Shara's "Le Monde" Interview, Mouallem's Cairo Visit,

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 000208 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR PA, NEA/ARN, INR/IC/CD, INR/R/MR:STHIBEAULT AND JMCCARTER, VOA NEWS CA, NEA/PPD:CBOURGEOIS, AZAIBACK, AND AFERNANDEZ, IIP/G/NEA-SA MDAVIDSON WHITE HOUSE FOR NSC CENTCOM FOR CCPA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY SUBJECT: Shara's "Le Monde" Interview, Mouallem's Cairo Visit, Bilal, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestinian Territories, Golan, Iran (3/2-4) ¶1. Summary: Syrian papers featured VP Shara's interview with French daily "Le Monde" published March 2 in which he expressed Syria's relative optimism on the success of an international meeting in Baghdad aimed at stabilizing Iraq, saying that "much depends on the attitude of the United States; I am optimistic, but in a measured fashion." He added that Syria, as a key player, is ready to do its best to find a solution to the current situation, as it is in Syria's interest to see a peaceful Iraq. He warned that the situation could get even worse. Shara called upon all parties to be prudent, for "the situation there is chaotic and is slipping out of control. One must be very prudent because important issues are at stake." On Syrian-French relations, the vice president expressed hope that the crisis between the two countries will end with the French presidential election, whoever wins, because there is no reason for the continuation of boycott between the two countries, and healthy normal relations must be restored in the service of the two countries' interests. Papers also reported FM Mouallem's arrival in Cairo to take part in the Arab League Council meeting on March 4 that will decide subjects for the agenda of the Arab summit in Riyadh on March 10. Mouallem met on March 3 with Amr Mousa, SecGen of the Arab League, focusing on the agenda, including rejection of US unilateral sanctions on Syria. The Mouallem-Mousa discussions also dealt with developments in the Palestinian territories, the Golan, Lebanon and Iraq. Mouallem also held talks with Antonio Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, on UN efforts to hold an international conference on means of extending aid to Iraqi refugees. Guterres expressed deep thanks to the Syrian leadership for efforts aimed to ease the suffering of the refugees. Papers also cited a statement by Minister of Information Dr. Mohsen Bilal to Iranian al-Aalam Satellite channel on March 3 confirming Syria's participation in the Arab Summit in Riyadh and saying that Syria's participation would be "active and influential." Bilal described Syrian-Saudi relations as "fraternal and friendly" since they are two sisterly Arab countries working in the same Islamic Arab arena for just Arab causes in Palestine, Lebanon and Iraq and for Islamic solidarity. Minister Bilal noted that Syria wants to deal with Lebanon as a "sovereign sisterly Arab country represented by a national government embodying the Lebanese people." Bilal noted that "[Israeli PM] Olmert might think of an adventure against Syria to save himself from the current impasse due to his defeat before the Lebanese resistance." "Syria has never trusted the Israeli government because it might begin an adventure at any moment, and we are taking this into consideration," the Information Minister said. End of summary. ¶2. Selected Headlines: "In an interview with French daily 'Le Monde', VP Shara expresses relative optimism over the Iraq conference" (Independent Al-Wattan, 3/4) "FM Mouallem discusses agenda of the forthcoming meeting of the Arab League Council and the Arab summit in Riaydh with League Secretary General Amr Mousa" (Government-owned Tishreen, 3/4) "Information Minister Dr. Mohsen Bilal: We strive for active, unified Arab solidarity and we support everything the Lebanese agree upon; Our relations with Saudi Arabia are fraternal" (Government-owned Tishreen, 3/4) "The EU discusses Israeli nuclear arms in Brussels tomorrow" (Government-owned Tisrheen, 3/4) "Growing condemnations of US policy and its Lebanese symbols. Lahoud: I will take a constitutional step to save Lebanon" (Government-owned Tishreen, 3/4) "The deteriorating situation of injured US soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan results in the firing of US Army Secretary Francis Harvey" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 3/4) "A mortar attack against a British base in Iraq. The security situation in Iraq continues to deteriorate. Bodies of 14 security officers found. 3164 US solders killed in Iraq" (Government-owned Tishreen, 3/3) "Challenges for the new security plan in Baghdad increase. Three US soldiers killed in various places in Iraq" (Government-owned Tishreen, 3/4) "Announcement of the Palestinian national unity government is postponed. Nablus is hit by a calamity and Bel'in defies the occupation" (Government-owned Tishreen, 3/3) "US officers in Iraq: We are facing a collapse in Iraq on the Vietnamese model" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 3/2) "A Conference is to be held in Cairo today to defend al-Aqsa Mosque" (Government-owned Tishreen, 3/4) "Israeli forces kidnap a Lebanese youth before the eyes of UNIFIL forces. Lebanese forces: The US project will not be passed in Lebanon. Former Lebanese Minister Wadee al-Khazen: The February 14 team works to stir up chaos" (Government-owned Tishreen, 3/3 "Lebanese opposition: Feltman has aborted a solution in Lebanon" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 3/2) "A US study: War against terrorism has spread horror" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 3/2) "US journalist Hersh: Israel's defeat in Lebanon has changed US strategy" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 3/2) "Ahmadinejad is to visit Saudi Arabia next week" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 3/2) ¶3. Editorial Block Quotes: -------------- "The Golan on the Road to Liberation" -------------- Midhat al-Salih, a commentator in independent Al-Wattan, wrote (3/2): "The victories of the Lebanese resistance against the Israeli enemy, especially the latest victory in July, constituted a new turning point in the region on the military and political levels.... "The July victory proved once again that the Arab resistance is able to stand fast and wage a confrontation. In fact, the victory of Hizbollah and all those who supported the resistance in Lebanon rekindled our hopes and made us think effectively of this sacred right [resistance] as the only option that Israel understands.... "Moreover, it became clear after the July victory, even to Arab moderates, that Israel will not allow any of the peace initiatives, talks, and efforts in the region, whether proposed by the peoples of the region or imported from abroad, to achieve peace unless this peace is based on the expansionist Zionist vision.... "Syria, which has never spared an effort to achieve a just and comprehensive peace that would bring back the Golan in full, never abandoned the resistance option, especially since it knew that Israel never wanted peace, and that it does not want peace today. Israel has always ignored peace calls and plans, regardless of their sources and forms. "We today call for adherence to the Syrians' sacred right to armed resistance for the liberation of the Golan, first because this is the duty of every Syrian and second because the administration of George Bush Junior and Israel, regardless of the government that rules it, do not appear ready, in the foreseeable future, to give up our Golan through negotiations and good relations, as some people think. Israel has never done that. It has always rudely and insolently rejected diplomatic means and international efforts that began after its occupation of the Golan and the other Arab territories in 1967...." -------------- -- "What Are Arabs Waiting for to Lift the Siege?" -------------- -- Ahmad Dawwa, an editorialist in government-owned Al-Thawra, wrote (3/2): "It is noted that the broad international welcome that the Mecca agreement received (only a few discordant voices rejected it) has not been translated into support for Palestinians and pressure on Israel, which is trying hard to move the Palestinians from one trench to another and prevent them from implementing what they agreed on. The pressure and the calls for respecting the agreements must be directed toward Israel, which has never respected any agreement, treaty, or international resolution.... "Arabs, who have collectively decided to break the siege and help Palestinians, must immediately and unhesitatingly break the siege, before all others, so as to serve as a bridge for the international community, which is waiting to see what the Arabs are going to do in this regard. "It would be sad and shameful for a non-Arab country to move toward breaking the siege on the Palestinian people while Arabs are still waiting and making calculations, and while Israel is engaging in incursions and demolitions and working day and night to kill the agreement on the formation of a Palestinian unity government before it sees the light of day...." -------------- "Epidemic of Terrorism" -------------- Isam Dari, Chief Editor of government-owned Tishrin, wrote (3/3): "The United States is spreading terrorism, death, and destruction in the four corners of the globe.... "Acts of terrorism and the number of terrorism victims have increased since Washington declared its war on terror.... Terrorism came to the Middle East with the arrival of the Jewish gangs in Palestine at the beginning of the 20th century.... Terrorism is still an official policy for Israeli governments.... "The plague of terrorism is sweeping the whole world at the hands of those who claim to be fighting terrorism and defending human rights. We de not think we need evidence to prove that terrorism is a Zionist industry par excellence, marketed by Americans par excellence. The nations of the world know this fact fully. "The US Administration must acknowledge shame and must stop making false claims. Then we will accept any false justifications for the destructive American wars. But we will certainly not accept the lie of fighting terrorism. This is a big joke, not believed even those who made it and who are trying to sell it to the world." -------------- "Participation for the Sake of the Nation" -------------- Samir al-Shibani, an editorialist in government-owned Tishreen, wrote (3/3): "The news of the conference that Iraq's neighboring countries will hold in Baghdad on Saturday is making the headlines of the international print and audio-visual media.... "Dialogue is a required and necessary -- indeed inevitable -- language among parties and forces trying to reach a reasonable formula serving as a common denominator and opening a genuine window of hope that the directly concerned people might be saved from their tragedy. This is all the more true when the talk is about the tragedy of the Iraqi people. Millions of Iraqis have been displaced. The best Iraqi scientists have been killed. The main wealth of Iraq has been looted and its heritage stolen. Iraq has been placed in an unusual prison whose brutality everyone has heard about through the infamous Abu Ghraib.... Out of its concern for Iraq -- land, unity, sovereignty, and dignity -- Syria announced that it will participate in the Baghdad conference on Saturday. It is participating in the conference not out of love for dialogue and meetings with the Americans and others only. This is a new step to be added to the record of Syria, which is open for talks with everyone without exception, but this will remain based on the national and pan-Arab principles that Syria has always championed. Iraq, like Palestine, is the door to every agreement, harmony, and understanding. We note here that Baghdad's upcoming meeting has great importance and that dialogue in general is not an end in and of itself but a means to reach a solution to all the problems of the region. Corbin