Damascus Media Reaction: Syria/Iraq, Lebanon, Danish

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 000624

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/Iraq, Lebanon, Danish
Cartoons, Pressure on Syria, HAMAS, Iraq, Iran (2/14)



1. Summary: Syrian papers reported that Vice President
Shara has informed Moqtada al-Sadr, Leader of the al-Sadr
movement in Iraq, about Syria's decision to restore diplomatic
relations with Iraq and exchange diplomatic representation at
level of ambassadors after the formation of the new Iraqi
government. During his meeting with al-Sadr, Shara expressed
Syria's hope that this step would be a starting point for
advancing the march of development and enhancing bilateral
relations in all fields. Talks also dealt with developments in
Iraq that accompanied the political process in different areas
and their impact on the security situation. "Syrian-Iraqi
relations will be improved in the forthcoming period to serve
the interests of both sisterly countries," Al-Sadr told
reporters following his meeting with Shara. Al-Sadr also
reiterated the importance of ending the occupation of Iraq.

Syrian papers featured statements by Lebanese figures and parties
on the first anniversary of the Al-Hariri assassination. Papers
reported a statement by President Lahoud confirming Lebanese
insistence on exposing the truth and calling on all Lebanese to
rise above political trivialities. Headlines also featured a
statement by the "Amal Movement" calling upon all Lebanese to
prevent politicization of the crime, and emphasizing that Rafik
al-Hariri's "Arabness" constituted the main motive for supporting
the Lebanese national resistance. "The resistance is a Lebanese
necessity to face the Israeli occupation and deepen Lebanon's
role in Arab issues particularly the Palestinian cause," the
statement said.

End summary.


2. Selected Headlines:

"Vice-President Shara discusses with Iraqi clergyman Moqtada al-
Sadr latest developments in the Iraqi arena. Shara: Syria will
restore all its diplomacy relations with Iraq after its
government is formed." (Government-owned Tishreen, 2/14)

"Dr. Faisal Mekdad, Syria's Permanent Representative to the UN,
sends a letter to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan clarifying
Syria's measures to protect diplomatic missions and calls on the
international community to confront the campaign against symbols
of the divine religions. Mekdad: Syria is committed to
international agreements and regrets statements by some
officials from other countries" (Government-owned Tishreen,
2/14)

"Danish Prime Minister Rasmussen dismisses some Moslem community
representatives from talks on the cartoons crisis. Oglo [Chairman
of the Organization of Islamic Conference] calls on the EU to
enact legislation." (Government-owned Tishreen, 2/14)
"Extensive Lebanese anger over suspicions about the arms of the
national resistance and the Lebanese identity of the Shebaa
Farms. Israel joins the provocation. Lahoud calls for rising
above political trivialities" (Government-owned Tishreen, 2/14).

"HAMAS rejects the latest decisions on expanding authorities of
the Head of the Palestinian Authority. A Palestinian woman was
killed in southern Gaza. Israeli occupation isolates the West
Bank from the al-Aghwar area. Olmert recommends demarcation of
borders as a first mission for the new Knesset. HAMAS links
ending resistance with full Israeli withdrawal" (Government-
owned Tishreen, 2/14)

"11 US soldiers were killed or injured in Iraq and Afghanistan"
(Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 2/14)

"Iran resumes nuclear enrichment research. Russian talks between
cancellation and postponement" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 2/14)


3. Editorial Block Quotes:

--------------

"That Is Why Syria Is Targeted"






"Syria knows what it wants. It realizes why it is being targeted
in this hysterical way. It has its national and pan-Arab
principles, while they have their own opposing plans. The
difference between the two positions is clear. Syria adheres to
its national rights, primarily the restoration of all its
occupied territories. It also adheres to its pan-Arab principles
with regard to Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq, and the entire Arab
world. In these national and pan-Arab issues, Syria never
bargains no matter what the circumstances....

"On the other side, there are American and Israel plans for
occupation, hegemony, and the establishment of the so-called
'Greater Middle East', which would fragment the Arab countries,
undermine Arabism, and fight Islam and Muslims. Syria cannot
accept this. It totally rejects it. And it is working to foil it
in cooperation with its brothers and friends. This is why they
target Syria...."

--------------

"Why All Fuss About the Russian Initiative?"

--------------

Muhammad Khayr al-Jammali, an editorialist in government-owned
Al-Thawra, wrote (2/14): "President Putin said nothing but the
truth when he said that Russia never considered HAMAS a
terrorist organization and called on others to respect the will
of the Palestinian people, who elected HAMAS in free
election....

"The United States does not want anyone in the world to disagree
with its policy and judgments, even if this policy and these
judgments are absolutely wrong and based on lies and deception."

"Syria took a courageous position when President Asad received
HAMAS Political Bureau Chief Khalid Mishaal and congratulated
him on HAMAS's election victory.

"Will Arabs grasp the significance of the Syrian and Russian
positions and offer support for and open up to HAMAS -- and it
is more natural for them than others to adopt this position
given the pan-Arab dimension of the conflict and the Palestinian
question -- to make the United States, Israel, and the countries
moving in their orbit understand that the time of political and
intellectual stereotyping of the world has gone....?"

--------------

"The Policy of Extinguishing Fires?"

--------------

Dr. Buthaina Shaban, Expatriate Affairs Minister, commented
(2/14): "The incidents that followed the publication of the
Danish cartoons revealed the fact that the world today lacks a
conscious political and moral leadership, which can steer the
ship in a wise and conscious manner. They have also revealed that
one of the causes of this shortcoming in today's world is the
fact that the superpowers focus on money and the economy and show
disregard for the cultural, religious, and spiritual identities
of people. This is how some western leaders, including the Danish
prime minister and EU leaders, and the United States, reacted to
the sweeping Muslim anger in all parts of the world at the harsh
insult to a noble prophet. They dealt with the matter in a
superficial way, which did not address the core of the problem.
They went back to the old method of leveling accusations at
forces or countries that are unwelcome in the new age of
globalization....


"It was strange that other western newspapers republished the
abusive cartoons in an act of solidarity with Denmark for
insulting Muslims and their prophet. It was also strange that
Danish Prime Minister Fogh Rasmussen bragged about having
received a call from Bush, who expressed solidarity with
Denmark. We do not know if this was a show of solidarity with
Denmark for insulting the last of the prophets or for the
adoption in the west of a new policy of religious and cultural
racism against Islam and Muslims, in a new manifestation of the
western traditional hatred for others.... US Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice reached the strangest conclusion, namely, that
'there is no justification for the violence that took place in
the world in protest against the satirical cartoons'....!

"It is clear that the US Secretary of State's deep contempt for
the sentiments of Muslims all over the world is what prompted
her to publicly make light of their feelings toward their
prophet in this manner. She and other western leaders have not
seen the magnitude of the insult every Muslim felt as a result
of the sense of racial superiority, which continues to govern
Western culture...

"We therefore believe that the Western leaders who focus on

MSI7696 SECURITY ERROR
controlling others' oil, manufacturing weapons, and kindling
wars do nothing more than make hollow statements to put fires
out here and there. But the flames of the fires will not
subside unless the policies of racial superiority are reformed
on sound moral bases, including respect for people's sentiments,
identities, cultures, and religions, and for their security and
peace."

--------------

"Motives Behind Hugh's Mission"

--------------

Charles Kamilah, an op-ed writer in government-owned Tishreen,
wrote (2/14): "Karen Hughes, the White House's public diplomacy
officer, will soon begin the second stage of her tour in the
Middle East in an attempt to wash off American sins and mistakes
and improve the image of the US policy....

"Hughes failed in the full sense of the word in the first stage
of her mission.... Washington does not need someone to improve
its image. What it needs is to change its political discourse
and stop being an unfair state.... Washington needs to adopt a
balanced policy, renounce war plans, and admit a crushing defeat
in an illegitimate war...."

--Seche