Damascus Media Reaction: Syria/Yemen, Syria/Italy,

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 005412 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR PA, NEA/ARN, INR/IC/CD, INR/R/MR:STHIBEAULT AND JMCCARTER, VOA NEWS CA, NEA/PPD:CBOURGEOIS, AZAIBACK, AND AFERNANDEZ, IIP/G/NEA-SA MDAVIDSON WHITE HOUSE FOR NSC CENTCOM FOR CCPA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY SUBJECT: Damascus Media Reaction: Syria/Yemen, Syria/Italy, Syria/Greece, Syria/Iraq, Palestinian Territories, Lebanon, Senator Nelson (12/15-17) ¶1. Summary: Syrian papers on Dec. 17 reported President Asad's visit to Yemen and his meeting with Yemeni President Ali Abdallah Salih focusing on regional developments and bilateral relations. Papers also reported President Asad's press interview published Dec. 15 in a Rome-based daily La Republica. Asad called on Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to consider Syria's offer to discuss peace in exchange for territorial concessions. "I say to Olmert: make an attempt. Call our bluff," he was quoted as saying. "The Syrian people are united on this: Reach peace to get back our lands," he said. Despite his call for dialogue, Asad also said Syria expects that Israel could launch a war against it "at any moment," according to the interview. "War is always possible in our region. It is natural to prepare (for it)," he was quoted as telling the newspaper. However, he dismissed as "inexact" recent reports that his country is massing missiles on the border with Israel, according to the interview. Asad also sought to downplay Syria's backing of Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon, saying that his country holds influence on the Shiite group, but doesn't interfere in Lebanese affairs. "Don't you see that Hezbollah is backed by a large part of the Lebanese population? It is wrong to portray it as a Syrian or Iranian puppet. Hezbollah has its own interests, its own vision. They trust us, so we can influence them," he was quoted as saying in the interview. "We never lost our influence in Lebanon. But it is not interference." Papers on Dec. 16 reported that President Asad received a phone call from George Papandreou, Head of the Greek Socialist Party, focusing on the situation in Lebanon. On Syrian-Iraqi relations, papers reported the visit to Damascus on Dec. 16 by Jawad Kazem Bolani, Iraqi Interior Minister of State for National Security Affairs, who held talks with Syrian Interior Minister, Gen. Bassam Abdul-Majeed. In a press statement, Bolani indicated that he is focused on a number of issues related to boosting cooperation between the Syrian and Iraqi Ministries of Interior to expand prospects of future cooperation. For his part, Abdul-Majeed underlined Syria's concern for the unity of Iraqi people and land and stability and for supporting all efforts to push the political process forward and achievement of national reconciliation. On Dec. 15, papers reported the visit to Damascus by Abdullat Abdrasiti, Chairman of the delegation of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. In a statement at the end of the delegation's visit to Syria, Abdullat Abdrasiti said Syria has made big achievements in various fields, noting that Syria's decision to adopt the social market economy and start the tenth five-year plan of development provide a wide-range of fields for future cooperation between Syria and China. Abdrasiti said that his talks also touched upon all regional and international issues. An editorialist in government-owned Tishreen on Dec. 16 criticized remarks made recently by US Senator Bill Nelson after visiting Syria, accusing him of spreading "a series of lies" about his meeting with the Syrian leader. End of summary. ¶2. Selected Headlines: "President Asad holds talks with Yemeni President Salih. The two leaders reiterate the importance of Palestinian national unity and setting a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Iraq. President Asad calls for noninterference in Lebanon's internal affairs" (Government-owned Tishreen, 12/17) "In a statement to Italian Republica newspaper, President Asad: Recommendations of the Baker committee are in harmony with our views; Syria has interests in solving problems of the region" (Government-owned Tishreen, 12/17) "Egypt emphasizes deeply-rooted relations with Syria; Awad, Spokesman of the Egyptian Presidency: Isolating Syria is impossible" (Government-owned Tishreen, 12/17) "President Asad receives a phone call from George Papandreou, Head of the Greek Socialist Party, and visits Yemen today" (12/16) "Vice President Shara meets a Chinese delegation which supports Syria's right to restore occupied lands" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 12/15) "Pope Benedict of the Vatican: Syria is an important country and we bless its efforts to achieve peace" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 12/15) "Spanish FM Moratinos: Syria's role is pivotal. US Senator Kerry calls for dialogue with Syria and Iran. A delegation from the European Parliament visits Syria today" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 12/15) "Foreign minister Mouallem to former Iraqi PM Jaffari: Syria supports scheduling occupation forces withdrawal from Iraq" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 12/15) "A UN resolution calls on Israel to stop imposing its laws on citizens of occupied Golan" (Government-owned Tishreen, 12/16) "Palestinian President Abbas calls for early elections. The Hanieh government rejects early elections. A Palestinian is martyred in Nablus. A UNSC resolution to compensate Palestinians who are hurt by the racial wall in the occupied territories" (Government-owned Tishreen, 12/17) "Israel regrets failure of the attempt on the life of Palestinian PM Hanieh. Hanieh urges national unity and prevention of bloodshed" (Government-owned Tishreen, 12/16) "The Palestinian factions in Damascus denounce shooting at Hanieh and reject early elections reiterating the importance of national unity" (Government-owned Tishreen, 12/17) "The conference of Iraqi reconciliation commences its deliberations" (Government-owned Tishreen, 12/17) "US Secretary of State Rice: We may finish our term before ending violence in Iraq. Five US troops killed or wounded in Anbar and Nineveh. An attack on two military bases in al-Ramadi" (Government-owned Tishreen, 12/16) "An Iraqi ministerial delegation is due in Damascus to discuss cooperation between the Syrian and Iraqi Interior Ministries" (Government-owned Tishreen, 12/16) "The 15th day of the open sit-in. Nasrallah, SecGen of Hizbollah: Israel will not be allowed to achieve any gains. Karami: Steps soon to topple the government" (Government-owned Tishreen, 12/16) "Mousa, SecGen of the Arab League quits Beirut: An Israeli force violates the Blue Line before the very eyes of the international forces" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 12/15 ¶3. Editorial Block Quotes: -------------- "Return to Yours Senses Now" -------------- Isam Dari, an editorialist in government-owned Tishreen, wrote (12/16): "The February 14 forces in Lebanon are clashing with the overwhelming majority of the Lebanese on behalf of others and in defense of hostile plans.... "They take pride in their strong relationship with the US Administration, which generously offers them unlimited support to the point of issuing a presidential statement from the UN Security Council backing Fouad al-Saniora government.... "Does this government need this UN support? Has the Security Council accomplished all its missions in this troubled world and is left with nothing else to do other than issuing a statement to support a government facing unprecedented popular pressure demanding not its trial for what it did during and after the recent Israeli aggression, but only participation in making of the critical Lebanese decisions so that a group connected with the outside world will not remain the sole decision-maker, leading the country to a certain position against the will of the Lebanese...? "It is surprising that the February 14 leaders are not embarrassed or ashamed to boast of American support for them although the US Administration was a partner in the planning and implementation of the recent Israeli aggression, where horrible massacres were perpetrated against children, women, and old people.... Foreign forces will not be able to protect the February 14 team forever from the will of the people.... Therefore, this team must return to its senses and listen to the pulse of the street, now rather than tomorrow." -------------- "A Witness from the US" -------------- Ahmad Hamadeh, a commentator in government-owned Al-Thawra, wrote (12/15): "Former US President Jimmy Carter's testimony regarding the suffering of the Palestinians in the occupied territories, in his book and a recent article in The Los Angeles Times, deserves all praise although it has come too late.... "Carter's description of the Palestinian suffering at the hands of the Israelis might not appear new or exceptional, but the new thing about it is that it is made by an American citizen who was a president of the United States.... He courageously describes the pressure that the Zionist pressure groups apply on the establishments in his country and the lack of any opposing voices because they fear assassinations and political marginalization...." -------------- "Un Unforgivable Crime" -------------- Samir al-Shibani, a columnist in government-owned Tishreen, wrote (12/16): "The inter-Palestinian clashes in the West Bank and Gaza in the past two days are an unforgivable crime and a retreat from ethics and the Palestinian national convention". "All Palestinians must demonstrate a sense of national responsibility.... There must be immediate Arab efforts to contain the seeds of sedition which threaten a destructive civil war...." -------------- -------------- "US Visitors and Required Credibility; How Do American Visitors Reverse What They Say between Damascus and Beirut?" -------------- -------------- An unsigned editorial in government-owned Tishreen, reads on (12/16): "From time to time, US Senators visit the region on their own initiative, perhaps for domestic American party purposes or out of a desire to support their allies or those who follow their policies in the region. "To be honest, these Senators, in their meetings with Syrian officials, are usually extremely polite, diplomatic, and good listeners. What is strange, however, is that when they leave Damascus, they make a 180-degree turn and fabricate stories that exist only in their wild imaginations, so much so that they claim they visited Damascus to 'rebuke Syria,' while the truth is completely different. "Visits and statements of Tom Lantos and former Secretary of State Colin Powell are two of many examples. But the latest in this series was a statement by Senator Bill Nelson in Beirut, in which he went beyond all bounds. "Nelson appeared in Beirut as if he was the guardian of Lebanon. He issued a series of lies about his meeting with President Asad. All his allegations are baseless; they never happened. He was a skillful listener. He did not even 'advise' Syria to support the Al-Saniora's government, for example. "Senator Nelson's utterances have nothing to do whatsoever with the political, diplomatic, and ethical traditions. They are surprising, especially as they came from an American parliamentarian who is supposed to be fair and objective, not a trumpet for the worn-out February 14 team.... "Syria still welcomes interaction with the world and dialogue with all countries provided that these contacts and dialogues observe the principles of ethics, honesty, and accuracy, and avoid allegations and lies that have nothing to do with the truth and that harm those who make and fabricate them before anyone else." Corbin