Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BEIRUT371
2009-03-31 13:23:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Beirut
Cable title:
Lebanon: Media Reaction - March 31, 2009
how-toO 311323Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4562 NSC WASHDC PRIORITY ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA PRIORITY
UNCLAS BEIRUT 000371
STATE FOR NEA/ELA - LAWSON, NEA/ELA - IRWIN, NEA/PPD, R,
INR/R/MR, INR-PARENT,
NSC - SHAPIRO, MCDEROTT
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PREL KMDR ORC KPAO KISL KPAL LE
SUBJECT: Lebanon: Media Reaction - March 31, 2009
Atmospherics:
--------------
All media outlets gave top billing to the Arab Summit in Doha. A
number of outlets characterized the summit as a success,
particularly since it ended with the Libyan-Saudi reconciliation.
Other outlets observed that, except for the Libyan-Saudi
reconciliation and the attendance of the Sudanese President, the
summit "was only a repetition of other summits." One newspaper
commented sarcastically that Arab summits have changed into "social
gatherings" where real Arab causes are "lost."
Selected Headlines
--------------
"The Arab Summit Concluded and the Libyan Leader Stole the Limelight
from Al-Bashir" Independent Ad-Diyar
"The Doha Declaration: Dialogue to Solve Arab differences and
Rejection of Bashir's Arrest Warrant" pro-Hariri Al-Mustaqbal
"The Doha Summit: A Limited Timeframe for Israel to Achieve Peace"
Centrist Al-Anwar
Block Quotes:
--------------
"The Ceiling of the Arab Summit is Managing Differences," an
editorial by Rafiq Khoury in Centrist Al-Anwar (3/31):
"The Doha Summit was not...different from other Arab summits.
...Each summit carries a majestic slogan which is far away from the
difficult reality...and during each summit there are surprises.
This summit witnessed several surprises: the absence of the
Egyptian President, ...the attendance of the Sudanese
President,...and the Libyan-Saudi reconciliation. ...All of the
above, however, should not be the core of the summit. Arabs are
facing many challenges that are in need of a united strategic vision
in order to confront the Zionist projects and other...regional
projects that are based on Arab weaknesses. ...The most important
development in this particular summit is moving from conflicts to
the phase of acknowledging these conflicts and trying to do
something about them. ...The road ahead is long, but today is
better than yesterday and we hope that tomorrow will witness a new
development of quality."
"Summits and Reconciliations," an unsigned editorial in independent
Al-Diyar (3/31):
"Reconciliations have become the reason for holding Arab summits.
Attendance of summits have become a factor by which we measure the
success of these summits. The real causes, problems, and challenges
of the Arab nation are getting lost in the middle of all this
superficiality... Arab summits have merely become social
gatherings..."
Sison