Syria/Iran, Syria/Iraq, Lebanon, Palestinian Territories,

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 000746 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/Iran, Syria/Iraq, Lebanon, Palestinian Territories, Peace Process (7/23) ¶1. Summary: Syrian papers on July 23 featured a statement by Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Mohammad Ali Husseini on July 22 reiterating the importance of the recent talks between President Asad and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad which aimed to improve the strong relations between the two countries and unite views regarding regional and international issues. During a press conference, Husseini stated that talks during the visit stressed the necessity of consultation and exchange of opinions regarding regional issues and finding solutions to them through cooperation of the region's countries without foreign interference. Husseini also stressed the importance of dialogue about Iran's peaceful nuclear program, saying that talks between Iran, the International Atomic Energy Agency and the European Union are currently underway, and that these talks are constructive and are making progress. Independent al-Watan reported a release issued by the Iraqi Foreign Ministry that states that Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari discussed, in a phone call with FM Mouallem on July 22, the upcoming meeting of the security committee on Iraq and preparations for the meeting of the committee formed at the conference of Iraq's neighboring countries held in Sharm Al-Sheikh. The upcoming meeting is set to take place in Damascus in August. Meanwhile, FM Mouallem said Syria will participate in a meeting about Iraqis living in neighboring countries to be held in Amman on July 26. Independent al-Watan reported that Iran denied any pact to sell Russian weapons to Syria if Damascus does not initiate peace talks with Israel. During a press conference on July 22, Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini rejected the claim against Tehran, terming it "a media game and propaganda." "The claim targeted the good ties between Iran and Syria that agree on many critical issues, such as Iraq, Palestine and Lebanon," he added. Independent al-Watan reported an interview with Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah that will be aired by Al-Jazeera TV. Nasrallah is reported to have said that his party "has the military capability to strike any area of Israel, whether within Tel Aviv or outside it. Every corner and every spot in occupied Palestine was certainly within the reach of Hizbullah rockets during last summer's 34-day war with Israel," he said. "And even now, it can certainly be reached," he added, in a short excerpt of the interview to be broadcast in its entirety on July 23. End of summary. ¶2. Selected Headlines: "The Iranian Foreign Ministry reiterates the importance of Asad/Ahmadinejad talks" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 7/23) "Iran denies Saudi news on an arms deal with Syria" (Independent al-Watan, 7/23) "The most recent US accusation: Chinese missiles to Iraq through Iran. The US-Iranian meeting on Iraq security will be held tomorrow" (Independent al-Watan, 7/23) "FM Mouallem discusses the security situation in Iraq with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari" (Independent a-Watan, 7/23) "In an interview with al-Jezeera TV, Hizbollah SecGen Hassan Nasrallah: We have the military capability to strike any area of Israel" (Independent al-Watan, 7/23) "As clashes in Nahr al-Bared enter their third month, Kousheran arrives in Beirut today to finalize discussion on the political crisis in Lebanon" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 7/23) "Abbas confers with Chairwoman of the Israeli Knesset. Blair heads to the region today. Four Palestinians martyred in Gaza. The resistance shells Sedrout with missiles" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 7/23) "British circles: Blair markets the US vision and his mission is doomed to failure" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 7/23) ¶3. Editorial Block Quotes: -------------- "Bush and Olmert Seek an Exit" -------------- Ahmad Dawwa, an editorialist in government-owned Al-Thawra, wrote (7/23): "President Bush proposed an international peace conference on the Middle East to divert the attention of the American and world communities from what is happening in Iraq and Afghanistan.... "As for the Israeli objective, Israel at this stage seeks to hinder any Israeli-Palestinian negotiations leading to a discussion of the key and basic issues and also to push the Palestinians toward further domestic division and split as a prelude to civil war, which would enable Israel to change the rules of the game and portray the Palestinian people to the world as a people not deserving the state it hopes to build.... "The US Administration and the Israeli government are both in the position of the defeated. The former moves from one failure to another in Iraq, and the latter is haunted by the repercussions of the July war. The two have a common goal: finding a way out, to save themselves at the expense of the region's security and stability and Arab rights.... "No one will believe that Bush proposed the international conference without consulting with Israel. And no one will believe that Israel and the United States are not in agreement on the objectives, results, and ways out. But the question is: Are Arabs aware of the real situation, or are they, like always, moving from one trap to another to waste time?" -------------- "An Honorary Appointment" -------------- Maha Sultan, a commentator in government-owned Tishreen, wrote (7/23): "Tony Blair has not yet shown that he is annoyed with the US Administration's announcement that he is an envoy to the region under an American ceiling and that he is working within the framework of a specific mission, namely, supporting one Palestinian team against another. Nor did he react to the announcement that he will be working under American-Israeli supervision, not the supervision of the Quartet.... "It is not known if Blair listened to 'The Financial Times' advice on the need for him to learn the lesson of the failure of the mission of his predecessor, James Wolfensohn, or if he listened to the advice but ignored it because he already knows the situation.... "Palestinians and Arabs in general cannot express much optimism about Blair's mission despite his neutral statements and his attempts to present himself as neutral. This neutrality, if positive, is negated by US statements and Israeli practices on the ground. It is also abolished by the fact that Blair did not react to those statements and practices. His appointment as the envoy of the Quartet appears more of an honorary appointment than a serious effort aimed at achieving something on the ground." -------------- -- "Syria and Iran: A Solid Front that Will Remain Unified" -------------- -- Muhammad al-Khafaji, a commentator in independent al-Watan, wrote (7/23): "The message that the Iranian president's visit to Syria conveyed to the world is that the Syrian-Iranian strategic cooperation and coordination is continuing, contrary to reports that there are differences between the two countries over some issues.... "The Asad-Ahmadinezhad summit refuted all arguments that the United States and Israel may succeed in separating Syria and Iran.... The Iranian President's meetings with Hizbollah SecGen Hasan Nasrallah and HAMAS Political Bureau Chief Khalid Mish'al in Damascus were also messages of support for the resistance option.... "The Iranian president's visit to Syria undoubtedly gave impetus to the strategic alliance between the two countries and the alliance with the resistance forces in Lebanon and Palestine. This requires that Americans, Israelis, and their followers once again think well before engaging in any adventure...." -------------- "No Answer to Be Heard" -------------- Ali Nasrallah, a commentator in government-owned Al-Thawra, wrote (7/23): "All the security plans in Iraq have ended with failure.... The achievement of any progress is impossible, as Iraq is suffering from a series of complicated and intertwined political and ethnic conflicts.... "Americans and some Iraqi parties ignore the fact that Iraq is suffering under the yoke of occupation and that it is only because of the occupation and its continuation that these conflicts erupted and Iraq became threatened with more ethnic and sectarian divisions. "The US ambassador to Baghdad and the commander of the American forces in Iraq said that it will be difficult to achieve significant progress by September.... This means that the demand by Democrats and Republicans for a speedy disengagement and withdrawal from Iraq is legitimate because time is running out and the ability to maneuver is diminishing...." Corbin