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. -------------- -------------- "ANOTHER IMPORTANT STEP IN NATIONAL RECONCILIATION" -------------- -------------- ¶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." -------------- "APPROPRIATE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES" -------------- ¶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." -------------- "JUST ANOTHER MANEUVER BY ISRAEL" -------------- ¶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