Cablegate: Damascus Media Reaction: Syria/Egypt, Syria/Iran,

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 006624

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR PA, NEA/ARN, INR/IC/CD, INR/S:STHIBEAULT
VOA NEWS CA, NEA/PPD:CBOURGEOIS, DBENZE AND AFERNANDEZ,
IIP/G/NEA-SA RWINCHESTER
WHITE HOUSE FOR NSC
CENTCOM FOR CCPA

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY
SUBJECT: Damascus Media Reaction: Syria/Egypt, Syria/Iran,
Lebanon, Iraq, Palestinian Territories (12/21-22)

1. Summary: Syrian papers on 12/21 reported President Asad's
meeting with Egyptian President Mubarak, which focused on
Lebanon and Iraq.
On 12/22 papers reported a press statement by British PM
Blair expressing his government's readiness to start a
positive and constructive dialogue with Syria according to
"a clear vision." Papers also reported a statement claiming
that US Ambassador Scobey may return to her post in Damascus
next month.
Papers also reported President Asad's meeting with Iranian
Vice-President Dr. Hussein Dahqan, who conveyed a message
from Iranian President Ahmadinejad on the situation in the
region and bilateral relations between the two countries.

End of summary.

2. Selected Headlines:
"The Cairo Summit between President Asad and President
Mubarak focuses on latest developments in the region.
Presidents Asad and Mubarak review regional issues and the
international investigation into the al-Hariri
assassination. FM Shara: Syria contributed positively in
improving the climate of the region.... There are no
differences between the Syrian and Lebanese peoples....
There are Lebanese tools exploited to achieve narrow
visions. Egyptian FM Abu al-Ghait: Egypt is satisfied with
development of relations with Syria.... The summit comes
within the framework of regular consultations." (Government-
owned Tishreen, 12/21)
"The UN stresses that Mehlis' statements on Syria's alleged
relations with the assassination of former Lebanese PM al-
Hariri are not accurate and his report to the UN represents
the official stand" (Government-owned Tishreen, 12/21)
"Hizbollah casts doubts on the Al-Saniora government's
desire for dialogue" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 12/21)

"President Asad congratulates Algeria's President Boutaflika
on recovery and accepts credentials of new Yemeni and South
African Ambassadors. President Asad receives message from
Iranian president Ahmadinejad on the situation in the region
and Syrian-Iranian relations. President Asad discusses
current developments in the region and mutual cooperation
with Iranian Vice-President Dahqan" (Government-owned Al-
Thawra, 12/22)
"Lebanese President Lahoud: I will not attend any cabinet
session without the presence of Ministers representing the
Amal Movement and Hizbollah. Lebanese Prime Minister Al-
Saniora admits his mistake [in taking the decision on
forming an international tribunal without obtaining a
unanimous vote]. Head of the Supreme Shiite Council
Fadlallah: The Lebanese people are capable of achieving
internal stability" (Government-owned Tishreen, 12/22)

"British Prime Minister expresses readiness for a
constructive and positive dialogue with Syria. US Ambassador
Scobey may return to post next month" (Government-owned Al-
Ba'th, 12/22)

"Russian Parliament members express support for Syria"
(Government-owned Tishreen, 12/22)

"One Palestinian martyred, eight injured in the West Bank.
Jerusalem's inhabitants are prevented from taking part in
the elections. Israeli War Minister Mofaz precedes his
meeting with Suleiman [Head of Egyptian Intelligence] by
threatening to invade the Gaza Strip" (Government-owned Al-
Thawra, 12/22)

"Iraqi election losers unite to contest results of
elections" (Government-owned Syria Times, 12/22)

3. Editorial Block Quotes:

"Chorus of Sedition"

Omar Jaftali, an editorialist in government-owned Tishreen,

positive and constructive dialogue with Syria according to
"a clear vision." Papers also reported a statement claiming
that US Ambassador Scobey may return to her post in Damascus
next month.
Papers also reported President Asad's meeting with Iranian
Vice-President Dr. Hussein Dahqan, who conveyed a message
from Iranian President Ahmadinejad on the situation in the
region and bilateral relations between the two countries.

commented (12/21): "It is high time for the Lebanese to
realize that their problem is not with Syria, but with the
chorus that day and night plays the discordant tune of 'the
Syrian conspiracy' to push Lebanon and the Lebanese towards
internationalization....

"The crisis is in fact fabricated. It is certainly not
between Lebanon and Syria, but between Syria and foreign
forces that pull some strings in Lebanon.

"Why are random accusations being made against Syria? Why
are the Israeli factor and the Zionist-American scheme
ignored whenever a murder is committed in Lebanon...? The
chorus of screamers in Lebanon is in fact raising the
demands that others make against Syria, not the demands of
the majority of the Lebanese, who increasingly fear a return
of the climate of division and fragmentation that will pave
the way to a new civil war, while they have not yet
forgotten the tragedies of the previous one...."

"A Hopeless Case"

Ahmad Dawwa, an editorialist in government-owned Al-Thawra,
commented (12/21): "Lebanese political leader Walid
Junblatt's accusations against Syria are hellish
imaginations....

Junblatt said recently that Syria terrorized Detlev Mehlis,
chief of the International Investigation Commission into the
Al-Hariri assassination.... This conclusion is horrible.
Mehlis never said anything of the sort.... Junblatt accused
Syrian security agents of sweeping Lebanon, but he did not
ask himself why the Lebanese security agencies have never
arrested a Syrian agent.... Junblatt probably considers the
majority of the Lebanese people, who support Syria, to be
Syrian security agents....

"The problem is that Junblatt offers all these imaginary
items without presenting evidence or solutions.... Junblatt
says something and its direct opposite at the same time. If
this shows anything, it shows the extent of his political
panic and his arrival at a dead end. The Lebanese people can
no longer be deceived by the campaigns of deception and
forgery. They know that the attempt to escape from a problem
by creating further trouble has become a characteristic of
some politicians. This is why many nationalist forces in
Lebanon are calling for reconsideration of all previous
steps."

"What Follows Resolution 1644?"

Dr. Turki Saqr, a commentator in government-owned Tishreen,
said (12/21): "The strong Syrian domestic front has foiled
foreign bets and plans against Syria....

"The post-Resolution 1644 stage requires two basic things:
First, we must not be confident that Syria has overcome the
difficult and delicate stage. The above-mentioned resolution
might turn much worse at any moment, especially since it was
fully based on Resolution 1636. Second, we must not forget
that the domestic front has been Syria's source of power in
all its battles and confrontations. The aim of the lies and
psychological warfare is to exhaust Syria domestically. The

positive and constructive dialogue with Syria according to
"a clear vision." Papers also reported a statement claiming
that US Ambassador Scobey may return to her post in Damascus
next month.
Papers also reported President Asad's meeting with Iranian
Vice-President Dr. Hussein Dahqan, who conveyed a message
from Iranian President Ahmadinejad on the situation in the
region and bilateral relations between the two countries.

main response lies in turning serious attention to the
homefront without delay or reluctance. The first sign of
such attention would be parallelism and harmony between
political reform and economic reform, and the improvement of
citizens' living conditions as a top priority. If haste is
unacceptable, speed is not. We have wasted much time talking
about reforms and the fight against corruption. Now it is
time for work."

"False Courage and Lost Virtue"

Isam Dari, a commentator in government-owned Tishreen, said
(12/21): "President Bush made a series of confessions last
week, believing this might be seen as courage and,
consequently, might lead to an improvement of his
popularity.... Bush's confession that he invaded Iraq on the
basis of wrong information and his statement that he ordered
spying on American citizens led to further embarrassment for
him and his administration and exposed part of the dirty
American policy, which is based on lies and violation of the
American Constitution and the principles of international
law."

"Bush's admission will not bring 100,000 dead Iraqis back to
life or build a country that has been destroyed by the
American army....

"The American people are paying a heavy price for the US
Administration's reckless policies and adventures, while the
rest of the world is suffering from a US policy that is
based on lies and fabrications...."

"Wild and Tame Weapons"

Ahmad Hamadah, a commentator in government-owned Al-Thawra,
commented (12/22): "There was a new fabricated report in The
New York Sun, quoting a former Israeli Chief of Staff as
saying that Iraq transferred its alleged chemical weapons to
Syria a few weeks before the American invasion....

"Israel, which possesses all types of weapons of mass
destruction, has returned to the same old allegation that
Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, an allegation that has
proven false....

"The allegation coincided with President Bush's admission
that American intelligence reports on Iraq's weapons were
wrong.... The former Israeli Chief of Staff called for
holding investigations into these chemical weapons.... If
the US administration invaded and occupied Iraq on a false
pretext, who can guarantee that it will not, under Israeli
pressure, fabricate more excuses to implement its plans
against Syria and the region?

"International accusations and inspections should be
directed at Israel's huge weapons arsenal, which has been
used to kill and displace hundreds of thousands of
Arabs...."

"Where Is Europe's Interest in What Is Going on?"

Muhammad Ali Buza, an editorialist in government-owned Al-
Thawra, commented (12/21): "The European position and role

positive and constructive dialogue with Syria according to
"a clear vision." Papers also reported a statement claiming
that US Ambassador Scobey may return to her post in Damascus
next month.
Papers also reported President Asad's meeting with Iranian
Vice-President Dr. Hussein Dahqan, who conveyed a message
from Iranian President Ahmadinejad on the situation in the
region and bilateral relations between the two countries.

in the region is ineffective.... Europe is not assuming its
historical responsibility to bring about peace and security
in this troubled part of the world.

"The EU's summit proclamation in Brussels expressed concern
over Israeli practices in Jerusalem and renewed the call for
an end to Israeli settlement activities.... Europe is
offering nothing but repeated sweet words meant for Arab
consumption....

"The European discourse tolerates Israel's policies of
aggression, growing Judaization, destruction of people and
property, and killing of peace. The European position leaves
Washington and Tel Aviv free to impose their agenda on the
region, which is not in Europe's interest...."

Johnson-Casares

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