VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHDM #1542/01 0961426
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 061426Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8150
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 5867
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 3747
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 2239
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 6958
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 0885
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 4324
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM 0551
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA//
INFO RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 6694

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 001542 
 
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/Saudi Arabia, 
Syria/Lebanon, Golan, Palestinian Territories, Iraq (4/6) 
 
¶1.  Summary: Syrian papers reported the meeting of Syrian 
Minister of Expatriates, Buthaina Shaaban with Emir Salman Bin 
Abed al-Aziz Al Saud, Emir of the Saudi city of Riyadh, who 
described the Syrian-Saudi relations as distinguished, and 
pointed out continuing consultations between the two countries 
in different regional issues. In an earlier meeting with Saudi 
Emir Al-Walid Bin Talal, Minister Shaaban stressed the 
significance of cooperation between both countries, calling on 
Saudi and Syrian businessmen to invest in Syria. 
 
Syrian papers also featured a statement by Former Lebanese 
Minister Talal Arslan who said, "for a year, the current 
government has been unable to run the country and has failed at 
all economic, political and social levels." 
 
End of summary. 
 
¶2.  Selected Headlines: 
 
"Minister of Labor Haj Aref receives the UN fact-finding 
committee on conditions of Syrian workers in occupied Golan: 
Israeli repressive measures in occupied Golan continue without 
any international deterrent" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 4/6) 
 
"Dr. Shabaan, Minister of Expatriates, confers with Emir Salman 
Bin Abed al-Aziz Al Saud, Emir of the Saudi city of Riyadh. 
Discussion focuses on bilateral ties between Syria and Saudi 
Arabia" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 4/6) 
 
"The Lebanese Cabinet holds a meeting headed by President Lahoud 
to discuss the reform plan. Lebanese parties, circles and 
personalities call for enhanced relations with Syria and 
protection of the Lebanese resistance" (Government-owned 
Tishreen, 4/6) 
 
"The Palestinian government holds its first meeting. Prime 
Minister Hanieh: We inherited a poor treasury. We are working to 
pay salaries of employees. Olmert will be announced Chairman of 
the Israeli cabinet today" (Government-owned Tishreen, 4/6) 
 
"Pressures increase for Al-Jaffari. Al-Madi presents himself as 
an alternative" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th) 
 
¶3. Editorial Block Quotes: 
 
-------------------- 
 
"Deadly US Mistakes" 
 
-------------------- 
 
Isam Dari, a columnist in government-owned Tishreen, wrote 
(4/6): "The US is implementing Israel's policy toward Arab 
issues instead of having its own independent policy.... 
 
"Therefore, it is useless to imagine that the United States is 
willing to bring about a just and comprehensive peace in the 
region.... Moreover, the United States bases its policy on the 
assumption that the region's countries are hostile to Israel and 
that it has to pressure these countries.... 
 
"We wonder how US Secretary of State Rice shamelessly 
acknowledges that her country has committed thousands of 
mistakes but does not apologize to the Iraqi people. 
 
"The Bush administration is making thousands and even millions 
of mistakes in Palestine, Afghanistan, Lebanon, and other 
countries....  Bush also protects Israeli terrorism against the 
Palestinian people.... The nations of the world will hold the 
United States accountable for its mistakes sooner or later." 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
"Occupation of Iraq, Failure and Absence of Horizons" 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
 
Ali Rahhal, a columnist in government-owned Al-Ba'th, wrote 
(4/6): "Research and studies that have been published on the 
Iraq war, indicate that the invasion of Iraq under false 
justifications was a grave mistake by the Bush 
administration.... 
 
"The Iraq war has destroyed Iraq and its people and reflected 
negatively on US interests.  Nevertheless the US Administration 
goes ahead with its mistakes, despite the increasing US losses 
and the American people's rejection of the war.... The US 
Administration is trying to impose its vision even though it is 
wrong.... Studies indicate that the current crisis in Iraq has 
not resulted from operations by terrorists or the resistance, 
but from the occupation's mistakes and the misconduct of the US 
Army...." 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
"Occupation is Behind Increasing Sedition in Iraq" 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
Na'im Muhammad Qaddah, former Ambassador, comments in Al-Thawrah 
(4/6): "It is the US-made sectarian climate that has ignited the 
fire in Iraq.... Agents of US occupation bombed the holy shrine 
in the northern Iraqi city of Samarra, which was under the 
control of the US Army at the time of the bombing. 
 
"Observers warn that certain circles in the United States are 
now calling for partitioning Iraq along ethnic and sectarian 
lines.... The atmosphere created by the US occupation has 
encouraged foreign intelligence services, such as Mosad, to 
interfere in Iraqi affairs. 
 
"The bombing of the tombs of two imams in the city of Samarra is 
part of the US divide and rule policy.... The United States is 
seeking to trigger sectarian strife among Iraqi Arabs, who form 
about 80 percent of the Iraqi people and are known for their 
adherence to their Arab and Islamic heritage." 
 
------------------------------------ 
 
"Recent Elections Were Not Decisive" 
 
------------------------------------ 
 
Ghassan Muhammad, a columnist in government-owned Al-Ba'th, 
wrote (4/6): "Israeli media organs have cast doubt on Ehud 
Olmert's plan to carry out a unilateral withdrawal from the West 
Bank....  Qadima has announced the plan in order to distinguish 
itself from the Labor Party and the Likud Party by pretending to 
accept a limited unilateral withdrawal from the West Bank.... 
The Labor Party is ready to accept such a plan through 
negotiations with Palestinians, while the Likud Party completely 
rejects the idea of withdrawal and insists on total control of 
the Palestinian territories.... 
 
"This does not mean there is a difference between this or that 
Israeli party over withdrawal, which is used by Israeli parties 
as a political maneuver.... 
 
"The idea of unilateral withdrawal was intended to win votes 
during the Israeli parliamentary elections....  Although Olmert 
believes that the occupation of Palestinian territories in 1967 
was a mistake, he has no courage to translate his belief into 
action...." 
 
Seche