Damascus Media Reaction: Syria/China, Baker/Hamilton

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 005379 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/China, Baker/Hamilton Report, Lebanon, Palestinian Territories, Iraq ¶1. Summary: Syrian papers today reported that Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moualem met on Dec. 9 with Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Chi Jion and an accompanying delegation. Talks focused on developments in the region, particularly in Lebanon, Palestine and Iraq, and on bilateral relations. Moualem stressed during the meeting the important role which could be played by China, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, in defending the issues of developing countries and in establishing international peace and security. In a statement to reporters following the meeting, the Chinese official described his talks with Moualem as "very successful." On the Baker/Hamilton Report, papers featured an official statement by the Syrian Foreign Ministry describing the report as "positive." Papers also reported Israel's rejection of the Report's recommendations on the Arab-Israeli conflict and cited Israeli FM Livni's trip to Washington to contain repercussions of the report on Israel. On developments on Lebanon, papers continued to report the popular sit-in in Beirut, featuring a speech to demonstrators on Dec. 7 by Hizbollah SecGen Hasan Nasrallah calling on the current Lebanese government to resign, adding "it is of no use for some Lebanese ministers to rely on western support." Nasrallah urged foreign parties not to interfere in Lebanese internal affairs and raised suspicion about US interest in and support for the current Lebanese government. Papers also reported a Friday sermon by Fathi Yakn, SecGen of the Islamic Action Front in Lebanon, confirming that "the unprecedented historical rally organized by the Lebanese opposition in downtown Beirut will continue until the overthrow of the US scheme." Papers also reported that Lebanese President Lahoud refused on Dec. 9 to endorse government plans for an international tribunal to try suspects in the killing of former PM al-Hariri. Papers also cited a press report by Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar on Dec. 7 revealing that members of the Future Block, "Al-Mustaqbal," set fire to three stores owned by Syrian citizens in the Sabra district of Beirut, threatening to liquidate anyone who testifies or complains against them. On Palestinian issues, paper reported that Vice President Shara met on Dec. 7 with Mustapha Bargouthi, Secretary of the Palestinian National Initiative, focusing on consultations to form a Palestinian national unity government. Papers also featured a speech by Palestinian PM Hanieh delivered at Tehran University on Dec. 8, charging the superpowers and Israel with seeking, through the siege on Palestinians, to force Palestinians to acknowledge the usurpation of their territories, stop the resistance, and commit themselves to agreements which were signed in the past with Israel, confirming that this will not happen and that Palestinian resistance will continue until Palestinian territories are liberated. End of summary. ¶2. Selected Headlines: "Syrian-Chinese talks at the Syrian Foreign Ministry. Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Jion confirms identical views with Syria, saying that the occupation is the reason for tension" (Government-owned Tishreen 12/10) "German Foreign Minister rejects US criticism of his visit to Syria, confirming the importance of this visit" (Government-owned Tishreen, 12/10) "A Russian diplomat: The Golan is part of Syria" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 12/8) "Annan reiterates calls for Washington to hold dialogue with Syria and Iran on Iraq" (Government-owned Tishreen, 12/9) "Turkish Foreign Ministry: Turkey attaches great importance to developing relations with Syria" (Government-owned Tishreen, 12/9) "The 8th day of Lebanese popular sit-in: Joint Friday prayer and wide-ranging support for speech of Hizbollah leader. Lebanese MPs and personalities: The speech cuts off the road before instigators; it dots the i's and crosses the t's. Sheikh Fathi Yakan: We must cut off the road before the team in authority. Ra'd: It ended illusions. Sa'd: The speech paves the way for a new stage" (Government-owned Tishreen, 12/9) "Lebanese daily 'al-Akhbar': Members of the Future Block 'Al-Mustaqbal' burn three stores owned by Syrian citizens in Beirut in the district of Sabra, threatening to liquidate anyone who testifies or complains against them" (Government-owned Tishreen, 12/9) "Lebanese President Lahoud turns down a draft resolution for the international court. Speaker of Lebanese Parliament Berri: The Parliament will not convene before the crisis is resolved. General Aoun: It is a government of corruption.... We offer al-Saniora as a present to the US" (Government-owned Tishreen, 12/10) "Hizbollah secretary general accuses al-Saniora of ordering the army to confiscate Hizbollah weapons heading to south Lebanon. Nasrallah: Lebanese parties requested Olmert to stage war against Lebanon to terminate Hizbollah.... You called on Bush to occupy Syria" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 12/8) "Syrian Foreign ministry: The Baker report on Iraq is objective... Restoring the Golan is a priority" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 12/8) "Bush to deliver an address of policy change before Christmas. The Baker-Hamilton commission rejects selectivity in its recommendations. Israeli Foreign Minister Livni in Washington to contain repercussions of the Baker-Hamilton Report on Israel" (Government-owned Tishreen, 12/9) "Vice President Shara discusses current contacts to from a national unity government with Mustafa al-Barghouthi, Secretary of the Palestinian National Initiative" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 12/8) "Three Palestinians injured by occupation fire. Hanieh: The resistance will continue until the liberation of occupied Jerusalem" (Government-owned Tishreen, 12/9) "The PLO Executive Committee calls for early elections. HAMAS considers this a coup against democracy" (Government-owned Tishreen, 12/10) "Zionist lobby continues its campaign against former US President Carter's Book, 'The Palestinian.' Carter denounces abstention from criticizing Israel in the US" (Government-owned Tishreen, 12/10) "A report on the Canadian Global Research Website: The Pentagon and Israeli Mossad are behind explosions in Iraq" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 12/10) "23 civilians die in Iraq, including 5 children, in US air strikes targeting al-Ishaki. Three US troops killed in Baghdad" (Government-owned Tishreen, 12/9) ¶3. Editorial Block Quotes: -------------- "Autumn of Lies" -------------- Isam Dari, an editorialist in government-owned Tishreen, commented (12/9): "The US Administration, the world's master liar, has gradually begun to collapse under the yoke of its own lies, from the lie of Iraq's possession of weapons of mass destruction, to all the other lies that came in the form of accusations against Syria and Arab national resistance forces, to the big lie that the war on Iraq is a war against terror and for freedom, sovereignty, democracy, and protection of human rights.... "Followers of the American master cannot continue with their lies, regardless of their formidable media machine.... It is shameful and disastrous that a unilateral team in Lebanon is leading the country to the brink of the abyss when this team itself was willingly involved in hostile plans.... The governing team in Lebanon worked publicly and secretly to liquidate the resistance, militarily during the Israeli aggression, and politically after the aggression, in a way that serves only those who are lying in wait for Arabs and the region.... "Those who seek help from abroad against their compatriots have no future, regardless of their reliance on local wars and sectarian and denominational sedition.... "Despite this, there is still a chance for those who want to prove their good intentions and those who were misled by the team that monopolizes power, to return to their senses and to the right path. But this chance will not remain open forever, and it will not accommodate those who stabbed the homeland in the back and are still doing so in broad daylight. Will this team wake up before it is too late?" -------------- -------------- "Richard Haass: The US Dream of a New Middle East Has Evaporated" -------------- -------------- Dr. Sa'id Musallam, a columnist in government-owned Al-Thawra, wrote (12/8): "The Lebanese opposition's activity in Beirut is a mammoth popular rejection of all forms of foreign trusteeship, as the government has turned into an executive tool manipulated through instructions from the White House and the American and French embassies in Beirut.... "Israel and the United States, supported by some Arab countries, tried -- but failed -- to eliminate the Lebanese resistance militarily and drag the whole country into the Israeli camp during the July/August war. Later those forces tried to achieve through politics what they failed to achieve through war.... The current political struggle in Lebanon is between nationalist forces, that oppose the American plan, and forces that hijacked power and now lack legal, constitutional, and popular legitimacy. "The fall of the Lebanese government would mean the total collapse of the American-Zionist plan...." -------------- "A Drift Towards Realism" -------------- Hanan Hamad, an op-ed writer in government-owned Tishreen, wrote (12/9): "US Defense Secretary-Designate Robert Gates' reference to Israel's nuclear weapons, his opposition to an attack on Iran, his remark that the United States is not winning in Iraq, his warning that the failure to achieve stability in Iraq within one or two years might lead to a regional conflagration, and his recommendation that contacts be made with Syria and Iran, constitute a call for a turn in American policy from the direction of arrogance and racist, fanatic ideas and discourse toward realism and objectivity.... "These indications are in accord with the Baker-Hamilton Report, that emphasizes this inclination to reclaim US foreign policy files from the hands of neo-conservatives and to replace the flagrant aggressive tone with a diplomatic tone. This does not mean any concession on US substantive strategic demands that call for securing Israel's supremacy in the region." -------------- "Time Is Running Out for a US Escape from Iraq" -------------- Ahmad Suwwan, a commentator in government-owned Tishreen, commented (12/9): "There is a link between Iraq and other issues of the region.... "If the United States wants to get out of the Iraqi mud, it must revise its policy in Lebanon and occupied Palestine.... "The United States needs to end its occupation of Iraq, stop interfering in Lebanon's affairs, halt the unlimited American support for Israel's occupation and aggression, and deal seriously and positively with the countries of the region, primarily Iran and Syria, based on their central regional roles, their political credibility in securing stability and calm in the region, and their clear positions toward the removal of the occupation, whether the American occupation in Iraq or the Israeli occupation in Palestine...." Corbin