Amr Mousa, Syria/Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestinian

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 000717 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: Amr Mousa, Syria/Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestinian Territories (9/10) ¶1. Summary: Syrian papers on July 10 reported the visit to Damascus by Secretary General Amr Mousa and his meeting with President Asad on July 9 focusing on regional Arab developments. President Asad expressed support to the Arab League Secretary General mission in Lebanon aiming at achieving accordance among Lebanese parties in order to form a national unity government there. Mousa briefed President Asad on the outcome of his visit to Beirut and means to resume mediation efforts to find an accord formula to the solution among Lebanese sides. Talks also dealt with the situation on the Palestinian arena and the latest developments regarding the Palestinian issue and the dangerous challenges to which it is exposed. Viewpoints were identical on the necessity of reviving the inter-Palestinian dialogue and realizing the Palestinian national reconciliation, and the importance of protecting the Arab solidarity in light of circumstances the Arab nation is facing. In a press conference following his talks, SecGen Mousa described his talks with President Asad, Vice President al-Shara and Foreign Minister Mouallem as "very important." He expressed satisfaction with the outcome of discussions describing the current regional situation as "dangerous". On the Palestinian developments, Arab League Chief underlined the importance of national dialogue and the Palestinian national unity, expressing belief "the Arab countries won't take any step that could support a side at the expense of the other side, away of Palestinian principles and the Palestinian people's rights." As for Iraq, Mr. Mousa said "the Arab League seeks to realize reconciliation among the Iraqi people on clear bases and according to Arab League decisions regarding the Iraqi situation." All papers reported a statement to Radio London on July 9 by Hisham Yousef, Office Director of Arab League Secretary General Amr Mousa, saying that the Arab Peace Initiative is well-known and internationally supported and that it was enlisted in several international resolutions and thus there is no need to inform Israel of it. Yousef said that "Israel must respond to the Arab Initiative if it really has the desire to revive the peace process, which is suspended because of Israel's stubbornness." End of summary. ¶2. Selected Headlines: "President Asad discusses the importance of supporting a national unity government of in Lebanon and achieving Palestinian reconciliation with Arab League Secretary General Amr Mousa. Mousa: Talks are very important" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 7/10) "Syria supports the Arab League mission to form a national unity government on the basis of Lebanese reconciliation. SecGen Mousa: Talks are extremely important... We are satisfied with the results... The situation is dangerous" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 7/10) "The Arab League: The Arab initiative is supported internationally and there is no need to inform Israel about it" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 7/10) "Syrian-Iranian parliamentary talks. Speaker of the People's Assembly al-Abrash: Syria and Iran are working to revive the Organization of Asian Parliaments" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 7/10) "With increasing pressure on the Congress and mounting Republican split, the Bush Administration discusses the possibility of a 'gradual withdrawal' from Iraq" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 7/10) "The Lebanese opposition threatens to make Lebanon a tomb for the US project. Berri: Testimonies by thousands of ambassadors will not give legitimacy to the governing team... Statements by French Ambassador to Lebanon Bernard Emie are contradictory with the French position. Former Minister Albert Mansur: An exposed and openly agent government for Washington" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 7/10) "L'Monde: Israel has blocked the Peace Process and is held responsible for Palestinian destruction" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 7/10) "The UNRWA warns against a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. Israel assassinates head of the Aqsa Brigades in Gaza" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 7/10) "AFP: America faces real challenges in the region" (Government-owned Tishreen, 7/10) ¶3. Editorial Block Quotes: -------------- --- "A Reminder to the Bush Administration's Bodies" -------------- --- Izz-al-Din al-Darwish, an editorialist in government-owned Tishreen, wrote (7/10): "The American voices in the region, especially in Lebanon, are mobilized these days and working with all their energy against Syria, sometimes by directing charges and at other times by distorting facts. "They direct charges first by suspicious voices and words. They then begin to fit the strings of the crime to these charges. Since they lack morals, taboos do not mean anything to them. They are not embarrassed by contradictions and facts on the ground refuting their statements. The main thing to them is to speak and unleash accusations as required by Washington.... "Judging from experience, this shouting against Syria is not a surprise to it or the people of the region. It indicates first and foremost that the American dilemma is deepening, not just in Iraq and Lebanon, but also in the entire region, and that this administration wants to cover its failures before the home front, which is fed up with the Bush-Cheney adventures and now demands its isolation and the restoration of some credibility to US foreign policy. "As for Syria, it considers the fabrications by these people as a certificate of good conduct for it before the Arab citizen because it does not want their praise in the first place or come anywhere near them. It is also not concerned with them in one way or another. "Even the American home front views these people with disdain and disapproves of their drift behind the Bush administration and its defense while the majority of the Americans want to isolate it and disown its wars, interferences, and seditions and tells everyone: This is the worst US Administration.... "It is essential to remind the Bush administration's bodies in the region that this administration is not satisfied with pressuring Israel so as not to resume the peace talks, but also pushes it to wage wars. This was what happened last July against Lebanon and what may happen in the future if the Bush administration continues with its stubbornness and recklessness...." -------------- "Peace Is Key to Stability" -------------- Ahmad Suwwan, a columnist in government-owned Tishreen, wrote (7/10): "A solution to the Middle East problem must begin with Israel's full withdrawal from all the occupied territories: The Golan, Sheba Farms, Kafr Shuba hills, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and Jerusalem.... "Israel, along with the United States and known Western forces, do not want a solution. Rather, they want domination, hegemony, and confiscation of the national, Arab, and regional decision in favor of their influence.... "When Syria reasserts that it is part of the solution, this means it wants everyone, especially the United States and the European countries, shoulder responsibility to achieve security, stability, and peace in the region. When it adds its effort to the efforts of all those who want to save the region from destruction, wars, and seditions, Syria proceeds from its determination to use all its resources, potentials, status, sound policy, and sincere method to make a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace in the region...." -------------- "Hot Summer... and Peace" -------------- Khurshid Dalli, an editorialist in independent al-Watan, wrote (7/10): "The conflicting Israeli statements regarding war and peace with Syria show that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert does not care about peace except to the extent it helps Israel impose a settlement by force on Arabs.... "The stalemate in the peace process in the Middle East pertains to the absence of a US role.... On the contrary, Washington is preventing Israel from holding negotiations with Syria because its chief concern is to force Damascus to change its skin.... "The absence of a strong leader in Israel and the absence of an American decision to achieve peace on the Syrian track open the door wide for the talk about a hot summer, especially if this helps Israel regain the prestige it lost in the July aggression against Lebanon last year.... "But Olmert's problem is that he knows well that the situation in the region has changed after Israel's failure in the July aggression and that there is no longer war with guaranteed results, especially amid reports that Syria has a highly powerful missile capability for both deterrence and assault. This drives Israel to think again of an option other than war, which is peace, especially since the war option might cost Israel more than the price of peace with Syria, which is withdrawal from the occupied Syrian Golan in return for a comprehensive peace bringing stability and security to the region...." Corbin