OMAN MEDIA REACTION: PALESTINIAN FACTS, IRAQI REALITY AND

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000298

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD, NEA/PI, AND INR/R/MR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KPAO KMDR MU
SUBJECT: OMAN MEDIA REACTION: PALESTINIAN FACTS, IRAQI REALITY AND
OMAN/IRAN RELATIONS

1. SUMMARY: private Arabic daily "Al-Watan" continues to opine on
the conundrum of Israeli settlement expansion even as its leaders
negotiate. State Arabic daily "Oman" wrote that the only solution to

the Iraq dilemma is that its people unify to end sectarianism and
end American presence there. "Oman" also commented on the visit of a
high-level Omani delegation to Tehran as a sign of the state of
relations between the two countries. END SUMMARY.

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ISRAEL'S COVERT EXPANSION
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2. On April 19, privately owned Arabic "Al-Watan" (circulation
42,000) suggested that Israel is creating more settlements despite
international resolutions so that in future negotiations they can be
included as territory, depriving Palestinians of their lands, saying
"Facts Can No Longer Be Ignored":

"At a time when the Palestinian leadership of different beliefs and
views is keen in the struggle to liberate their lands, establish an
independent state, and try to co-exist with Israel in an atmosphere
that respects the rights of all, we find Israel resorting, every
time the Palestinians show flexibility on the negotiating front, to
violence, cruelty, arrest, and killing that coincides with a
tireless wave for expanding settlements. One victim after another is
being speared while the world is watching, convinced by Israeli
propaganda about the myth of self-defense. In the meantime, Israel
resorts to further tenders for the construction of new settlements,
stretching the list of its colonies to form settlement blocs aimed
at tearing the Palestinian territories so that they can include them
in the to Israeli state in the coming negotiations."

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IRAQ: "NEW TRAGEDIES AND MORE VICTIMS"
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3. Government-owned Arabic daily "Oman" (circulation 38,000) wrote
on April 17 about the "Bitter Reality of Iraq":

"With every day that passes, Iraq witnesses new tragedies and more
victims in the midst of American floundering and an Iraqi government
lacking in all areas... The country faces a continuous state of
anarchy since the American occupation of this Arab country.
Therefore, the best solution to the cycle of violence is that all
faithful sons of Iraq unify, to get rid of first the occupier and
second all those who oppose the interest of Iraq and its stability,
which keeps the country open for sectarianism and strife. Iraq has
suffered greatly during the American invasion and turned Iraqi lives
into a hell no safer for any citizen than before."

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OMAN-IRAN: "A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP"
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4. "Oman" also commented on April 20 on the Omani Deputy Prime
Minister's visit to Tehran, saying it augured "Strong Relations and
Promising Horizons":

"It is a time when it can be said that the Sultanate and the Islamic
Republic of Iran have not only a special relationship, but also a
firm and solid one, which has broad prospects, strong and mutual
political will, and development in various areas. Iranian-Omani
relations give, over the past decades, an ideal example of how
relations can be built between any countries in this vital region of
the world. In addition, the visit of H.H Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al
Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Cabinet Affairs and the accompanying
high level delegation is very important, both in light of what it
represents to the Omani Iranian relations and in regard to the close
cooperation between the two countries in many areas... This visit
also represents a continuation of the exchange of wise views between
the two leaderships on the developments in the region in this
critical period and many issues including security and stability."

GRAPPO