MEDIA REACTION: THE QUARTET AND THE UN, IRANIAN NUCLEAR

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000611 SIPDIS 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: THE QUARTET AND THE UN, IRANIAN NUCLEAR PROGRAM, ISRAEL AND NUCLEAR WEAPONS -------------- --- Questioning Quartet Effectiveness, UN Legitimacy -------------- --- The privately owned Arabic daily "Al-Watan" (circulation 42,000) published an editorial on April 12 under the headline "The United Nations and Commitments to Legitimacy": "Since the Quartet Committee's establishment, no progress has been made toward resolving the Palestinian dilemma; all moves taken by Israel have been negative, aimed only at destruction, killing, and the building of the wall, all unfortunately with international support. Therefore, when the UN calls for a discussion, it should be based on the internationally established legitimacy of Palestinian concerns and should focus on implementing all Security Council resolutions... To emerge from its moral crisis, the UN should move to maintain legitimate rights and promote justice." -------------- Iran, the U.S., and the Nuclear Dilemma -------------- ¶2. The government-owned daily "Oman" (circulation 38,000) published an editorial on April 12 entitled "Whither the Iranian- Western Crisis?" "America seems to be the cause of escalating tension between Iran and the West. Whenever positive initiatives for a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue seem ready to surface, the U.S. starts issuing hot-headed statements and threats through the media. Perhaps the most recent of these is the "New Yorker" report about the American intention to attack Iran's nuclear infrastructure with weapons of mass destruction... The crisis between Iran and the West should be contained and solved diplomatically, on a wise and logical basis that allows the peaceful use of nuclear energy according to established rules and conditions." -------------- -------------- Decrying Israel and "the Language of Power and Threats" -------------- -------------- ¶3. "Oman" followed up with an editorial on April 14 asking "What Follows the Iranian Announcement?": "After the Iranian president announced that his country has joined the superpower countries possessing nuclear energy, the reaction from the U.S. and Russia was obvious. If the international community wants to discuss the nuclear issue, Israel should be first on the list, since it represents the main threat in the region by possessing scores of these weapons. There should be a comprehensive dialogue to prevent war and conflict in the region... Dialogue is vital, not the language of power and threats. The latter's use in Iraq engulfed that country in endless destruction and bloodshed, and this should not be repeated." GRAPPO