MEDIA REACTION: IRAQ, ISRAEL, AND FTA

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000345 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PPD, NEA/P, AND INR/R/MR LONDON FOR TSOU PARIS FOR ZEYA USCENTCOM FOR PLUSH FOREIGN PRESS CENTER FOR SILAS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPAO KMDR OIIP MU SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: IRAQ, ISRAEL, AND FTA -------------- U.S. Withdrawal from Iraq -------------- ¶1. Government-owned Arabic daily "Oman" published an editorial on March 3 under the title "What's Happening in Iraq?": "Military operations in Iraq have created a security vacuum and contributed to the escalation of sectarian conflicts that have not existed for hundreds of years. Iraqi society has always been united among its various sects and minorities. Scheduling a timeframe for American and British withdrawal is vital and important, because announcing it will give Iraqis a positive outlook. The withdrawal will boost Iraqis' national morale and lead to the end of conflicts between armed groups and the military...Iraqis can dialogue with each other." -------------- Sharon's Successor -------------- ¶2. "Oman" published an editorial on March 4, entitled "The Consequences of Olmert's Policies": "Olmert is trying to implement Sharon's practice of killing more Palestinians around election time...this was the element that carried Sharon to the premiership and attracted the Israeli right wing's support...the result will be a deteriorating situation in the Palestinian territories, and more bloodshed." -------------- Free Trade Negotiations -------------- ¶3. "Oman" also carried an editorial on March 6, entitled "FTA with the U.S.": "FTA negotiations between the Sultanate and the U.S. were among the fastest and the most positive ever concluded. This was not only because of strong relations between the American and the Omani people, but also because negotiations benefit both countries' present and future interests...the Sultanate is taking stock of its national interests and its desire for economic development, and therefore is seeking to enhance its commercial relations with friendly nations." -------------- GCC Foreign Ministers' Meeting -------------- ¶4. Privately owned Arabic daily "al-Watan" published an editorial on March 3, entitled "Regional Security is Necessary for Development": The GCC's primary goal is to achieve prosperity and stability in the region, using all forms of cooperation. To reach this goal, GCC meetings continue to be held to discuss and interpret the directives of the GCC leaders. The final statement of the 98th meeting of GCC Foreign Ministers stressed the importance of enhancing regional and international efforts to fight terrorism...and called for the establishment of a center to combat international terrorism...the meeting also praised efforts to achieve stability in Iraq through a national unity government. In addition, the final statement in the meeting called on both Israel and the Palestinians to commit to signed treaties and the Road Map, and avoid collective punishment. The Council pledged humanitarian support for the Palestinian people, and rejected efforts to starve them." BALTIMORE