Syria/Azerbaijan, Ki-Moon, Peace Process, Lebanon, Iraq,

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 000354 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/Azerbaijan, Ki-Moon, Peace Process, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestinian Territories, Iran (4/12) ¶1. Summary: Papers on Apr. 12 reported FM Mouallem's meeting on Apr. 11 with Azerbaijani FM Elmar Mohammad Yarov, focused on bilateral relations. During the meeting, FM Mouallem reviewed the latest developments in the region, including the situations in Iraq and the occupied Palestinian territories. He referred to Syria's efforts to achieve security and stability in the region. FM Yarov hailed Syria's positions on Middle East issues, showing commitment to develop and deepen ties with Syria in all domain s. In a press statement following the meeting, Yarov described his talks with FM Mouallem as "excellent," and expressed his country's intention to open an embassy in Damascus this year after obtaining approval from Parliament. Papers also reported that UN SecGen Ban Ki-Moon is to pay an official visit to Syria on Apr. 24 to hold talks with President Asad. Syria's UN Ambassador Bashar al-Jaafari told al-Watan that the Arab peace initiative and the ME Peace Process will have priority on the agenda of Ki-Moon's visit. Jaafari said that talks will also touch upon UN-Syrian relations and the Palestinian issue. Papers also featured a meeting in Moscow on Apr. 11 between Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Saltanov and EU Troika representatives to discuss prospects for the resumption of the Palestinian-Israeli peace process in light of the formation of a Palestinian coalition government and revival of the Arab peace initiative. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the parties discussed developments in the Middle East in the context of the results of the Arab summit in Riyadh. Saltanov voiced Russia's positions on these issues, reiterating the importance of looking for political and diplomatic solutions for them. All parties confirmed the key role of the International Quartet for an Arab-Israeli settlement. In this connection, Russia suggested an urgent conference on the Middle East with wide international participation. End of summary. ¶2. Selected Headlines: "FM Mouallem discusses the latest developments in the region and prospects for bilateral relations with Azeri FM Elmar Mohammad Yarov" (Government-owned Tishreen, 4/12) "UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon is to visit Syria on April 24" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 4/12) "US Senator Hillary Clinton supports visit to Damascus of Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 4/12) "Democratic Congressmen discuss the possibility of visiting Iran. Iran stipulates releasing Iranian diplomats prior to the Sharm al-Sheikh conference" (Independent al-Watan, 4/12) "Russia reiterates calls for holding an international conference on the region" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 4/12) "Lebanese National opposition: The governing team is fighting desperately to ignite a civil war in Lebanon" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 4/12) "Lebanese circles condemn statements of leader of the Lebanese forces, Samir Geagea, against the resistance. Former Minister Weam Wahab accuses Junblatt of criminal operations" (Government-owned Tishreen, 4/12) "Al-Sadr movement threatens to withdraw from the Iraqi cabinet. The Baghdad security plan witnesses fiercest clashes" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 4/12) "During his meeting with EU Commissioner in Brussels, Palestinian Finance Minister Fayyad: The Palestinian Authority needs $1 billion(US) for reconstruction. Ten thousand Palestinian prisoners announce hunger strike" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 4/12) ¶3. Editorial Block Quotes: -------------- "Four Years of US Occupation" -------------- Isam Dari, Chief Editor of government-owned Tishrin, wrote (4/12): "US occupiers, despite their tremendous power and destructive weapons, failed to break the will of the Iraqi people, who swore to engage in resistance and confrontation until the occupation has been defeated and the flag of freedom has returned to fly over all of Iraq.... "Iraqis and Americans are paying a heavy price for the war in Iraq.... Though Americans are paying a dear price, US merchants of US and colonialist schemes are threatening Iran.... "The war decision is easy to make, but the decision to stop the war or to prevail in it is extremely difficult, if not impossible.... "It is strange that decision-makers in the White House do not learn from the experiences of the past. What is even more surprising is that they do not listen to advice from sensible Americans. The only language they master is the language of steel and fire, even if the fire burns the American people themselves.... "The past four years have not only been years of fire, blood, and destruction, but also years when masks fell and lies were exposed, with the Bush administration appearing exactly as naked as it is. "We do not think the ideology of neoconservatives will let them admit their mistakes and sins. We do not think they will change their Hitlerian policy. But we believe they have failed, and will fail in the future. They took their first, and last, chance. It is now up to the American people to decide, and we leave accountability to history." -------------- "First Step" -------------- Khalid al-Ashhab, a commentator in government-owned Al-Thawra, said (4/12): "The initial results of the new US strategy in Iraq show nothing other than a new and additional expansion of the quagmire in which the American occupation is sinking.... "Visits by US Congressional delegations are another face of US policy that must be put on the right path.... "The American dialogue with Iraq's neighbors, particularly Syria, is only the first step on a road that the Bush administration has made long, a first step in the cleaning of a picture that has showed the American face as ugly - indeed, extremely ugly." -------------- "Justifying Sanctions" -------------- Mihriz al-Ali, a commentator in government-owned Al-Thawrah, wrote (4/12): "The United States, which in the biggest act of deception against American and world public opinion, invaded Iraq under the pretext of its possession of weapons of mass destruction, is now repeating the same tactics, deluding the world into thinking that the Iranian nuclear program is a threat and increasing international pressure on Iran in order to justify its strategy toward Tehran.... "Washington keeps silent on Israel's nuclear arsenal.... If the United States is really interested in world peace and security, it must call for a nuclear free Middle East...." Corbin