sadr Current in Iraq. Talks focused on the situation in Iraq, the results of the recent election, and the ongoing consultations to form an Iraqi government. The president called for unifying Iraqi people to preserve the safety of the fraternal country and secure its liberation from the occupation. Al-Sadr praised Syria's support for the Iraqi people and its eagerness to maintain Iraq's security. He expressed his solidarity with Syria and his willingness to continue the coordination on joint interests of the two fraternal countries. In a press conference following their meeting, Al-Sadr and FM Shara told journalists that their talks dealt with Syrian-Iraqi relations and ways to achieve security and stability in the region to confront the challenges and pressures that the two countries are facing. Al-Sadr described Syrian-Iraqi relations as good and noted that the two countries are facing common challenges. He said that the Al-Sadr Current wants to bring stability to Iraq and to work with anyone who is interested in the reconstruction of country and cementing stability in the region. Syrian papers also reported that Hassan Narsallah, Secretary General of Hizbollah Party and Michel Aoun, leader of the Free Patriotic Movement, approved a joint memo of understanding on national resistance, relations with Syria, and Lebanese national dialogue. In a joint press conference Monday, Nasrallah stressed the necessity of maintaining natural and good relations between Syria and Lebanon. On the investigations into the al-Ashrafieh incidents in Beirut, Nasrallah said "what is going on is a premeditated decision to accuse Syria with no evidence and an attempt to use these incidents in a political battle against Syria." Aoun pointed out that the memo stresses the necessity of establishing correct and natural relations with Syria and solving the Lebanese disputes without the intervention of Western capitals. He called for enhancing dialogue and exchanging opinions to solve the Lebanese problems. End summary. 
¶2. Selected Headlines: "President Asad reviews with Iraqi clergyman Muqtada al-Sadr the Iraqi situation and calls for enhancing national unity to safeguard the country. Al-Sadr praises Syria's positions supporting security and stability in Iraq" (Government-owned Tishreen, 2/7) "Defense Minister Lieutenant General Hassan Turkmani receives a popular delegation from Jordan. Members of the Jordanian delegation: We express solidarity with the Syrian people in the face of the campaigns of pressure and organized threats" (Government-owned Tishreen, 2/7) "Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, Secretary General of Hizbollah, warns against accusing Damascus of incidents that took place in the Ashrafieh district of Beirut. Nasrallah and Michel Aoun, leader of the Free Patriotic Movement, sign a memo of understanding asserting normal and good relations with Syria" (Government-owned Tishreen, 2/7) "Iran to resume its peaceful nuclear program within days: We do not want to withdraw from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 2/7) "Tehran calls for holding a conference by Foreign Ministers of Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) to respond to the offensive cartoons on Prophet Mohammad. Angry demonstrations sweep Arab and Islamic capitals in protest of cartoons insulting Prophet Mohammed [published] in some Danish and Western newspapers" "Hamas discloses British and American initiatives to contact it. Martyrdom of four activists from Al-Quds and Al-Aqsa Brigades" (Government-owned Tishreen, 2/7) ¶3. Editorial Block Quotes: -------------- "Deliberate Insults Serve Whose Interests?" -------------- Muhammad Khair al-Jammali, an editorialist in government-owned Al- Thawra, wrote (2/7): "It was not in the interest of Denmark and some other European countries to see their relations with the Islamic world deteriorate to this level.... The freedom of expression cannot be absolute and irresponsible.... "We do not rule out the involvement of international Zionism and its lobbies in the United States and Europe in the creation of this crisis to drive a wedge between Europe and the Islamic world.... "International Zionism is historically known for creating seditions, unrest, contradictions, and disputes among nations.... We call on the European countries to realize the perils of this deliberate insult to Islam and know that it does not serve their interests and the interests of the Islamic world. It serves only the interests of those who find their interests lie in spoiling European-Islamic relations and pushing them toward tension, hatred, and disputes...." -------------- - "Insult to Islam and Absent Joint Arab Action" -------------- - Dr. Khalaf al-Jarad, Chief Editor of government-owned Tishreen, wrote (2/7): "Cartoons on Prophet Muhammad shocked Muslims, Christians, and all believers.... "Tempers will not cool down unless those who created this serious problem apologize publicly and unambiguously for the foolish act they committed under the slogan of 'freedom of expression....' "Freedom of expression is not recognized in the West when it comes to doubts about the holocaust and so called anti-Semitism. These are two red lines that Western laws allow no one to cross.... "On the other hand, we wonder at the complete silence of the Organization of the Islamic Conference.... The OIC should draw up a realistic plan to address the Western governments to ensure respect for Muslim sanctities.... "We call for calm and enlightened confrontation, not extremist reactions, of the campaigns that target Islam...." -------------- "Language of Logic and Law" -------------- Ali Nasrallah, an editorialist in government-owned Al-Thawra, wrote (6/7): "At a news conference held at the White House late last year, US President George Bush admitted that the mistakes about Iraq harmed US credibility. He added: If we seek to pass on a message about Iran, people will say: The intelligence information on Iraq was not successful, so how can we trust you information on Iran?! "Today, weeks after making this confession, Bush is trying over and over again to threaten military action. Using the power of the media and disregarding the language of law and logic, he is seeking to drag the world into a new problem and into a tenser crisis, which would pose a greater danger to world security, peace, and stability; despite all attempts by Tehran to build bridges of trust with the international community, especially the European troika. "The decision to refer this file to the Security Council is a big mistake... and a complete failure of the option of diplomacy and political solution. It represents the height of political hypocrisy and violates laws and legitimacy. This is because Iran does not posses a nuclear weapon and is not likely to get one.... "Why all this clamor and fabricated exaggeration about Iran and its peaceful nuclear file, and on the other hand, why all this silence over, collusion with, and failure to notice the Israeli nuclear arsenal, which poses a threat to the security and stability of the region and the world?! Why all this international impotence toward the international demands that Israel be forced to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and thus open its nuclear installations to UN inspectors?! "There is no doubt that the US and some European forces are escalating the situation and pushing for the option of war under the cover of diplomacy, as French President Jacques Chirac recently did when he threatened to use the French nuclear weapon. This escalation no doubt represents the biggest danger and is the greatest proof of their wish to abandon the language of logic and law and return to the medieval ages and to their past abominable colonialist records and practices. The message of Iran and the people of the world to them is: You should know that it is impossible to revive this language and these practices, because the world has changed and because people now understand only the language of logic and law and insist on resisting those who speak the language of force, belligerence, and confiscation of wills and rights." Seche