MEDIA REACTION: GCC AND IRAN, DARFUR, ARAB REFORM, AND

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000739

SIPDIS

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: OIIP KPAO KMDR MU
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: GCC AND IRAN, DARFUR, ARAB REFORM, AND
"STARVING" THE PALESTINIANS

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GCC and Iran
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1. The privately owned Arabic daily "al-Watan" (circulation
42,000) published an editorial on May 8 on "The GCC Countries and
the Dangers of Nuclear Weapons":

"During the GCC summit in Bahrain, the leaders demanded that Iran
act responsibly towards its Gulf and Arab neighbors, as well as
the international community...the Iranian and Israeli nuclear
dossier provokes GCC worries of more regional problems."

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Darfur Agreement an Important Step
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2. The government-owned Arabic daily "Oman" (circulation 38,000)
published an editorial on May 8 entitled "Darfur Agreement, an
Important Step":

"[The most recent Darfur agreement] gives the Sudanese the
opportunity to work toward the advancement and prosperity of
their country... However, there must be increased efforts on the
political front to convince other groups that are still at odds
to join the Darfur peace process for the best interests of
Sudan's people and its national development."

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The Necessity of Reform
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3. "Oman" also carried an editorial by Abdullah al-Uliyan on the
same date, entitled "Reform and Democratic Transformation":

"Reform, democracy, and political and media transparency have
become the most crucial issues in the Arab world... America's
post-9/11 MEPI project prompted Arab countries to start
discussing reform, but in reality there was no substantive
change...yet reform remains a pressing issue...it will lead to
intellectual prosperity, and eliminate many of the crises that
exist in [Arab] societies."

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Online: U.S. "Starving" Palestinians
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4. Oman's highest-profile Internet forum, "al-Sablah", this week
carried a thread, beginning May 7, that discussed an article
(from the May 3 edition of the UAE-published "Gulf News"),
carried sardonic "congratulations" from the General Commander of
Dubai's police force to President George Bush for "starving"
Palestinians and his "ability to follow the policy of 'long live
Israel and death to the Arabs.'" The topic generated 1,921 hits,
with 19 responses, all in support of Khalfan's statements.

GRAPPO