Damascus Media Reaction: Post-war Maneuvering, MEPP,

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 004886 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: Post-war Maneuvering, MEPP, (10/11 -10/12) ¶1. Summary: The Syrian press focused on the following issues October 11-12: Syrian papers covered the visit to Damascus of Bahrain's Foreign Minister Sheikh Khaled Ben Ahmad Al-Thani. Sheikh Khaled conveyed a message from King Hamad of Bahrain to President Assad on issues related to the Middle East peace process and Syria's role in it. Papers also covered a statement by Syria's Minister of Information that only a resisting Middle East will survive, and that the Resistance is strong because it is supported by the whole nation. Papers also reported a planned visit to Damascus on October 14 by Spain's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Miguel Angel Moratinos. End of summary. ¶2. Selected Headlines: President Assad reviews with Sheikh Khaled peace process and the Syrian role (government-owned al Baath, 10/10/2006) In a joint seminar held by al-Baath Newspaper and the Iranian Embassy: Only a resisting Middle East will survive (government- owned al Baath, 10/10/2006) The White House: No hypothesis is adopted or rejected: an air- craft smashes into a building, two killed - (government-owned al Baath, 10/10/2006) Moratinos in Damascus Saturday - (government-owned Tishreen, 10/10/2006) ¶3. Editorial Block Quotes: -------------- --- "Waiting for the Sunset of the Conservatives" -------------- --- Issam Dari, an editorialist in government-owned Tishreen, wrote (10/11/2006): "Unlike the case during the term of George Bush Senior, Washington is no longer a peace arbitrator.... All paths that lead to peace, in the American-Israeli way, must pass through the "New Middle East," and through "Grand Israel," according to the vision of the Torah and the Talmud. "Decision-makers in Washington are the ones who have the decision of war rather than peace. They have fancied the war game, despite all the catastrophes it creates for the people of the region and the American taxpayer. That's why peace has become not only difficult, but impossible, under the auspices of this administration, which has eradicated from its political dictionary all the vocabulary of peace, dialogue and respect for the will of others. "The situation will remain like this until further notice...and maybe until the sun of the Neo-Conservatives has set behind the White House." -------------- "Deluded Dreams and Peace" -------------- Elias Murad, Editor-in-Chief of government-owned al Baath, wrote (10/12/2006): "Two days ago, President Bashar al Assad reiterated Syria's position towards peace, saying that Syria's conditions to achieve peace are the same as the conditions of the international community, and the ideal way to achieve peace is to implement UN resolutions 242 and 338. "Each time we say this, Israel says: "Syria is imposing preconditions for talks. But what is funny now is the reaction that Shimon Peres...has come up with, inviting President Assad to visit Jerusalem.... "Israel knows and so does the US Administration and the entire world that there is no single Syrian citizen who accepts this. Peace cannot be achieved through rejected protocol visits. If the Israelis believe that the visit of [former Egyptian President Anwar] as-Sadat to Israel has achieved peace, all Arabs, including the Egyptian people, believe the contrary.... "We in Syria believe that the recent Israeli invitations are a waste of time, and an attempt to escape the requirements of peace, as well as a signal of weakness in the enemy.... "Israel may be able to find those whom it can convince, with its base invitations, that Syria is against peace, but will never be able to find a single Arab or a single Syrian." Corbin