Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MUSCAT385
2008-05-26 12:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Muscat
Cable title:
OMAN MEDIA REACTION: NEW LEBANESE PRESIDENT
how-toVZCZCXRO3088 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV DE RUEHMS #0385 1471230 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 261230Z MAY 08 FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9618 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0536 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0424
UNCLAS MUSCAT 000385
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: NEW LEBANESE PRESIDENT
UNCLAS MUSCAT 000385
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: NEW LEBANESE PRESIDENT
1. SUMMARY: News of the Doha Agreement and the election of General
Michel Suleiman as Lebanese president preoccupied both the
State-owned Arabic daily "Oman" and private Arabic daily "Al-Watan",
with editorials describing it as new chapter after lengthy political
disturbance, which threatened the stability of the Lebanese people.
All dailies showed satisfaction with the results Doha agreement as
proof that the region can solve its problems foreign powers don't
interfere. END SUMMARY.
--------------
"LEBANON WINS"
--------------
2. On May 22, private Arabic daily "Al-Watan" (circulation 42,000)
hailed the Lebanese victory over internal differences, saying
"Lebanon Wins":
"Now that Lebanon has elected a president, they draw the curtain on
the latest chapter of a tragic political crisis, with presence of
prominent Arab figures whose good intentions helped Lebanon overcome
its crisis, including H.E. the Omani Minister responsible for
Foreign Affairs Yousif Bin Alawi. Oman has made a great effort in
this regard through its membership on the committee formed to bridge
the gap between different Lebanese factions... In fact, the
greatest satisfaction lies in the fact that Arabs were and still are
present in resolving the Lebanese crisis, proof that if foreign
interference in [Arab] affairs ceases, internal mechanisms will
address all issues and differences. Although there were charges that
some Arab states interfered in Lebanese matters, [the opposing sides
in Lebanon] were sure that they needed to use Arab support to deal
with internal Lebanon crises."
--------------
"EXIT FROM A LONG, DARK TUNNEL
--------------
3. Government-owned "Oman" (circulation 38,000) commented on May 22
on the positive role played by Arab countries and personalities who
were involved in the Doha dialogue and its satisfactory results,
"Lebanon's Agreement and Opening New Chapter":
"Not only Arabs and Lebanese hailed the success of the Doha
Dialogue, but also regional and international voices that care about
Lebanon. The desire of the Lebanese parties and their eagerness to
reach satisfactory solutions; the tireless and continuous efforts
made by Qatar headed by the Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani,
who stepped in ... to overcome obstacles and differences to bring
closer different positions...; the Arab ministerial committee
chaired by the Qatari Prime Minister and the presence of the
Sultanate's representative, H.E. Yousif Bin Alawi, Minister
Responsible for Foreign Affairs; the presence of a number of other
Arab states and Secretary General of the Arab League Amr Moussa; all
combined ... to put an end to the crisis that threatened the
stability of Lebanon and its citizens, achieving the ultimate
objectives and goals represented in the Doha agreement: an exit from
the long dark tunnel."
--------------
--------------
4. On May 25, "Oman" praised the new Lebanese president for
restoring faith and confidence in the Lebanese Army at a time when
many had lost faith in Lebanese institutions, "Electing a New
President in Lebanon, Entering a New Phase":
"Today, with the election of General Michel Suleiman, the Lebanese
constitutional institutions can be regarded as complete, and the
period of freeze and resentment, which reached threatened the
Lebanon's unique blend of ideologies, has also ended. Now the terms
of forming the national unity government have been agreed on in
Doha. The election of General Suleiman represents the consensus of
all Lebanese forces that are looking forward to peaceful
coexistence, assuring confidence in the personality of the new
president, who managed to maintain the trust and support of all
Lebanese parties and restoring trust and confidence in the Lebanese
Army at a very sensitive time. When all Lebanese powers agree on
him, any decision made by him will be regarded as a good opening for
a new era for Lebanon and its people and society to revitalize and
reactivate Lebanese institutions for the development of the
country."
GRAPPO
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: NEW LEBANESE PRESIDENT
1. SUMMARY: News of the Doha Agreement and the election of General
Michel Suleiman as Lebanese president preoccupied both the
State-owned Arabic daily "Oman" and private Arabic daily "Al-Watan",
with editorials describing it as new chapter after lengthy political
disturbance, which threatened the stability of the Lebanese people.
All dailies showed satisfaction with the results Doha agreement as
proof that the region can solve its problems foreign powers don't
interfere. END SUMMARY.
--------------
"LEBANON WINS"
--------------
2. On May 22, private Arabic daily "Al-Watan" (circulation 42,000)
hailed the Lebanese victory over internal differences, saying
"Lebanon Wins":
"Now that Lebanon has elected a president, they draw the curtain on
the latest chapter of a tragic political crisis, with presence of
prominent Arab figures whose good intentions helped Lebanon overcome
its crisis, including H.E. the Omani Minister responsible for
Foreign Affairs Yousif Bin Alawi. Oman has made a great effort in
this regard through its membership on the committee formed to bridge
the gap between different Lebanese factions... In fact, the
greatest satisfaction lies in the fact that Arabs were and still are
present in resolving the Lebanese crisis, proof that if foreign
interference in [Arab] affairs ceases, internal mechanisms will
address all issues and differences. Although there were charges that
some Arab states interfered in Lebanese matters, [the opposing sides
in Lebanon] were sure that they needed to use Arab support to deal
with internal Lebanon crises."
--------------
"EXIT FROM A LONG, DARK TUNNEL
--------------
3. Government-owned "Oman" (circulation 38,000) commented on May 22
on the positive role played by Arab countries and personalities who
were involved in the Doha dialogue and its satisfactory results,
"Lebanon's Agreement and Opening New Chapter":
"Not only Arabs and Lebanese hailed the success of the Doha
Dialogue, but also regional and international voices that care about
Lebanon. The desire of the Lebanese parties and their eagerness to
reach satisfactory solutions; the tireless and continuous efforts
made by Qatar headed by the Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani,
who stepped in ... to overcome obstacles and differences to bring
closer different positions...; the Arab ministerial committee
chaired by the Qatari Prime Minister and the presence of the
Sultanate's representative, H.E. Yousif Bin Alawi, Minister
Responsible for Foreign Affairs; the presence of a number of other
Arab states and Secretary General of the Arab League Amr Moussa; all
combined ... to put an end to the crisis that threatened the
stability of Lebanon and its citizens, achieving the ultimate
objectives and goals represented in the Doha agreement: an exit from
the long dark tunnel."
--------------
--------------
4. On May 25, "Oman" praised the new Lebanese president for
restoring faith and confidence in the Lebanese Army at a time when
many had lost faith in Lebanese institutions, "Electing a New
President in Lebanon, Entering a New Phase":
"Today, with the election of General Michel Suleiman, the Lebanese
constitutional institutions can be regarded as complete, and the
period of freeze and resentment, which reached threatened the
Lebanon's unique blend of ideologies, has also ended. Now the terms
of forming the national unity government have been agreed on in
Doha. The election of General Suleiman represents the consensus of
all Lebanese forces that are looking forward to peaceful
coexistence, assuring confidence in the personality of the new
president, who managed to maintain the trust and support of all
Lebanese parties and restoring trust and confidence in the Lebanese
Army at a very sensitive time. When all Lebanese powers agree on
him, any decision made by him will be regarded as a good opening for
a new era for Lebanon and its people and society to revitalize and
reactivate Lebanese institutions for the development of the
country."
GRAPPO