OMAN MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000696

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: Government daily "Oman" praised recent agreements in
Lebanon to remove antagonistic party slogans from the streets.
"Oman" also called on all Gulf countries to protect themselves from
the American economic crisis, calling for "appropriate precautionary
measures". Private daily "Al-Watan" accused Israel of using
internal politics to stall on commitments to the peace process. END
SUMMARY.

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"ANOTHER IMPORTANT STEP IN NATIONAL RECONCILIATION"
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2. On September 28, state Arabic daily "Oman" (circulation 38,000)
hailed the agreement between Lebanese factions to remove political
slogans from the streets. According to "Another Step that
Consolidates Lebanese Reconciliation":

"The agreement which followed the meeting between the Lebanese
majority leader Saad Hariri and Nabih Berri is another important
step in Lebanese national reconciliation. A prominent member of the
Lebanese opposition and the President of the Lebanese parliament
agreed to start removing antagonistic party slogans from the streets
of Beirut. The Lebanese people, with all their political
differences, desire stability and a life free from conflict and
confrontation."


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"APPROPRIATE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES"
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3. On September 27, "Oman" wrote that the American economic crisis
is not being exaggerated, calling on Gulf countries to protect
themselves. "Insufficient Solutions for the Crisis that is
Threatening Everyone" said:

"It is doubtful that the current economic crisis is being
intentionally exaggerated by AMERICA for its own strategic reasons;
U.S. policymakers and international financial institutions would not
easily risk their creditability. Arab countries, especially in the
Gulf, must pay more attention and manage their economies in a way
that best serves their interests. At the same time, they must
maintain relations with others, continuing to take appropriate
precautionary measures, financial and economic, to reduce the
negative effects of the crisis."

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"JUST ANOTHER MANEUVER BY ISRAEL"
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4. On September 26, private daily "Al-Watan" (circulation 42,000)
wrote that Israel continues to use internal turmoil to avoid its
responsibilities to the peace process. According to "Israel: No
More Maneuvers":

"Perez is trying to show that internal problems in Israel are
blocking the Annapolis agreements, and his proof is the corruption
of the Olmert government. However, experience shows that accusing
Israeli politicians of corruption to expel its leaders is just
another maneuver by Israel to escape its responsibilities to the
peace process. Israel used its tactics to force Syria to give up
the strip of Lake Tiberias for the return of the Golan Heights."

GRAPPO