Syria/Italy, Solana's Visit, Syria/Egypt, Arab Summit,

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 000266 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: Syria/Italy, Solana's Visit, Syria/Egypt, Arab Summit, Palestinian Territories, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran (3/14) ¶1. Summary: Papers on Mar. 14 reported that President Asad received a telephone call on Mar. 13 from Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi. They discussed the visit of the European Union's High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana to Damascus and the recent conference held in Baghdad. They agreed to continue consultations between Syria and Italy. On Syrian-Egyptian relations, papers reported President Asad's message to President Mubarak conveyed by Vice President Shara on Mar. 13, regarding the situation in the region and coordination between the two countries prior to the forthcoming Arab Summit. In a statement to reporters following the meeting, Shara expressed great satisfaction with the outcome of the meeting, saying that Syria is doing its best to restore Arab solidarity because "the next stage is very dangerous and we should be ready to face challenges." Regarding reports on the possibility of modifying the 2002 Arab peace initiative, Mr. Shara said "the Arab initiative is all of one piece and can't be modified.... The demands for modifications come from the Israeli side because the Arab peace initiative is not admired by Israel, particularly on the issues of refugees and borders." Asked about the recent conference in Baghdad and whether it restored warmth to Syrian-US relations, the Vice President said that "warmth in relations needs a deep and long dialogue in a way that removes mutual suspicions." Answering a question on the possibility of a swap between Damascus and Washington on regional issues following the Baghdad Conference, Mr. Shara underlined that "Syria won't swap; dialogue is always give and take." Independent al-Watan featured an article published in the Guardian on March 13 by Syrian ??Ambassador to London Sami Khiyami, saying that US policies in Iraq are "fuelling the disintegration" of the country. Khiyami encouraged the US to foster, instead, a "climate of understanding" between Arab states and western countries. In his article, Khiyami accused the US of implementing a policy "to encourage sectarianism, ethnic divides, regional xenophobia, and the eventual Balkanization of the Middle East." He went on to say, however, that the one-day Baghdad conference "could be a prelude to more fruitful negotiations." "The US must help create a climate of understanding between the west and Arabs. "A stable, secular and prosperous Middle East is the best way to undermine terrorism," the Syrian ambassador wrote. Khiyami called on what he said were the "nations ruling the world" to be "wiser, fairer and more determined than in the past to find a solution both to the Iraqi conflict and the Arab-Israeli conflict." All papers featured a statement by Chairman of Hamas Politburo Khalid Mashaal, in a press conference held in Sana'a on Mar. 12, that the formation of the Palestinian national unity government will be announced this week, calling on the Arab and Islamic worlds to exert efforts to lift the siege on Palestinians. Mashaal hailed the Mecca Accord between Hamas and Fateh and held the Israeli government responsible for hindering the process of swapping the Israeli prisoner for Palestinian prisoners. End of summary. ¶2. Selected Headlines: "President Asad receives a telephone call from Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi on the visit of the EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, to Damascus and on the Baghdad Conference" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 3/14) "A message from President Asad to President Mubarak conveyed by VP Shara. Shara: Our working paper at the summit aims at reforming the Arab situation.... The Arab peace initiative is indivisible.... We reject politicization of the International Tribunal" (Government-owned Tishreen, 3/14) "Mashaal: The Mecca Accord has confused Israel. Israeli endeavors to provoke Europe" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 3/14) "Al-Maliki is in al-Anbar for the first time, supporting tribes and pledging to fight al-Qaeda" (Independent Al-Watan, 3/14) "Having no proof of arms smuggling through the Syrian-Lebanese border, Paris calls on Damascus to make use of the chance of dialogue with Europe" (Independent al-Watan, 3/14) "Iran is ready to offer guarantees if its file is withdrawn from the Security Council. The permanent UNSC member states propose a new draft resolution to tighten sanctions against Iran" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 3/14) ¶3. Editorial Block Quotes: -------------- "Deception Again" -------------- Omar Jaftali, an editorialist in government-owned Tishreen, wrote (3/14): "It is not the first time that Israel has claimed interest in peace in the form of ambiguous statements coupled with international suggestions, to absorb the anger of peoples of the region on terrorist Israeli practices and biased US policy towards Israeli aggression. "The most recent Israeli claim is that Tel Aviv is discussing with Washington the Arab peace initiative proposed in Beirut in 2002, saying that Israel believes that modification of this initiative will change the political atmosphere prior to the Riyadh summit. Such modification, according to Israeli FM Livni, means reversing the Arab peace initiative by giving precedence to normalization prior to making peace. This means placing the cart before the horse.... "Israel rejected the Arab peace initiative immediately upon its announcement. Later it rejected the Roadmap. It rejects any Palestinian right to sovereignty and does not respect international resolutions. Any Israeli talk about positive aspects in the Arab peace initiative is merely hidden deception to abort the best Arab proposal to serve peace and end tension in the region.... AL SecGen Amr Mousa said that the Arab peace initiative in unchangeable. It is supposed to be a unified Arab strategic position so as not to dissipate more Arab rights." -------------- "Prize of Courage" -------------- An unsigned editorial in government-owned Al-Thawra, said (3/14): "It is not enough that Israel rejects dialogue, but it also wants others not to embark on such dialogue. Israeli FM Livni objected to Solana's visit to Syria, considering it a prize that Syria gets without changing its policy.... "Actually, Syria did not change its policies, simply because it has been proven that those policies are correct and do not need any change. Others must make the demanded changes because they are wrong.... "It has become crystal clear that Syria couldn't be isolated. The reward which Syria has won is a recognition of its role, but it doesn't feel satisfied with that.... "Syria wants the return of the Golan Heights and an end to Israeli occupation of occupied Arab territories.... Syria is fully confident that the real rewards are coming...." -------------- "The Decisive Step" -------------- Ghazi al-Dada, a commentator in government-owned Tishreen, wrote (3/14): "If the Baghdad conference was a step in the right direction, the decisive step is the removal of the occupation through the withdrawal of all foreign forces on a specific timetable.... "As the conferees in Baghdad were discussing ways and possibilities for a solution, the answer came from President Bush in his announcement that 4,400 additional American troops will be sent to Iraq.... This shows entrenchment of the military option unaffected by any political choices.... "The United States is fueling the sectarian violence in Iraq because it wants to keep the justifications for its stay in Iraq until it accomplishes the mission of rearranging the country in a way that serves its own interests, which necessarily converge with Israel's interests...." Corbin