Cablegate: Damascus Media Reaction: Peace Process, Lebanon, Iraq,

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DE RUEHDM #5137/01 3041316
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O 311316Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2259
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 6342
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 4148
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 2733
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 7332
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 1355
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 4713
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM 0931
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA//
INFO RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 7064

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 005137

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR PA, NEA/ARN, INR/IC/CD, INR/S:STHIBEAULT AND
JMCCARTER, 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: Peace Process, Lebanon, Iraq,
Palestinian Territories (10/31)

1. Summary: Syrian papers reported President Asad's meeting with a
delegation of the Foreign Journalists Association in which he
underscored the role of media and journalists in conveying facts and
enhancing communication among civilizations. President Asad answered
questions about the peace process in the region, the importance of
the roles of Europe and America in establishing a just and
comprehensive peace, Syrian-European relations, Syria's stances
vis--vis current developments in the region, Syrian and Arab
relations with Latin American countries and ongoing modernization
and reforms in Syria in all fields.
Papers also reported the graduation ceremony of a new class of air
force cadets at which Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Ali Habib
delivered a speech confirming Syria's readiness to confront any
aggression and that it will not be intimidated by threats. Habib
praised the Lebanese resistance's confrontation of the recent
Israeli aggression against Lebanon. He reiterated that Syria would
always stand by the international community to establish peace and
stability in the region by implementing legitimate international
resolutions.
End of summary.

2. Selected Headlines:
"Under president Asad's patronage, a new class of air force cadets
graduates. Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Habib: Threats and
pressure against Syria will not intimidate or divert it from its
firm stances and principles" (Government-owned Tishreen, 10/31)
"President Asad underscores the important role of media and
journalists in conveying facts and enhancing communication among
civilizations. President Asad emphasizes the important role of
Europe and America in the peace process" (Government-owned Tishreen,
10/31)
"Syria's Information Minister Dr. Mohsen Bilal and former Russian
Premier Primakov review reactivation of media cooperation between
Syria and Russia" (Government-owned Tishreen, 10/31)
"British expert Williams confirms that Israel used depleted uranium
in its latest aggression against Lebanon. Lebanese call for a new
government and warn against conspiratorial positions by the March 14
group" (Government-owned Tishreen, 10/31)
"A US diplomat is involved in smuggling arms into Lebanon"
(Government-owned Al-Thawra, 10/31)
"While Haaretz calls for returning the Golan to Syria, US daily
'Washington Post': Israel is working hard to double the number of
settlers in the occupied Syrian Golan" (Government-owned Tishreen,
10/31)
"The International Parliamentary Federation calls on Israel to
release HAMAS MPs. Omert threatens to wage a massive assault in the
West Bank. Hahieh calls on the international community to stop
Israeli attack" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 10/31)
"One Palestinian martyred and two wounded in Beit Hanon"
(Government-owned Tishreen, 10/31)
"A US security delegation suddenly in Baghdad. Various explosions
claim the lives of scores of Iraqis. Zebari supports extension for
US troops in Iraq" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 10/31)
3. Editorial Block Quotes:

----------------------
"Alicante Declaration"
----------------------
Muhammad Khayr al-Jammali, an editorialist in government-owned
Al-Thawra, wrote (10/31): "Peace in the Middle East is not only a
regional need but also an international need. This is why the
foreign ministers of 11 Mediterranean countries issued a declaration
in the Spanish city of Alicante calling for the launch of a new and
credible Middle East peace process....
"The current peace process has failed despite efforts and
negotiations that lasted for 10 years, during which the Arab
position, particularly the Syrian position, was characterized by
seriousness, firm commitment to the principles and international
terms of reference of peace, and positive cooperation with every
international effort that sought to guarantee the success and
survival of the peace process. The Israeli and American positions,
on the other hand, were characterized by intransigence regarding the
peace requirements, and Israel used the peace process to waste time,
believing that Arabs adopted peace as the only strategic option and
dropped all other options....
"The previous peace process failed because Israel, supported by the

United States, refused to comply with the requirements of peace,
namely, withdrawing its forces to the June 4, 1967, border and
recognizing the full legitimate national rights of the Palestinian
people. In order for the Alicante initiative not to meet the same
failure and for the region not to witness further tension, chaos,
and unrest endangering world peace, it is necessary to make Israel
and those who take its side for personal reasons or strategic
interests understand that policies of force, occupation, pressure,
and threats will result in many disasters that will affect not only
the countries that are targeted by these policies, but also, and
mainly, the parties that adopt these policies. The alternative,
therefore, is a credible peace process proceeding from a serious
Israeli desire for peace and a sincere American commitment to it and
a positive, unbiased role leading the process to its desired end."
------------------------
"'The Tripartite Attack,' and Continued Colonialist Course"
------------------------
Dr. Khalaf al-Jarrad, Chief Editor of government-owned Tishrin,
commented (10/31): "The Tripartite Attack against Egypt in 1956,
was not the first or the last in the wave of colonialist
invasions.... The Arab world is currently witnessing fierce Western
colonialist campaigns.... Pretexts and objectives have always been
the same.
"Those who have a chance to thoroughly examine recently released
archive documents, memoranda, and correspondence on the old
colonialist plans in the Arab region will find similarity,
proximity, and indeed conformity between these objectives and known
tactics of colonialist forces in past centuries and what their major
heir (the United States) is declaring and doing today: invasion,
occupation, threats, political and diplomatic games, blackmail,
provocation, and attempts to divide Arabs by bringing some of them
closer and driving others away. This is in addition to creating
sedition, doubts, and obsessions among them through carefully
thought-out media leaks, hints, suggestions, doublespeak, lies,
psychological mobilization, personalization of issues, and inflation
of differences. The aim is to ignite the fire of Arab-Arab disputes
and maintain the climate of tension so that the US Administration
alone will remain the dominant power in continuation of the
inherited colonialist traditions."
------------------------
"Deliberate Criminality"
------------------------
Umar Jaftali, an editorialist in government-owned Tishreen, wrote
(10/31): "A British press report revealed that Israel used
uranium-based ammunition in its recent war against Lebanon....
Israel persists in inflicting long-term harm on the Lebanese....
"Israel was not content with immersing Lebanese territory in the
blood of innocent people and with fully destroying Lebanon's
infrastructure from north to south. It left gifts for the Lebanese:
uranium, cluster bombs, mines, and phosphoric bombs that killed a
number of Lebanese. It refuses to give the maps of these deadly
bombs to UNIFIL, and it continues to challenge Resolution 1701 and
Lebanese sovereignty....
"We regret that no one in the international community is speaking
up, demanding that Israel be held to account and punished for its
proven crimes against Lebanon and the Lebanese...."
Corbin

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