Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MUSCAT583
2008-08-18 12:20:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Muscat
how-toVZCZCXRO2939 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV DE RUEHMS #0583 2311220 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 181220Z AUG 08 FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9858 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0555 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0443
UNCLAS MUSCAT 000583
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD, NEA/PI, INR/R/MR, NEA/SA/EX/PMO
LONDON FOR NEA WATCHER
PARIS FOR NEA WATCHER
FOREIGN PRESS CENTER FOR NEA WATCHER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KPAO KMDR MU
SUBJECT: OMAN MEDIA REACTION
UNCLAS MUSCAT 000583
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD, NEA/PI, INR/R/MR, NEA/SA/EX/PMO
LONDON FOR NEA WATCHER
PARIS FOR NEA WATCHER
FOREIGN PRESS CENTER FOR NEA WATCHER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KPAO KMDR MU
SUBJECT: OMAN MEDIA REACTION
1. SUMMARY: Editorials over the past week have primarily focused
on visits by Sultan Qaboos to Libya, Egypt, and Jordan, and have
stuck safely to standard language and praise. On regional issues,
private daily "AL-Watan" noted that Palestinians should expect
little from the visit of the U.S. Secretary of State, given Israel's
ongoing settlement activity. Another editorial in the same paper
hoped that China's future of the Chinese will be brighter after the
current Olympics as a result of public discussion of political and
economic reforms. State-owned Arabic daily "Oman" deplored dropping
oil prices and a potential glut on world markets. END SUMMARY
--------------
THE SECRETARY IN THE REGION: "NOTHING NEW"
--------------
2. The private Arabic daily "Al Watan" (circulation 42,000)
expressed hopelessness on August 13 about the expected visit of the
Secretary of State to Palestine, suggesting that there are already
signs that Israel is not ready for any peace in the region and
calling it "A Visit that Brings Nothing New":
"Palestinians await another visit from the U.S. Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice during this month to assess the ongoing
negotiations with the Israeli side - and whether they will fail or
reach a satisfactory end for both sides... However, given Israeli
practices in real life, and their violations of resolutions, will
the visit be worth waiting for? Israeli bids for the establishment
of more settlements and expansions of existing ones in occupied
Jerusalem and the West Bank confirm the theory of a plan existing to
steal the remaining Palestinian territories. In all, however,
waiting for Rice to announce the failure or success of negotiations
is a good step, one that throws the ball to the U.S. so they cannot
blame the Palestinians, who were keen until the last moment to reach
real peace, while the other side is neither willing nor seeking any
peace."
--------------
A "FAIR PRICE" FOR OIL
--------------
3. On August 14, government-owned Arabic daily "Oman"(circulation
38,000) called OPEC and oil-producing countries to find ways to fix
oil prices so that fluctuations do not harm their interests, in "The
Fair Price of the Oil Barrel":
"World oil markets have seen sharp retreats... Analysts confirm that
the reason for the high prices in oil is political tensions and not
scarcity of supplies. Then, why the sharp decline? It can be said
that oil markets are already loaded with supply that is exceeding
demand, so that speculators are no longer able to seek opportunities
and exploit political tensions to reap quick profits... From this,
OPEC and the oil-producing countries need to determine a fair price
protect their own interests and the interests of consumers. Having
prices fall to what they were a decade ago is not acceptable in the
perspective of developmental plans for the oil-producing countries,
which are mostly developing countries."
--------------
WHITHER THE DRAGON?
--------------
4. "Al-Watan" on August 15, lauded the spectacular and organized
activities of the Chinese Olympics and hailed the possibility of
opening a new door of economic and political reforms despite a
"Future of Uncertainties for the Chinese Dragon":
"How does the future look for the Chinese dragon after the Olympics
Summer Games? Will there be fresh air in the form of genuine
economic reforms, expanded political changes, and concern for the
environment, or will they continue to give empty speeches excusing
government interference in everything? Today, despite the
spectacular celebrations and the start of competition around the
stadium in Beijing, these are still questions without clear answers.
The regime in China wanted us to believe that a broad reform is not
only inevitable, but also a reflection of their intentions and
goals. President Hu Jintao summed up plans for economic and
political reforms during the Olympic Games, describing them as
"comprehensive". Despite this, it is worth noting the difficult
process they will have to go through because of the firm and
longstanding ideologies that resist such change."
GRAPPO
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD, NEA/PI, INR/R/MR, NEA/SA/EX/PMO
LONDON FOR NEA WATCHER
PARIS FOR NEA WATCHER
FOREIGN PRESS CENTER FOR NEA WATCHER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KPAO KMDR MU
SUBJECT: OMAN MEDIA REACTION
1. SUMMARY: Editorials over the past week have primarily focused
on visits by Sultan Qaboos to Libya, Egypt, and Jordan, and have
stuck safely to standard language and praise. On regional issues,
private daily "AL-Watan" noted that Palestinians should expect
little from the visit of the U.S. Secretary of State, given Israel's
ongoing settlement activity. Another editorial in the same paper
hoped that China's future of the Chinese will be brighter after the
current Olympics as a result of public discussion of political and
economic reforms. State-owned Arabic daily "Oman" deplored dropping
oil prices and a potential glut on world markets. END SUMMARY
--------------
THE SECRETARY IN THE REGION: "NOTHING NEW"
--------------
2. The private Arabic daily "Al Watan" (circulation 42,000)
expressed hopelessness on August 13 about the expected visit of the
Secretary of State to Palestine, suggesting that there are already
signs that Israel is not ready for any peace in the region and
calling it "A Visit that Brings Nothing New":
"Palestinians await another visit from the U.S. Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice during this month to assess the ongoing
negotiations with the Israeli side - and whether they will fail or
reach a satisfactory end for both sides... However, given Israeli
practices in real life, and their violations of resolutions, will
the visit be worth waiting for? Israeli bids for the establishment
of more settlements and expansions of existing ones in occupied
Jerusalem and the West Bank confirm the theory of a plan existing to
steal the remaining Palestinian territories. In all, however,
waiting for Rice to announce the failure or success of negotiations
is a good step, one that throws the ball to the U.S. so they cannot
blame the Palestinians, who were keen until the last moment to reach
real peace, while the other side is neither willing nor seeking any
peace."
--------------
A "FAIR PRICE" FOR OIL
--------------
3. On August 14, government-owned Arabic daily "Oman"(circulation
38,000) called OPEC and oil-producing countries to find ways to fix
oil prices so that fluctuations do not harm their interests, in "The
Fair Price of the Oil Barrel":
"World oil markets have seen sharp retreats... Analysts confirm that
the reason for the high prices in oil is political tensions and not
scarcity of supplies. Then, why the sharp decline? It can be said
that oil markets are already loaded with supply that is exceeding
demand, so that speculators are no longer able to seek opportunities
and exploit political tensions to reap quick profits... From this,
OPEC and the oil-producing countries need to determine a fair price
protect their own interests and the interests of consumers. Having
prices fall to what they were a decade ago is not acceptable in the
perspective of developmental plans for the oil-producing countries,
which are mostly developing countries."
--------------
WHITHER THE DRAGON?
--------------
4. "Al-Watan" on August 15, lauded the spectacular and organized
activities of the Chinese Olympics and hailed the possibility of
opening a new door of economic and political reforms despite a
"Future of Uncertainties for the Chinese Dragon":
"How does the future look for the Chinese dragon after the Olympics
Summer Games? Will there be fresh air in the form of genuine
economic reforms, expanded political changes, and concern for the
environment, or will they continue to give empty speeches excusing
government interference in everything? Today, despite the
spectacular celebrations and the start of competition around the
stadium in Beijing, these are still questions without clear answers.
The regime in China wanted us to believe that a broad reform is not
only inevitable, but also a reflection of their intentions and
goals. President Hu Jintao summed up plans for economic and
political reforms during the Olympic Games, describing them as
"comprehensive". Despite this, it is worth noting the difficult
process they will have to go through because of the firm and
longstanding ideologies that resist such change."
GRAPPO