OMAN MEDIA REACTION: OPTIMISM, FRUSTRATION ON THE PEACE

UNCLAS MUSCAT 001104 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: OPTIMISM, FRUSTRATION ON THE PEACE PROCESS ¶1. SUMMARY: the peace process dominates Omani editorials, with disparate messages evoking cautious optimism, economic pragmatics, and frustration at apparent U.S. inconsistency. END SUMMARY. -------------- "Light at the end of the Tunnel?" -------------- ¶2. On November 2, state Arabic daily "Oman" (circulation 38,000) looked optimistically at efforts to ease regional tensions, saying "Positive Signs May Open the Way for Further Steps": "Although the atmosphere of unrest hangs over the skies of the Middle East, there are indications of an end to a climate of turmoil and a calming of tensions. In this context, Iran has made progress with its initial proposal to the IAEA aimed at transferring parts of its uranium to Russia for enrichment and return for use in the HEALTH and agriculture sectors. On the other side, Israel's welcoming of Turkey's mediation with Syria is another positive indication that negotiations may take place sooner than many expect. Also, Senator Mitchell's tour and a visit by the U.S. Secretary of State in the region are also positive. So is there a light at the end of the tunnel?" -------------- -------------- Arabs Must Provide Economic Support to Palestinians -------------- -------------- ¶3. On November 3, Private Arabic daily "Al Watan" (circulation 42,000) called on Arabs to provide not only political but economic support to the Palestinians, in "Arabs and the Inevitability of Supporting the Palestinian Economy": "While Israel is getting unlimited support from the U.S. and the European Union, we find that Israel denies the basic rights of Palestinians by imposing embargos, through military aggression, and via the employment of other tools of political, military, and economic strangulation. Therefore, Arab support for the Palestinian people should not be limited to political support, but also should help sustain them as their leaders negotiate with Israel. Moreover, economic support is important because it is critical to the daily life of Palestinians." -------------- U.S. Comments = Lack of Seriousness on Peace -------------- ¶4. On November 5, "Al-Watan" criticized the U.S. stance toward the Palestinians, ONE it sees as both inconsistent and a clear indication of U.S. bias: "Words to the Palestinians. . . Deeds to the Israelis": "Variation in the official U.S. position on the peace process does not suggest any confusion, hesitation, or inability on the part of the Obama administration, but rather confirms its success in pushing Palestinians and Arabs in the same vicious circle as previous administrations. The comments by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Special Envoy Mitchell have changed depending on the situation, which confirms the lack of seriousness of the U.S. as a mediator and its blind bias to the Zionist entity. The Arabs need to reformulate policies in dealing with U.S. as mediators of peace in the Middle East." Schmierer