The Arab Summit, Syria/US, Syria/Israel Syria/Cuba,

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 000325 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: The Arab Summit, Syria/US, Syria/Israel Syria/Cuba, Palestinian Territories, Iraq (3/30 - 4/1) ¶1. Summary: Syrian papers on Mar. 30 featured the final communique and decisions issued by the Arab summit held in Riyadh on Mar. 28-29. Papers also featured two other statements, one issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry on Mar. 31 praising the results of the Arab Summit, and another by EU Foreign Ministers during their talks in Bremen City, northwestern Germany, reiterating the importance of boosting prospects for peace in the Middle East, and expressing hope that the Riyadh Arab Summit would be a new chance for achieving peace in the Middle East. On the visit to Damascus by Rep. Frank Wolf of Virginia, Rep. Joseph Pitts of Pennsylvania and Rep. Robert Aderholt of Alabama, papers reported that the US Codel met on Mar. 31 with Syrian Grand Mufti Ahmad Badr Eddin Hassoun, who reiterated the importance of coordinating efforts by the honest men of the world to realize a just and comprehensive peace in the region and to restore usurped Arab rights. The Mufti stressed the need to spread the culture of dialogue, communication and cooperation among peoples instead of the struggle among civilizations. The US representatives stressed their desire to work in favor of establishing peace in the region and the world as a whole. Independent Al-Watan on Mar. 30 cited BBC reports that US House of Representative Speaker Nancy Pelosi, heading a delegation of Congressmen, will arrive in Damascus on 3 April for talks with President Asad and other Syrian officials. The paper said the Syrian Information Minister Bilal welcomed Pelosi's visit and praised her rejection of the war in Iraq. It also reported that the director of the Orient Center for Studies, based in Damascus, told the paper that Pelosi's visit reflects the importance that a large sector of the Americans attach to finding compromise solutions to the problems of the region. Independent al-Watan on Apr. 1 featured an AFP statement quoting Israeli PM Olmert's comments in an interview with TIME magazine published on Mar. 31 saying that he is open to peace talks with neighboring Syria after "low-level contacts" between the two countries. "I don't rule out negotiations with Syria. It just needs to be done in a manner that will guarantee that we can move forward rather than get stuck almost in the beginning.... We (must) be certain that when we talk about negotiations for peace with Syria that what we have in mind and what they have in mind is broadly the same." Olmert said he did not take part in what he described as "low-level contacts" between the countries. "They weren't serious, and weren't considered so by the Syrians," he said. On Syrian-Cuban relations, papers on Apr. 1 reported that Deputy FM Faisal al-Miqdad on Mar. 31 reviewed bilateral relations with First Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Cuba, Bruno Rodriguez. Talks also dealt with the situation in the Middle East and developments in Iraq, Lebanon and the Palestinian arena. They also discussed he positive outcome of the late Arab summit held in Riyadh that supports Arab solidarity in facing the challenges facing the Arab region, in addition to the latest developments in Latin America and Caribbean region. Rodriguez expressed his country's support of Syria's efforts to regain the occupied Golan and praised the distinguished role played by President Asad in making the Arab summit in Riyadh a success. End of summary. ¶2. Selected Headlines: "The Riyadh Summit concludes its deliberations. Damascus is to host the next Arab summit. President Asad: Our nation is restoring hope and sends a strong message: Determination to enhance Arab security and defend pan-Arab interests. The summit reiterates full solidarity with Syria, calls for a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Golan, rejects US sanctions against Syria" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 3/30) "After US and Israeli rejection, the EU welcomes the Arab peace initiative, considering it a new chance that must be exploited" (Government-owned Tishreen, 3/31) "President Asad reviews bilateral relations and topics on the agenda of the summit with Mubarak, Abbas and Hanieh" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 3/30) "The White House criticizes Pelosi's upcoming visit to Damascus. Mustafa, Syrian Ambassador to the US: It is a chance to talk frankly with the US Congressional majority" (Independent al-Watan, 4/1) "Syria's Grand Mufti Ahmad Badr Eddin Hassoun meets a Russian and a US delegation: Dialogue and cooperation must replace conflict among civilizations" (Government-owned Tishreen, 4/1) "Olmert does not object to talks with Syria" (Independent al-Watan, 4/1) "French Ambassador in Damascus: Syria is a model for coexistence" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 4/1) "Palestinians celebrate Earth Day. Hanieh calls for lifting siege on Palestinians. Olmerts talks about reaching peace within five years" (Government-owned Tishreen, 3/31) "Turkey abolishes military contracts with Israel" (Government-owned Tishreen, 4/1) "Al-Sadr calls for withdrawal of foreign troops. Killing of a US soldier raises the death toll among US soldiers to 3243" (Government-owned Tishreen, 3/31) "The US Congress defies Bush and approves a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 3/30) ¶3. Editorial Block Quotes: -------------- "The Arab Veto Summit" -------------- Isam Dari, Chief Editor of government-owned Tishrin, wrote (3/31): "The Arab summit in Riyadh achieved more than what was expected and largely revived Arab solidarity.... "It is true that the summit was not up to the ambitions of the Arab peoples, but it came closer to them, for the first time in years.... "It is the summit of restored hope, as President Asad said, and as many observers and analysts, and even Arab and non-Arab politicians, described it.... "The Arab leaders foiled major efforts made before the summit to make the outcome serve American and Zionist plans.... "Saudi King Abdullah described the American presence in Iraq as illegal.... The US master was shocked when he heard that.... "For the first time Arabs agreed that what is happening in Iraq is occupation, not an American effort to save Iraq and support Iraqis.... "The Arabs also agreed to reject bargaining over rights, confirming that they are alive and that they have their weight, power, and word and that they are able to defend themselves, their existence, and the future of coming generations competently. "In their summit, Arabs raised their veto in the face of Zionist American decisions, diktats, and policies, or, in more precise words, the Zionist policies that are made in White House factories.... "But Arabs did not declare war on anyone.... They announced that they are for a just and comprehensive peace based on the first Arab initiative in the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict.... "However, Israel rejected the Arab initiative while the United States wanted to amend it and turn it into an Arab initiative for surrender.... "We hope that the resolutions of the Arab summit will be translated into action...." -------------- "On the Right Track" -------------- Ahmad Hamadah, a commentator in government-owned Al-Thawra, commented (3/30): "The Riyadh summit succeeded, and provided all elements of Arab unity and accord. It resulted in unanimous Arab adherence to the Arab peace plan without any modifications, as the Israelis and the Americans tried to promote, especially with regard to the abolishment of the right of return and the settlement of Palestinian refugees in the host countries. "Arab countries must make the most of this success so that the resolutions can be effective, influential, and on the right track. "Analyses of previous Arab summits often indicated that their results were not up to their ambitions. But the Riyadh summit was special, both in terms of the existing threats to the Arab nation, from Sudan to Iraq to Palestine to Lebanon to Somalia, and the tepidness in Arab-Arab relations in the stage that followed the American invasion of Iraq, tepidness that many Western capitals, in turn, worked to consolidate into a fixed Arab situation. "That special nature of the Riyadh summit, accompanied by an Arab will to overcome differences and assert solidarity, cooperation, coordination, and consultation, rendered the summit successful and a major step toward closing gaps of division and fragmentation in order to protect the Arab future. The hope is that what was agreed upon will be implemented with strong determination." Corbin