VZCZCXRO6033
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK
DE RUEHMS #1370/01 2611258
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 181258Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7155
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0437
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0329
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 001370 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD, NEA/PI, AND INR/R/MR 
STATE PASS USTR FOR N. MOORJANI, J. BUNTIN 
LONDON FOR TSOU 
PARIS FOR ZEYA 
USCENTCOM FOR PLUSH 
FOREIGN PRESS CENTER FOR SILAS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP KPAO KMDR MU
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: ANTI-TERROR EFFORTS, PALESTINIAN 
GOVERNANCE, AND IRAQ 
 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY:  Omani dailies cover the Ambassador's presentation of 
credentials, look positively at the International Religious Freedom 
Report, and accord major coverage to the unfolding controversy 
regarding the Pope's comments on Islam.  State daily "Oman" stresses 
the importance of mutual understanding I confronting terrorism. 
"Oman" and private daily "Al-Watan" express hope that a Palestinian 
unity government can help revive the Peace Process.  "Oman" calls 
Iraq "imprisoned under foreign occupation," comparing U.S. 
administration there to Britain's early 20th-century Iraq policy. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
-------- 
COVERAGE 
-------- 
 
¶2.  On Monday, September 18, all Omani dailies front-paged 
Ambassador Gary A. Grappo's presentation of credentials to Sultan 
Qaboos; some ran large color pictures of the event on their inside 
pages.  All dailies also ran an Oman News Agency (ONA) article on 
this year's International Religious Freedom report on Oman, to which 
coverage the three English-language papers added several verbatim 
excerpts from the IRF report.  The English-language Oman Tribune's 
(circulation 8,000) headlined its story "U.S. Hails Sultanate's 
Religious Tolerance."  Omani dailies also prominently carried news 
agency reports of all aspects of the controversy surrounding the 
Pope's remarks on Islam. 
 
---------------------------------------- 
BLOCK QUOTES: MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING VITAL 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  In its September 17 editorial, Arabic government-owned daily 
"Oman" (circulation 38,000) said that "Caution and Cooperation to 
Face Terrorism is More than a Must": 
"With the passing of the fifth anniversary of the September 11 
terrorist events...it seems that the world is facing real risks that 
have started to manifest themselves, whether through Al Qaida's 
repeated threats or the growing number of terrorist operations by 
anonymous parties.  The world does not need disputes, arguments and 
accusations not based on deep thinking and logic, especially not 
disputes between Islam and Christianity, with followers of those 
faiths forming two-thirds of the world population.  In light of 
these ongoing disputes, Al Qaida's increasing threats are 
counterproductive for Islam and Muslims...[the Pope's recent speech 
relating Islam and violence] might be exploited by extremists from 
both sides to fuel more disputes and troubles in a world that yearns 
for tranquility and stability.  In fact, mutual respect and 
understanding between the three divine religions (Islam, 
Christianity and Judaism) is vital to the peace and stability of 
today's world... Scholars and specialists from the three religions 
must cooperate closely to achieve the best possible understanding 
between their religions, which are all seeking to make humans happy. 
 On the other hand, it is not a coincidence that [the Middle East 
region] has witnessed more than one terrorist attempt in many of its 
countries during the past few days... These attempts were thwarted, 
but these sorts of disturbances will not be the last of their kind, 
particularly given the threats of Ayman Al Zawahri, Al Qaida's 
second-in-command...  With the increasing need of all the countries 
of the region to be cautious, it is important and necessary for 
these countries to achieve the greatest possible cooperation and 
coordination between themselves to contain the new terrorist wave 
that targets the people and countries of the area. 
------------------------------------- 
PALESTINIAN UNITY MORE THAN NECESSARY 
------------------------------------- 
¶4. Another columnist for "Oman" wrote on September 15 that 
"Palestinian Unity Government More than A Necessity Now": 
"The recently announced agreement...for the formation of a 
Palestinian unity government has been widely welcomed in Palestinian 
and Arab circles, as well as by many of those who are interested in 
developments in this vital area of the world.  However, the 
agreement on a unity government is, by itself, insufficient.  The 
most important issue for the parties is to agree on the foundations 
on which the new government depends, the atmosphere in which it 
moves, and its scope at the domestic, regional, and international 
levels to activate the Peace Process, removing any Israeli excuses 
to procrastinate or blame the Palestinian side.   With the nature of 
current events in the region, and the high level of Arab support in 
the United Nations...the Palestinian stance in general, and the 
Palestinian government's stance in particular, can be used to 
address public opinion or pave the way for reactivating the Peace 
Process...It would be useful for the Palestinians to prevent Israel 
 
MUSCAT 00001370  002 OF 002 
 
 
and any other parties from trying to hinder this process. The 
Palestinians' circumstances depend to a great extent on [Fatah and 
Hamas's] ability to work together to serve the whole Palestinian 
people in the present time and future." 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
UNITY GOVERNMENT IS PALESTINIANS' "SAFETY VALVE" 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶5. On September 13, "Al-Watan" (privately owned daily, circulation 
42,000) wrote that "The National Unity Government is the Rescue Team 
for the Palestinian People": 
 
"It has become very clear that the main cause of the Palestinian 
people's suffering is the policy of the international community. The 
solution of this problem will come only through negotiation with 
this community, which includes the United States. This makes it 
vital that Hamas be accountable before the Palestinian people and 
face the facts as they are instead of propagating doubts and 
exporting fear... It is also hoped that the formation of the new 
government in the forthcoming days will help the Palestinian people 
to return to normal life ... and establish an independent 
Palestinian state, with Al Quds (Jerusalem) as its capital...  The 
Palestinian people, despite all their factions, are urged to despise 
all violence and anarchy, and instead to strengthen the language of 
national dialogue instead of resorting to weapons.  They are asked 
to prepare a unified political plan to address the international 
public opinion, instead of trading accusations.  All parties are now 
requested to combine their efforts to achieve the utmost possible 
degree of agreement in all aspects." 
------------------------------------------ 
IRAQ "IMPRISONED UNDER FOREIGN OCCUPATION" 
------------------------------------------ 
¶6. On September 12, "Oman" looked at Iraq "From the Moguls to the 
Americans - Iraq Fights Division": 
"Iraq has witnessed many different eras over its long history, 
between grandeur and weakness.  However, its era as an Islamic state 
was the brightest in the Arab and Islamic region. By the time the 
Abbasid state ended in 1258, after more than five golden centuries, 
Iraqis had triumphed in many battles to defend their identity and 
integrity....  The British occupied Iraq with the politics of 
intimidation and sectarianism, playing tribes off each other... The 
divide-and-rule policy employed by the British might have succeeded 
had not the Iraqis quickly discovered the deception of the British 
when they formed an occupation administration in Baghdad - similar 
to Bremer's administration - to legislate on their behalf... Today 
is similar to that day. Iraq has [again] been chosen to remain 
imprisoned under foreign occupation and some Iraqis have [again] 
approached the occupier to help them achieve more benefits and 
interests... 
GRAPPO