Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STOCKHOLM377
2008-05-22 07:28:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Stockholm
Cable title:
Media Reaction - Lebanon and Hezbollah
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHSM #0377 1430728 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 220728Z MAY 08 FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3453
UNCLAS STOCKHOLM 000377
SIPDIS
SECSTATE FOR INR/R/MR, EUR/PPD, EUR/NB, EUR/PA, EUR/FO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO PINS PHUM PREF EUN SW
SUBJECT: Media Reaction - Lebanon and Hezbollah
On May 22, the independent liberal Stockholm morning daily "Dagens
Nyheter" ran an editorial column by Per Jonsson headlined "Another
Triumph for Hezbollah":
"The peril, which possibly could have resulted in a full-blown civil
war, now seems to have been temporarily removed. Wednesday's
agreement on Lebanon's future mediated by the small oil sheikdom
Qatar is remarkably concrete in details. And it also was supported
by all relevant political factions in the country, which is even
more remarkable....
"But in reality Hezbollah is the obvious victor. Most strikingly by
its return into a coalition government, holding 11 out of 30 seats,
after being subject to 18 months of boycott.
"From a realpolitik point of view it is even more important that the
well-equipped and well-trained Hezbollah militia now will be
officially authorized to keep its weapons...which means that - after
an 18 year ban against armed militia movements in Lebanon and two
'binding' UN Security Council resolutions - Hezbollah's demands for
upholding an independent war organization are now recognized....
"Thus, the protg of Syria and Iran, the worst enemy of Israel, and
President George W. Bush's object of hatred, has won yet another
grandiose political triumph. And that will certainly not make the
Middle East a more secure place."
WOOD
SIPDIS
SECSTATE FOR INR/R/MR, EUR/PPD, EUR/NB, EUR/PA, EUR/FO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO PINS PHUM PREF EUN SW
SUBJECT: Media Reaction - Lebanon and Hezbollah
On May 22, the independent liberal Stockholm morning daily "Dagens
Nyheter" ran an editorial column by Per Jonsson headlined "Another
Triumph for Hezbollah":
"The peril, which possibly could have resulted in a full-blown civil
war, now seems to have been temporarily removed. Wednesday's
agreement on Lebanon's future mediated by the small oil sheikdom
Qatar is remarkably concrete in details. And it also was supported
by all relevant political factions in the country, which is even
more remarkable....
"But in reality Hezbollah is the obvious victor. Most strikingly by
its return into a coalition government, holding 11 out of 30 seats,
after being subject to 18 months of boycott.
"From a realpolitik point of view it is even more important that the
well-equipped and well-trained Hezbollah militia now will be
officially authorized to keep its weapons...which means that - after
an 18 year ban against armed militia movements in Lebanon and two
'binding' UN Security Council resolutions - Hezbollah's demands for
upholding an independent war organization are now recognized....
"Thus, the protg of Syria and Iran, the worst enemy of Israel, and
President George W. Bush's object of hatred, has won yet another
grandiose political triumph. And that will certainly not make the
Middle East a more secure place."
WOOD