JORDAN: MEDIA REACT TO KING'S U.S. VISIT

UNCLAS AMMAN 000729 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ELA, NEA/PPD, IIP/GNEA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: JO KPAO KMDR SUBJECT: JORDAN: MEDIA REACT TO KING'S U.S. VISIT ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: Jordanian media gave high visibility to King Abdullah's working visit to the United States, focusing today and yesterday on his meetings with the President, the Vice President, and Congressional leaders. Coverage drew strictly from Government of Jordan official news accounts. With one exception, press commentary was limited to government-aligned outlets, was focused on the King's messages, and was positive with respect to his efforts. END SUMMARY. COVERAGE UNIFORM ¶2. (U) Beginning last Thursday through today, Jordanian media have given high visibility in print and via government-operated radio and television broadcasters to the working visit of King Abdullah to the U.S. Coverage peaks included the King's address on February 29 at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University, and his meetings with President Bush, Vice President Cheney, and Congressional leaders this week. Other events receiving substantive coverage included the King's meetings with representatives of Jewish, Arab, and Islamic civil society organizations based in the U.S., and Queen Rania's remarks in observance of International Women's Day. Coverage consisted of Jordanian government accounts of the King's and the Queen's statements and official footage from these events. COMMENTARY IN SYNCH WITH ONE DIVERGING PIECE ¶3. (U) With one exception, editorial commentary on the King's Visit to the U.S. has so far been limited to government-aligned newspapers. Commentary has focused heavily on the King's messages and has been positive with respect to his efforts, while at the same time critical of Israel and, implicitly, the U.S. ¶4. (U) Editorial Commentary on King's Visit -- "The Honor Of Defending the Nation Is Jordan's Destiny" Columnist Majid Asfour in the leading, government-owned Arabic daily Al-Rai (03/06) intones, "Jordan and its King alone do not settle for rhetorical defense and instead insist on conveying the image and concerns of [Palestinian] refugees to those with the power and authority who decide on international issues and on whom Israel has depended for decades. This is while some Arabs face up using slogans of unity, freedom and immortality.... Every time King Abdullah addresses decision-making and civilian pressure centers in the United States and Europe, Israel returns to negotiations with the Palestinians, until someone from outside Palestine calls someone from inside Palestine and chaos and provocation ensue, after which the Arabs' concern becomes to repair the situation and return to negotiations.... It is Jordan's destiny to be the voice and whip of righteousness, shouldering the nation's concerns and defending its causes." -- "The King in the Eye of the Event" Columnist Shihadeh Abu Baqar in the government-aligned, pro-Palestinian Arabic daily Ad-Dustour (03/06) comments, "On one hand the King feels that Jordan, as a Hashemite Arab country, is shouldering the concerns of the entire region and, as such, must move actively within the circles of power and influence especially in Washington. On the other, the King feels that the future will be dark and miserable for the entire region if the situation continues to deteriorate. Between this and that, the King believes in constant movement and endeavor to put a stop to the deterioration and put matters back on the right tracks.... In practice, the King's voice must rise above all other voices. After all, he is the only man who has no personal interest in what he is doing, but rather he is a leader who is trying hard to spare peoples and an entire region the dangers of misery and injustice the extent of which God would only know.... In practice, the Jordanians, who are all preoccupied with the pain of economic and political circumstances, must stand by the King's efforts. After all, Jordan is destined for great sacrifices and rising to the honorable duty in support of the brothers under occupation in Palestine.... No one in the region can predict what is coming, but everyone can show willpower to do what they can do to prevent the disaster; and this is what the King is doing today and every day." -- "Let the Logic of Dialogue and Negotiations Precede the Logic of War and Arrogance of Power" Al-Rai's main editorial (3/06) reviews the King's activities, meetings and talks in the United States, and summarizes, "The royal visit to the United States contributed to explaining the Arab viewpoint vis-`-vis the conflict issues in the region, most important of which is the Palestinian cause, and opened more horizons for enhancing and developing the Jordanian-American friendship, in addition to highlighting the importance of American assistance to the Jordanian economy which is suffering from the repercussions of the global rise of oil prices." -- "The King After Wilson: Yes to the Right of Self-Determination" Senior columnist Sultan Hattab in Al-Rai (03/06) refers to the King's speech at Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School, and observes, "The King's choice of the Woodrow Wilson College at Princeton University to deliver his speech before a crowd of professors, students, scientists, economists and politicians was no coincidence. The venue has great connotation and the person after which the College was names means a great deal. It is the name of the 28th U.S. President, Woodrow Wilson, whose life was filled with hard work for the benefit of Americans and the people of this earth and who became famous for his historical declaration of the right of all peoples to self-determination.... Few people have the vision of the King in the midst of the violence and aggression that Israel is imposing on the region.... The King is one of the brave ones who hold tight to the hot coals of peace when everyone else disappeared and when Israel has disturbed the peace and all its opportunities.... The past days were difficult. The King struggled as he carried over the Arab voice, represented his nation and searched for the peace, for which the United States shoulders the responsibly of losing when it continues to keep silent about the Israeli aggression or takes its side. Wilson, who used to read the Bible in the White House morning and night, is completely different in his practices and even in his faith from the current President Bush, who employed his religious tendency and his understanding of the Bible to lead towards aggression, enslavement, and warmongering.... King Abdullah wanted, as he took Wilson's platform, to remind everyone of the man's call for peace, neutrality, progress and the right of self-determination. Has the message reached?" -- "Bush Will Always Be the War-Maker" Chief editor Taher Odwan in the independent, opposition Arabic daily Al-Arab Al-Yawm was the only commentator to veer from a King-centered focus, commenting, "President Bush does not seem to want to achieve a historical breakthrough in the Middle East that would alter his image from a war-maker to a peace-maker, as many analysts and politicians had expected in the aftermath of the Annapolis meeting.... We are amazed that President Abbas continues to express optimism that 'negotiations are the only way towards peace.' Negotiations may be the only way, but only if they are accompanied by support, like the presence of an American and international desire supported by political pressures that have influence on Israel. Otherwise, the requirement for successful negotiations is the return to arms, a method used by all peoples throughout history in issues related to freedom and occupation." -- "The King Clarifies the Basic Conditions for the Success of the Peace Process" Ad-Dustour's main editorial (03/05) opines, "The King's visit to the United States was once again a successful effort, because it included the various aspects of diplomatic activity, from the summit meeting with President Bush, the very important lecture at Princeton University, to the constructive dialogue with Arab, Muslim and Jewish organizations that have influence on American policy trends.... The King holds on to the light of hope and peace because there is no alternative. The royal efforts will continue to call for wisdom, logic and not surrendering to the pressures of violence, desperation and tension. It is a historical task that requires a great deal of patience, far-sightedness and good judgment, which are all qualities that the King enjoys." -- "The King in the White House: Defending the Palestinians' Right to Establish Their Independent State" Al-Rai's main editorial (03/05) declares, "The Jordanian-American summit meeting was another opportunity for Jordanian diplomacy to reiterate Jordan's principles on and views of the scene in the region and the ongoing bloody conflict, as well as to express the King's appreciation for President Bush's commitment to work with both the Palestinian and Israeli sides in order to reach a peace agreement.... The Jordanian-American summit opened a new and important horizon for enhancing the traditional friendship between the two countries and was an opportunity to express Jordan's appreciation for the American assistance, which has played a leading role in supporting the national economy and encouraging development." RUBINSTEIN