Damascus Media Reaction: Syria/Iran, Syria/Spain, Peace

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 005095 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/Iran, Syria/Spain, Peace Process, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestinian Territories (10/27-29) ¶1. Summary: Syrian papers reported that President Asad received a letter from Iranian President Ahmadinejad conveyed by visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki. The letter focused on regional developments, mainly in Iraq and the Palestinian territories. President Asad and Minister Mottaki reviewed bilateral relations. Papers also reported a meeting in Damascus between Minister of Information Dr. Mohsen Bilal and a delegation of Spanish journalists who came to Syria to acquaint themselves with political, economic and social life in Syria and covey what they learn to their audiences abroad. Papers also featured an article by British Conservative MP Richard Spring published in the British daily "The Guardian" on October 27 saying that peace in the Middle East couldn't be achieved without Syria's participation. Spring called for working with Syria to achieve peace in the Middle East, insisting this is the only way out of the current situation. End of summary. ¶2. Selected Headlines: "President Asad receives a letter from President Ahmadinejad of Iran on the regional situation and reviews bilateral relations and consultations between Syria and Iran with Iranian Foreign Minister Mottaki" (Government-owned Tishreen, 10/29) "During a meeting with a delegation of foreign media journalists in Damascus Information Minister Dr. Mohsen Bilal reiterates that the US Greater Middle East Project is a dream that cannot be achieved" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 10/29) "International report unveils that Israel used uranium in its latest aggression against Lebanon. The UNIFIL Commander calls upon Javier Solana, European Union Foreign Policy Chief, to stop Israeli violations of Lebanese airspace. Hizbollah renews its call for changing the government" (Government-owned Tishreen, 10/29) "After Israel threats to reoccupy the Salah Eddin crossing, Egypt deploys its forces along the borders with Rafah. Calm in Gaza after renewal of agreement between Fateh and Hamas" (Government-owned Tishreen, 10/29) "A US analyst: The Bush Administration is facing pressures to reach understanding with Syria for its strategic importance" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 10/29) "Voices from Europe and Spain propagandize for a new peace conference on the Middle East. The European Parliament: Syria is a big country that must be respected. A British Conservative MP, Richard Spring, confirms that peace in the Middle East can't be achieved without Syria's participation" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 10/29) "Repercussions of Berri initiative: Lebanese parties: The government's policies diminish the legitimacy of its continuation" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 10/28) "The UN criticizes US law on combating terrorism" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 10/28) "The Palestinian resistance imposes its conditions. Israel accepts prisoner swap for releasing Shalit" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 10/28) "Author of the book, 'The Grand Transformation,' says: French diplomacy during Chirac's reign is catastrophic" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 10/27) "A French intelligence officer: the Mossad assassinated Al-Hariri" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 10/27) "Eight US soldiers killed in Iraq subsequent to Bush's statements on changing strategies in Iraq" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 10/27) "An international petition with 107 signatures of international organizations and associations condemns Israeli and US crimes " (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 10/27) ¶3. Editorial Block Quotes: -------------- "The Olmert-Lieberman Government" -------------- Adnan Ali, a commentator in government-owned Al-Thawra, wrote (10/27): "Israeli statements and leaks regarding the Golan Heights and chances of reviving peace negotiations with Syria indicate major ¶1. Summary: Syrian papers reported that President Asad received a letter from Iranian President Ahmadinejad conveyed by visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki. The letter focused on regional developments, mainly in Iraq and the Palestinian territories. President Asad and Minister Mottaki reviewed bilateral relations. Papers also reported a meeting in Damascus between Minister of Information Dr. Mohsen Bilal and a delegation of Spanish journalists who came to Syria to acquaint themselves with political, economic and social life in Syria and covey what they learn to their audiences abroad. Papers also featured an article by British Conservative MP Richard Spring published in the British daily "The Guardian" on October 27 saying that peace in the Middle East couldn't be achieved without Syria's participation. Spring called for working with Syria to achieve peace in the Middle East, insisting this is the only way out of the current situation. End of summary. ¶2. Selected Headlines: confusion among Israeli military and political leaders. "The military leaders, some of whom have drawn conclusions from the recent war in Lebanon, say that it is in Israel's interest to sign a peace agreement with Syria, even if the price is the return of the entire Golan, because peace with Syria without the Golan, they believe, is better for Israel than the Golan without peace.... "Some politicians share this opinion, but not all of them dare to say it publicly because they do not want to be upstaged by the rightists or their rivals, including Defense Minister Amir Peretz, who, through his decision to stay in the government, despite the inclusion of mentally retarded Avigdor Liberman in it, preferred to defend his political future instead of continuing the deception about his true positions toward the peace process." "A few but increasing voices refuse to listen to the hallucinations of Ehud Olmert and his gang in the Kadima Party and his other extremist partners about the need for Israel to keep the Golan forever. But these people find no opportunity to expand and impose themselves, not only because the domestic Israeli policy has been intensively mobilized against peace in the past few years, but also because the guardians in Washington have not yet allowed Israel to deal seriously with the issue of peace, especially on the Syrian track...." -------------- "Consequences of an Erroneous Policy" -------------- Muhammad Khayr al-Jammali, an editorialist in government-owned Al-Thawra, wrote (10/28): "Washington's wrong and unfair policy in Iraq led the United States to a crisis with disastrous results for the United States and the Iraqi people, worse than the results of the Vietnam War.... "Donald Rumsfeld's recent statement that the Iraqi crisis cannot be resolved by military force is an admission that the policy of force, preemptive war, creative instability, and the restructuring of the Middle East in a way that serves American and Israeli interests is wrong. It proves that the only way out of the crisis of the Iraqi war and its destructive impact on US interests, its prestige, and its ethical reputation, lies in reversing the adventurous policy and removing its tragic repercussions, primarily ending the occupation of Iraq." -------------- "Between Resistance and Squandering" -------------- Isam Dari, an editorialist in government-owned Tishreen, wrote (10/25): "Israelis continue to violate Resolution 1701 and provoke Lebanon under the eyes and ears of the international peacekeeping force, UNIFIL, and the whole world.... "The international community is unable to curb Israel's aggression and departure from international law because of US support of Israel.... "It is not strange for the Bush administration to support Israel's terrorism because this administration itself practices terrorism and aggression, not only in Afghanistan and Iraq, but also against all countries and peoples that have rebelled and announced their Papers also reported a meeting in Damascus between Minister of Information Dr. Mohsen Bilal and a delegation of Spanish journalists who came to Syria to acquaint themselves with political, economic and social life in Syria and covey what they learn to their audiences abroad. Papers also featured an article by British Conservative MP Richard Spring published in the British daily "The Guardian" on October 27 saying that peace in the Middle East couldn't be achieved without Syria's participation. Spring called for working with Syria to achieve peace in the Middle East, insisting this is the only way out of the current situation. End of summary. ¶2. Selected Headlines: rejection of the US policy of domination and looting.... "If the international decision is controlled by the US decision, what is the justification of Arab laxity at a time when Palestinians, Iraqis, and Lebanese are being slaughtered by American and Israeli hands? "What is the justification for a Lebanese team that trades in the slogans of sovereignty and independence but remains totally silent toward Israeli violations of Lebanon's territory and airspace in broad daylight...? We are not surprised by the position of this Lebanese team. We do not think that those who treacherously stab the resistance in the back, threaten it day and night, and call for disarming and abolishing it, are sincere when they talk about sovereignty, independence, and the truth. These people form one of the sides of the alliance that is hostile to Lebanon, Arabism, and independence. Independence is protected by the sons of the resisting homeland, not by those who throw themselves in the laps of ambassadors, consuls, and high commissioners and who draw strength from foreigners against their compatriots...." Corbin