Syria/US, Syria/Russia, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestinian

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 005452 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: Syria/US, Syria/Russia, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestinian Territories (12/21) ¶1. Summary: Syrian papers reported the Dec. 19-20 visit to Damascus by US Senators Christopher Dodd and John Kerry and their meetings with President Asad and FM Mouallem. Talks focused on the level of relations between Syria and the United States and ways to activate the comprehensive peace process in the Middle East. The Baker-Hamilton report recommendations were also reviewed. President Al-Asad renewed Syria's firm position toward the peace process and its permanent readiness to achieve peace under fair international sponsorship. The situation in Iraq was also reviewed. Support for the ongoing political process in Iraq was stressed with a view toward setting a timetable for withdrawing foreign troops from Iraq, maintaining Iraq's unity and stability, and ending acts of violence in Iraq. The two sides reviewed the deteriorating situation in the occupied Palestinian territories and stressed the need to achieve national unity among Palestinians. The two senators briefed President Asad on the results of their tour of the region. President Asad renewed Syria's support for everything the Lebanese agree upon without any foreign intervention. Papers also reported that Senators Dodd and Kerry met with Foreign Minister Mouallem who called upon the United States to assume its role as an honest sponsor of the Middle East peace process. Mouallem emphasized Syria's concern about cementing security and stability in the region and underscored the need for the international community to shoulder its responsibility to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the region based on the UNSC resolutions and Madrid conference as well as the land for peace formula. Talks during the meeting included the exchange of views on the latest international and regional developments, mainly developments in Palestine, Lebanon and Iraq. On Syrian-Russian relations, papers reported Russian Foreign Minister Serge Lavrov's December 20 statement calling for an international conference in order to resume the peace process in the Middle East. The Russian Minister stressed the necessity of working hard to solve the region's pending issues through dialogue and negotiations and with the participation of all concerned parties. Papers also reported that on December 20 Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a decree appointing Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Sultanov as special envoy of the Russian President to the Middle East. End of summary. ¶2. Selected Headlines: "President Asad briefs US Senators Kerry and Dodd on Syria's positions regarding peace under honest international sponsorship, setting a timetable for withdrawal of troops from Iraq, maintaining Iraq's unity, and supporting everything the Lebanese parties agree upon without foreign intervention" (Government-owned Tishreen, 12/21) "Russian daily Rossiyskaya Gazeta: The Summit between President Asad and President Putin confirms deep-rooted cooperation between the two countries. Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov reiterates his country's desire to tackle all aspects of the peace process" (Government-owned Tishreen, 12/21) "Putin assigns Sultanov as a special envoy to the Russian President to the Middle East. Russia emphasizes its desire to hold an international conference, with the participation of all parties in the region, in order to solve all pending issues " (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 12/21) "President Lahoud receives AL Secretary General Moussa: A national unity government is the key to solving the crisis. Lebanese political figures and MPs: The governing team is a tool for the US project in the region" (Government-owned Tishreen, 12/21) "A new scandal for the al-Siniora government: A warplane from Israel landed illegally in Beirut on the same day Pierre Jumayyel was assassinated" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 12/21) "Two US soldiers killed, six injured in attacks in Baghdad. President Bush admits his defeat in Iraq and his new Defense Secretary makes a sudden visit to Iraq" (Government-owned Tishreen, SIPDIS 12/21) " Islamic mediation among Palestinian parties reinstates debate on a national unity government at the negotiating table. Washington and Israel pretend neutrality" (Government-owned Tishreen, 12/21) ¶3. Editorial Block Quotes: -------------- "The Russian Role" -------------- Isam Dari, an editorialist in government-owned Tishreen, commented (12/21): "Perhaps the decision-makers in Washington believed they would be able to neutralize the roles of big countries with political, economic, and military weight in the world, chief of which is the Russian Federation, the heir of the Soviet Union, the country with major interests in the region and the world, and the co-sponsor of the peace process that the US Administration and the leaders of Tel Aviv have buried. "The results of the efforts of the American hawks, who wanted to unilaterally make the world's policies and decisions, came to shock this American team, which has yet to admit that the new world order is a dream of the past, and the New Middle East is following suit.... "If the United States is playing a major role in today's world, a role dictated by its political, economic, and military power, the Russian role is no less important than the American role if we are talking about the world's security, stability, and peace. "... Syria wagers on a Russian role, in addition to a European and a UN role, so that this region will not remain a hostage to Americans, who are biased toward Israeli aggression and terrorism." -------------- "Chaos to Achieve Goals" -------------- Ziyad al-Munajjid, a commentator in government-owned Al-Thawra, wrote from Baghdad on (12/21): "The occupation forces are promoting chaos in Iraq as a prelude to a sectarian war threatening to divide the country as part of a plan to fragment and rearrange the Middle East.... Hence the idea of death squads in Iraq, which were formed under the full supervision of the occupation and which used the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Defense as a cover. "Former American officer James Steel was assigned to supervise these squads in the Interior Ministry, and their aim is to kill Sunnis. While Officer Stephen Castle was assigned to form these squads in the Defense Ministry, and their aim is to kill Shiites. Former US Ambassador to Iraq John Negroponte, who is specialized in guerrilla warfare, directly supervised the formation of these squads.... "There are 66 death squads in Iraq, with its members wearing the uniform of the Interior Ministry and the Defense Ministry. They are led by two Iraqi officers, one in the Defense Ministry and one in the Interior Ministry. These officers coordinate directly with the national security agency. Most of the killings and terror operations in Iraq are committed by these squads with cover from the occupation forces...." -------------- -------------- "How Could a Military Defeated Behave Like a Winner? Changing Goals, not Means Is What Counts" -------------- -------------- Mahdi Dakhlallah, former Information Minister in Tishreen, commented (12/21): "The Baker-Hamilton report proposes a change in the US tactics and methods but not in the strategies and objectives of the United States. The American objective remains the same: to control the region and its potential. The report is certainly important, especially when it criticizes military solutions and calls for diplomacy and dialogue. But, is it really possible to change the tactics without changing the objectives in the complicated world of international relations? Is it possible to use peaceful and dialogue-based methods to achieve aggressive and hegemonic objectives...? "What kind of dialogue can be opened with Syria if the objective is to facilitate American hegemony on the region? How can people accept the logic that what Israel failed to achieve in the aggression on Lebanon it can achieve by political means, and what the United States failed to achieve through its military operations in Iraq it can achieve through diplomacy and dialogue? "We hope that the United States will amend its objectives so that a dialogue can be useful...." -------------- "Democracy and Double Standards" -------------- Ahmad Dawwa, a commentator in government-owned Al-Thawra, wrote (12/21): "President Bush and Prime Minister Blair pursue double standards when they support the call for early elections in Palestine and reject it in Lebanon. Through such policies the United States and Britain jeopardize the security and stability of the region and cause further tension and serious trouble that would ultimately harm American and British interests in the region.... "The call for early elections in Palestine deserves support because the results of the previous election were not to the liking of Israel, the United States, and Britain. This is why the Palestinian government was besieged.... "But the call for early election in Lebanon is rejected as a coup d'etat against legitimacy because its expected results will exclude the ruling team and, consequently, the sedition plan that the American and Israeli circles are preparing for Lebanon.... "Those who believe that the Bush administration, in its current makeup where a small group of neoconservatives controls the decision-making centers, will adopt the Baker-Hamilton report are mistaken. This administration is a hostage to a destructive plan threatening world peace and security. Its retreat from this plan is linked only to the ability of the peoples of the region to confront the sedition schemes that this administration manages through local tools that turned themselves into fuel for this plan." ROEBUCK