OMAN MEDIA REACTION: CRISIS IN LEBANON

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000352

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD, NEA/PI, AND INR/R/MR
LONDON FOR TSOU
PARIS FOR ZEYA
FOREIGN PRESS CENTER FOR SILAS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KPAO KMDR MU
SUBJECT: OMAN MEDIA REACTION: CRISIS IN LEBANON



1. SUMMARY: Private Arabic daily "Al-Watan" lamented the Lebanese
violence, morbidly predicting unalterable changes to Lebanon's very
nature. State-owned Arabic daily "Oman" on May 11 called on Arab
nations to play positive, unbiased roles, then, on May 12, backed
the Lebanese Army and Suleiman as possible saviors of the country.
END SUMMARY.

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No Longer Known for Tolerance and Compromise
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2. On May 10, privately owned Arabic "Al-Watan" (circulation 42,000)
predicted that the outbreak of violence in Lebanon will spin out of
control, altering forever the nature of the country, calling it a
"Time of Hypocrites and Thieves":

"The tension in Lebanon escalated and evolved into armed clashes on
the streets of Beirut... There is no indication of hope to stop the
crisis in Lebanon; the situation is expected to spin out of control,
with the language of dialogue replaced by that of arms and
disagreement. This war will kill innocent people who have no role
in it, sparing those who ignited the war. Lebanon will no longer be
known for tolerance and compromise... Nor will it be known as an
Arab country that used to exist on the map of Arab countries. The
time will come when Arabs will say that there was an Arab country
called Palestine, there was an Arab country called Iraq, and there
was an Arab country called Lebanon."

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Serving Their Own Interests
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3. On May 11, Government-owned Arabic "Oman" (circulation 38,000)
blamed international players for their self-serving roles in the
Lebanese conflict and called for their positive intervention, saying
"Resolving the Lebanese Dilemma is the Responsibility of All":

"Regional and international powers are only serving their own
interests at the expense of the Lebanese. It is not surprising that
the Lebanese situation has deteriorated again, taking it back to
conditions that existed in the civil war of 1975. The Arabs who
proposed the Arab initiative to resolve this crisis should uphold
their responsibilities without bias towards one Lebanese party or
another. They must search for a Lebanese consensus, which is
indispensable to resolve the current predicament. The question that
also arises is: to what extent are the Lebanese willing to go to
reach a consensus that can save Lebanon, prevent its collapse and
the disintegration of its constitutional institutions?"

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Enhancing Confidence in the Lebanese Army
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4. On May 12, Oman talked up the role of the Lebanese Army, calling
on the Lebanese parliament to elect Army General Suleiman as
president. "To Not Let Lebanon Face Similar Threats" said:

"Despite continuing and sporadic clashes, the possibility of a
Lebanese reconciliation presents a chance to enhance confidence in
the Lebanese army, which has managed to contain tension in the past.
Now is not time for accusations; rather, it is time to contain the
situation and to return Lebanon to normal. Then, the situation must
be dealt with through concrete steps to reach solutions, without
falling prey to procrastination through dialogue. The first step
will be for the Lebanese Parliament to elect the commander of the
Lebanese Army General Michel Suleiman, who enjoys the respect and
approval of all parties, as President. Then, they must form a
united, strong and effective government able to impose state
authority in preparation for upcoming general elections."
GRAPPO