DAMASCUS MEDIA REACTION - THE U.S.-IRAQI SECURITY AGREEMENT

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 000828 DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA, NEA/PPD, INR/NESA, IIP, PA, ECA, BEIRUT FOR SISON, GRANT, LENZEN SENSITIVE, SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPAO PGOV PREL SY SUBJECT: DAMASCUS MEDIA REACTION - THE U.S.-IRAQI SECURITY AGREEMENT SPARKS A FEUD BETWEEN AN IRAQI AND SYRIAN OFFICIAL ¶1. (SBU) Summary and Comment: Syrian media reported extensively on the argument between the Syrian and Iraqi Ministers of Information at the November 17 Conference for Arab Ministers of Information and Telecommunications in Damascus. Media reports stated that Syrian Information Minister Bilal reiterated the SARG's concerns that the U.S.-Iraq Security Agreement allows the U.S. to usurp Iraq's sovereignty and threatens Syria. Iraqi Telecommunications Minister Kader, who led the Iraqi delegation, stated that Syria must not interfere in Iraq's internal politics. The press wrote that the Secretary General of the Arab League intervened to quell the dispute. This argument is the latest public dispute between Syria and Iraq regarding matters of regional security. Syria has launched a media campaign to paint the Iraqi government as succumbing to U.S. demands. End Summary and Comment. -------------- Feud on the Floor -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Al-Watan, a private Syrian newspaper with daily circulation of 25,000, reported on the argument between the Syrian and Iraqi ministers at the November 17 Conference of Arab Ministers of Information and Telecommunications. Syria's Information Minister Bilal said the U.S. is "trying to impose its conditions on Iraqis and to legalize the arbitrary and usurping presence of their [forces] on Iraqi territory with this accord." ¶3. (SBU) The Syrian Minister continued by stating the agreement "rewards the American occupier and gives it rights at the expense of the Iraqi people and their neighbors... The people in Iraq cannot accept anything which damages their history, independence, dignity, or anything that damages neighboring countries." Al-Watan noted that the Iraqi Telecommunications Minister responded angrily, accusing Syria of "interfering in Iraqi internal affairs" and declaring that Iraqis would "not stand for such interference." -------------- -------------- The Arab League Secretary General Plays Peacekeeper -------------- -------------- ¶4. (SBU) All4Syria, a popular moderately independent website, and Al-Watan newspaper reported that Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa had to intervene to calm down the two Ministers. The Iraqi minister told media outlets that the Secretary General eased the dispute between them over a "cup of coffee." ¶5. (SBU) Comment: This argument on the conference floor is the latest in an ongoing public spat between Syrian and Iraqi officials. The SARG has launched an active media campaign using television, radio, and print media to discredit the U.S.-Iraqi Security Pact. FM Mouallem echoed this theme in his joint press conference with visiting Iraqi FM Zebari last week. We will watch SARG rhetoric carefully during the upcoming November 22-23 Border Security Working Group to see if there is any softening of Syria's public line. End Comment.