OMAN MEDIA REACTION

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000675

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 This week in Omani dailies, private "Al Shabiba" ran the
first local commentary on Iran's elections, describing protesters as
a generation having grown up with poverty and unemployment now
looking for change. No outlet made mention of the Sultan's trip to
Iran, which had been announced to begin June 28. "Al Watan" and
"Oman" continued commentary blaming Israel for impeding peace efforts
in the region. On June 27, Arabic government "Oman" ran the
Secretary's op-ed on trafficking in persons. END SUMMARY.

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"THE REVOLUTION IS AGING"
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2. On June 27, private Arabic daily "Al Shabiba" (circulation
20,000) commented that the Iranian revolution is "aging" and that
voters want change. In the first Omani-written commentary on the
Iranian elections, Mohammed al Balushi, former Edward R. Murrow
program participant, wrote "Iran: the Revolution is Eating its
Children!":

"Protesters in Iran are not merely anarchists who only want to create
chaos. They are voters who desire change. The Iranian revolution is
aging. What is taking place represents those in Iran who would like
to rejuvenate it and who are suffering from increasing poverty and
unemployment rates."

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"CRIPPLING WASHINGTON'S EFFORT"
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3. On June 26, private Arabic daily "Al Watan" (circulation 42,000)
said that Israel is "crippling" Washington's Middle East peace push,
demonstrated by the cancellation of the Netanyahu-Mitchell meeting.
According to "Is the Obama Administration Crippled by Israel?!"

"The Arab Ministerial Conference in Cairo adds further credibility to
the Arab position, which is to commit to dealing positively with
President Obama's proposals to settle the Arab-Israeli conflict.
However, America's enthusiasm doesn't seem to be enough. Israeli
maneuvers continue, and the cancellation of Netanyahu's meeting with
Mitchell, the U.S. envoy to the Middle East, is clear evidence that
[the] Israeli government is crippling Washington's effort."

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"CLEAR THE WAY FOR THE PEACE PROCESS"
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4. On June 29, government Arabic daily "Oman" (circulation 38,000)
called on Israel to clear the way for peace in the "positive climate"
created by President Obama. "Israel Trying to Hamper the Positive
Climate" said:

"At a time when Israel is conducting a public relations campaign to
stop the positive climate of President Obama's proposal, there is now
consensus between the EU and the U.S. It is time for Israel to clear
the way for the peace process. It is inevitable that Netanyahu make
concrete steps in this direction."
HURTADO