SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: BLAIR VISIT TO THE UAE

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 001250 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP; NEA/PPD; NEA/RA; INR/R/MR; PA; INR/NESA; INR/B; RRU-NEA IIP/G/NEA-SA WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE; NSC SECDEF FOR OASD/PA USCINCCENT FOR POLAD LONDON FOR MOC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR TC SUBJECT: SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: BLAIR VISIT TO THE UAE ¶1. SUMMARY: Blair's visit to the UAE receives front page coverage in "Al-Bayan" and "Al-Ittihad," as well as inside coverage in "Al Khaleej". All articles focus on the official news agency(WAM)'s statement that "It is high time to find a working mechanism to achieve peace." An editorial on Blair's overall visit to the region appears in "Al-Khaleej". The writer describes the visit as "serving the Zionist entity and the American administration." The writer views Blair as a tool to deepen the internal conflict between Hamas and Fatah. END SUMMARY. ¶2. "Al-Bayan" (circulation 85,000) and "Al-Ittihad" (circulation 65,000) re-ran the story from the official WAM news agency under the headline "Abdullah bin Zayed receives Blair." "It is high time to find a real mechanism to achieve peace . . . all efforts should be exerted towards a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East so that the Palestinian people achieve their legitimate rights." ¶3. The Sharjah-based Arabic daily "Al-Khaleej" (circulation 90,000) re-ran the story from the official news agency as an inside headline: "High time to find a real mechanism to achieve peace in the Middle East; [Minister of Foreign Affairs] Abdullah reviewed recent developments and the Quartet's efforts with Blair." "He welcomed Blair's appointment as an envoy to the Quartet, wishing him every success in his mission of activating the peace process. He said he has the needed capabilities for this mission." ¶4. Under the headline "What could he possibly accomplish?" a 07/26 editorial in "Al-Khaleej" reads: "He can do a lot for the Zionist entity that considers him a true friend and he can serve the American administration, whom he owes due to the fact that they facilitate his stay in the international limelight. He will not determine what he will do for Israel since Israel will be the decision-maker and it has publicly declared that Blair's mission should be limited to establishing institutions for the Palestinian Authority . . . .." "The Zionist entity wants to make Blair a tool to deepen the conflict among the Palestinians through empowering some of them, instilling a sense of distrust and distancing them." "The American Zionist plan is to weaken them (the Palestinians) internally so that their only exit will be through external support, allowing Israel to dictate agreements that meet their devilish goals through American support and Blair's mediation." SISON