Syria/Kuwait, Syria/Pakistan, Syria/Turkey, Lebanon, Iraq,

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 000292 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/Kuwait, Syria/Pakistan, Syria/Turkey, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestinian Territories, Iran (3/23-25) ¶1. Summary: Syrian papers on Mar. 25 reported VP Shara's visit to Kuwait on Mar. 24 to convey a message from President Asad to the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, on bilateral coordination prior to the upcoming Arab summit in Riyadh. During the meeting Shara reviewed the latest regional developments, stressing the necessity of bilateral coordination to consolidate joint Arab action. Sheikh al-Sabah reiterated the importance of combining Arab efforts in the face of challenges to which the Arab nation is exposed. Shara conveyed similar messages from President Asad to the leaders of Algeria, Libya, Sudan, Yemen, and Bahrain last week. The Kuwaiti Ambassador to Syria, Fahad Awadi, welcomed the visit, telling the Kuwaiti News Agency, Kuna, on Mar. 24 that Shara's visit also comes within the framework of bilateral consultation between the leaderships of both countries with regard to issues of mutual concern, in line with the distinguished relations between Syria and Kuwait. On Syrian/Pakistani relations, papers reported that the Pakistani Ambassador to Syria, Munzer Shafik, has stressed his country's support for the restoration of the occupied Syrian Golan and usurped Arab rights. In a statement to reporters on Mar. 23 on the occasion of Pakistan National Day, the Pakistani ambassador described bilateral relations as distinguished in the political sphere and stressed his country's interest in developing relations in various economic spheres as well. He indicated that the exchange of visits by businessmen allows the two countries to explore investment spheres and to become acquainted with each other's products, with the aim of boosting the volume of bilateral trade. Papers also reported that an international conference on water started on Mar. 22 in the Turkish city Antalya. Syria took part in the conference through a delegation headed by Minister of Irrigation Nader al-Buni. The conference, organized by the Turkish Water Directory in cooperation with the World Commission on Water, discussed means of protecting water and dealing with river floods. Representatives from 65 countries and 800 experts in water participated in the conference, which was inaugurated by Turkish Premier Receb Tayyeb Erdogan, as part of the celebration of World Water Day. End of summary. ¶2. Selected Headlines: "President Asad sends a message to Emir of Kuwait, Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, conveyed by VP Shara, on coordination between the two brotherly countries at the forthcoming Arab summit. Kuwait satisfied with development of relations with Syria. Emphasis on Arab coordination on the eve the forthcoming Arab summit" (Government-owned Tishreen, 3/25) "Arab Foreign Ministers finalize the final agenda of the Arab summit. Al-Riyadh finalizes preparations to host the summit" (Government-owned Tishreen, 3/25) "Arab League SecGen Amr Mousa: The Arab countries are convinced that Israel is not ready for peace" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 3/25) "The Forthcoming Arab Summit will reject sanctions on Syria" (Government-owned Tishreen, 3/25) "President Lahoud is to attend the Arab summit and will speak in the name of all Lebanese" (Government-owned Tishreen, 3/25) "Bolton: The US administration is proud that it rejected a ceasefire during the war on Lebanon" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 3/23) "US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice speaks of launching the Arab peace initiative and does not rule out US solutions" (Government-owned Tishreen, 3/25) "Minister of Irrigation Nader al-Buni: Water is a bridge for cooperation among Syria, Iraq and Turkey" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 3/25) "Leader of the Iraqi Muslims Scholars Sheikh Hareth al-Dari: We highly appreciate Syria's pan-Arab positions regarding the Iraqi people" (Government-owned Tishreen, 3/25) "Two US soldiers and scores of Iraqis killed in Baghdad and al-Anbar. Democrats to Bush: Stop wars of arrogance" (Government-owned Tishreen, 3/25) "The UN Security Council imposes new sanctions on Iran. Iranian Foreign Minister Mottaki: UN Security Council Resolution No. 1747 undermines credibility of the UNSC" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 3/25) "Iraqi Premier is injured in an assassination attempt in the Green Zone; three US soldiers killed. Bush will veto any resolution of the US House of Representatives that links financing of war on Iraq with scheduling troop withdrawal from Iraq" (Government-owned Tishreen, 3/24) "Germany and Belgium normalize relations with the Palestinian government in anticipation of its practical role. The Palestinian government expresses hope for continuing Arab support" (Government-owned Tishreen, 3/24) "The UN Human Rights Envoy: Israel is racist and its policy is colonial" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 3/23) "The Lebanese opposition is committed to sit-ins and dialogue" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 3/23) "Lavrov: The US Anti-Missile Shield poses a threat to Russia's security" (Government-owned Tishreen, 3/24) ¶3. Editorial Block Quotes: -------------- "What Is Left in Bush's Sack?" -------------- Isam Dari, Chief Editor of government-owned Tishrin, wrote (3/24): "The US House of Representatives' legislation on Iraq is a new slap to President Bush's administration.... Although the bill is not binding, it shows the weak performance of this administration at home and abroad and the extent of the American official and popular rejection of the mad and reckless policies that neoconservatives draw up.... "These policies bring Americans nothing but shame, disgrace, and hatred of the peoples of the world, and bring the peoples of the world nothing but death, destruction, and ethnic and sectarian civil wars.... "The US defense secretary stated that his country is able to wage a new war.... Robert Gates deserves the Nobel Prize for insolence and disdain for the will of nations, especially the will of the American people.... "While the American people are demanding withdrawal from the Iraqi quagmire, the Bush administration is talking about a new quagmire and a new war, as if it lives in another age and another world.... "The Bush administration has not learned from the lessons of Iraq or from its failure in Lebanon...." -------------- "Those Who Are Harmed by a Solution" -------------- Muhammad Ali Buzah, a commentator in government-owned Al-Thawrah, wrote (3/23): "Pro-government leaders in Lebanon are rejecting every solution to the existing crisis and pursuing a policy of maneuvers and foot-dragging pending better circumstances and regional and international developments that allow them to continue the obstruction, cancellation, confiscation, unilateralism, and the drowning of Lebanon in the whirlpool of chaos and denominational division.... "The organized hysterical escalation by the government team is pushing Lebanon toward further tension, complication, and explosion under management and operational orders from Washington and Paris.... "This team must not be allowed to go too far in the plan of destruction, internationalization, Judaization, and sedition.... It must be exposed, renounced, and indeed called to account for what it committed against Lebanon and its people and national resistance. "This is the responsibility of the Lebanese people with all their groups and sincere and honorable nationalist forces...." -------------- -------------- "Will the Governing Team Respond to Berri's Call?" -------------- -------------- Izz-al-Din al-Darwish, an editorialist in government-owned Tishreen, wrote (3/23): "The statement by Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament Nabih Berri, in which he confirmed the unconstitutional, subversive, and obstructive practices of Fu'ad Al-Saniora's government, shows that this government is leading Lebanon to the abyss.... "Leaders of the March 14 forces are mortgaging Lebanon's sovereignty to foreigners.... Some of these leaders were inflated by the West, so much so that they talk and act as if they represent all the Lebanese, although their past and present prove that they do not represent even the groups to which they are affiliated.... "We wonder if these leaders will respond to Berri's call for dialogue to bring Lebanon out of its crisis or will continue to work for domestic strife and receive orders from Paris and Washington, and consequently Tel Aviv..." Corbin