OMAN MEDIA REACTION: U.S. PEACE EFFORTS, DOHA DIALGOUE AND

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000374 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: U.S. PEACE EFFORTS, DOHA DIALGOUE AND BUSH'S WEF SPEECH. ¶1. SUMMARY: State-owned Arabic daily "Oman" recognized the Bush administration's peace efforts, but accused Israel of hindering real progress. "Oman" also signaled its hope for a positive outcome from the Doha dialogue, noting strong international support as the key. In a criticism of the President's WEF speech, private Arabic daily "Al-Watan" said that isolating Syria removes an essential player from any peace solution. END SUMMARY. -------------- Assassinating Their Dreams -------------- ¶2. On May 15, Government-owned Arabic "Oman" (circulation 38,000) recognized the U.S. administration's efforts to achieve a peace accord between Israel and the Palestinians, but said these efforts remain blocked by Israel. According to "In Order to Achieve Peace, Stability and Prosperity": "During the celebration of the declaration of its statehood, Israel took extraordinary security measures including the closure of Palestinian territories and the tightening of their blockade of the Palestinians, which caused suffering in the occupied West Bank and in Gaza. Were these measures useful in suppressing the Palestinians and assassinating their dreams to return to establish an independent Palestinian state? The numerous and continuous efforts by U.S. President Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice clearly show their hope of reaching a peace agreement between Palestinians and Israel before leaving the White House. However, it seems that Israeli Prime Minister Olmert and his government are not interested in helping the U.S. administration. At the very least, they want to procrastinate and delay, and they are not held accountable for obstructing American efforts. Israel also moved to block Egyptian efforts to calm the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory." -------------- "Widespread Attention" on Doha -------------- ¶3. On May 18, "Oman" commented that the strong multinational support for Lebanese reconciliation bodes well for success in Doha. "Internal support and Regional Agreement" said: "The Doha dialogue is not only catching widespread attention at all levels but is also garnering substantial support from Lebanon, Arab countries, and the regional and international community. But, certain parties have always been deliberately hindering the possibility of agreement or consensus between brothers in order to serve their own interests. With Iranian, American, French, and European support, the efforts in the Qatari capital Doha have created a good and friendly atmosphere that is in itself a positive impetus to put the people of Lebanon before any one faction." -------------- The Real Actors Absent -------------- ¶4. On May 19, private Arabic daily "Al-Watan" (circulation 42,000) criticized President Bush's speech at the World Economic Forum, saying that Syria (among others) must participate in order to make a real peace. "Aggressive and Adrift Invitations": "All [President Bush's] speeches show that he has not learned anything from the lessons and experiences of the past. He talks about peace, but ignores the roles of the countries involved, including Syria. Syria's positive contribution is very important in dealing with the Palestinian and Lebanese crisis. If Bush intended at the World Economic Forum to remove from the peace process resistance leaders from Syria, Lebanon and Palestine, then who is going to make this peace? The real actors will be absent from the framework of the peace process." GRAPPO