VZCZCXYZ0016
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHDM #1540/01 0961424
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 061424Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8146
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 5863
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 3743
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 2235
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 6954
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 0881
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 4320
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM 0547
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA//
INFO RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 6690

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 001540 
 
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: Syria/US, Iraq, Palestinian 
Territories, Lebanon (4/4) 
 
 
¶1.  Summary: Syrian papers reported the meeting of Dr. Buthaina 
Shabaan, Minister of Expatriates, with a US delegation from the 
Churches Panel for Peace in the Middle East. The meeting tackled 
practical and constructive means to deepen dialogue and 
communication and to bolster common grounds to achieve a just and 
comprehensive peace in the region and the world. 
 
Dr. Buthaina Shabaan hailed the action of the group of US 
churches to espouse peace and face fanaticism and warmongers, 
saying that their visit to the region was an important source of 
facts. 
 
On Lebanon, papers featured a statement by Ali Qansu, Chairman of 
the Syrian Social Nationalist Party in Lebanon, reiterating the 
importance of distinguished relations between Syria and Lebanon, 
and warning against attempts to damage these relations. 
 
End of summary. 
 
¶2.  Selected Headlines: 
 
"Minister of Expatriates Buthaina Shaaban reviews the regional 
situation with a delegation representing the American Churches 
for Middle East Peace. The American delegation: We work to 
support Syria and achieve justice and peace" (Government-owned 
Tishreen, 4/4) 
 
"British, American and Croatian companies to start oil 
exploration in northern Syria by end of April" (Government-owned 
Al-Thawra, 4/4) 
 
"Lebanese national dialogue among all factions to continue on 
April 28. Lebanese MPs and figures emphasize support for the 
resistance and for reactivating protocols of cooperation with 
Syria" (Government-owned Tishreen, 4/4) 
 
"Five US soldieries killed, three missing in al-Anbar province. 
Rice and Straw: We will not interfere in Iraqi affairs; We want a 
strong prime minister" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 4/4) 
 
"Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos calls on Europe 
to boost ties with the Islamic world" (Government-owned Tishreen, 
4/4) 
 
"Moscow confirms cold relation with Washington: We possess what 
is sufficient to confront any NATO assault" (Government-owned Al- 
Ba'th, 4/4) 
 
¶3.  Editorial Block Quotes: 
 
------------------------ 
 
"Rice's Acknowledgement" 
 
------------------------ 
 
Isam Dari, an editorialist in government-owned Tishreen, wrote 
(4/4): "Why have US Secretary of State Rice and British Home 
Office Secretary Straw come to Iraq? Have they succeeded in 
putting the Iraqi house, which their countries have destroyed, 
in order? 
 
"Rice expressed her anger over the delay in the formation of a 
new Iraqi government.... 
 
"These two countries' interference in Iraqi affairs has become a 
daily routine.... Has Rice come to Iraq to correct some of the 
mistakes she said the United State has committed in Iraq? 
 
"The acknowledgement of mistakes will not compensate for the 
lives of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and for the destruction 
of the country." 
 
---------------------- 
 
"Claims on Democracy" 
 
 
---------------------- 
 
Adnan Nasir, a columnist in government-owned Al-Ba'th, wrote 
(4/4): "The victory of HAMAS in the Palestinian elections shows 
that US policy in the region has failed.... 
 
"The US Administration has rejected the will of a nation to 
choose its representatives fairly and freely in accordance with 
Western criteria.... The United States has launched a starvation 
campaign against the Palestinian people to force them to abandon 
their choice.... 
 
"If US President Bush does not recognize the results of the 
democratic process in Palestine, his slogans will lose their 
meaning.... The current Bush administration adopted Sharon's 
policies, supported Zionist terrorism against the Palestinian 
people, and recognized major settlements in the West Bank.... 
 
"How could Bush and Sharon hold negotiations on the future of 
the Palestinians in isolation from the Palestinian leaders? 
Moreover, the Bush administration has decided to besiege and 
isolate HAMAS and to prevent other countries from contacting 
HAMAS leaders...." 
 
Seche