VZCZCXRO9010
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK
DE RUEHMS #1394/01 2681338
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 251338Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7181
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0439
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0331
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 001394 
 
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: PROSPECTS FOR PEACE, ARAB REFORM, OMAN'S UN 
SPEECH, ISRAEL-HEZBOLLAH CONFLICT 
 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY:  Arabic daily "Al-Watan" says an "honest effort" is 
needed to achieve Middle East peace.  State Arabic daily "Oman" 
calls for "gradual reforms" in the Arab world to stem regional 
strife.  "Oman" also reports Foreign Minister Bin Alawi's UN speech, 
and notes Western "collusion" with Israel in Hezbollah combat.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
-------- 
COVERAGE 
-------- 
 
¶2.  The approach and start of Ramadan brought with it significantly 
lighter and less substantive coverage of international affairs, with 
reporting, for example, on holiday messages received by the Sultan 
splashed on front pages across all six dailies.  In articles culled 
from Western news agencies, papers did continue to report fallout 
from the Pope's speech and subsequent apologies, as well as the 
continuing negotiations regarding Iran's nuclear program. 
 
------------------------------------------ 
BLOCK QUOTES: "HONEST EFFORT" TOWARD PEACE 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶3.  "Al-Watan" (privately owned daily, circulation 42,000) on 
September 21 published an editorial, "No Need for More Deals, Just 
an Honest Effort": 
"Several issues must be taken into account if we are to forge true 
peace [in the Middle East] instead of merely adding initiatives, 
resolutions and agreements.  The first issue is the need to 
distinguish terrorism from legitimate national resistance against 
invaders. The second issue is the need to stop being selective about 
what international resolutions are implemented and to instead base 
peace on international legitimacy and implementation of all 
resolutions.  Third, seeking partial solutions is no longer 
acceptable.  Movement toward peace must involve all aspects of a 
conflict.  Fourth, the time frame for peace negotiations should be 
defined and have a deadline... Unimplemented resolutions need an 
honest effort to activate them and turn them into reality." 
------------------------------------------- 
ARAB WORLD SHOULD IMPLEMENT GRADUAL REFORMS 
------------------------------------------- 
¶4. On September 23, a columnist in Arabic government-owned daily 
"Oman" (circulation 38,000) wrote about "The World at A 
Crossroads": 
"The goals of the war waged by America against Iraq, Afghanistan, Al 
Qaeda, and, indirectly, Islamic movements (especially Hezbollah in 
Lebanon) were to get rid of certain organizations and political 
regimes such as the Taliban in Afghanistan, Usama Bin Laden, and 
Saddam's regime.  Then the goal expanded to end the Islamic entity 
that gained power after legitimate elections in Palestine.  Five 
years after September 11, the world is more tense and hate-filled, 
and religious conflicts have erupted between the Christian West and 
Muslim East.  The world is witnessing a situation that has become 
ever more complicated since the end of the Second World War.  A new 
philosophy is needed to deal with complicated issues and conflicts. 
The UN needs real reform, especially in the Security Council.  The 
Arab world, on the other hand, needs to reconsider its internal 
problems and the fate of its people.  Thus, it should implement 
gradual reforms to its political and economic systems and fight 
corruption." 
---------------------------------- 
OMANI FOREIGN MINISTER'S UN SPEECH 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶5. On September 24, "Oman" commented on Omani Minsister Responsible 
for Foreign Affairs Yousef bin Alawi's UNGA speech, in its 
editorial, "Highly Important and Complicated Changes": 
"While the Sultanate confirms its position towards the Palestinian 
issue and towards Israel's violations against Palestinians... it is 
also among those who support the Lebanese through resolution 1701. 
[Bin Alawi's] speech [reconfirmed those stances, and also] expressed 
worry about the deteriorating security situation in Iraq.  He voiced 
support for the Abuja Peace Agreement between the Sudanese 
government and the opposition.  He mentioned the necessity of 
keeping the Middle East free from nuclear power, while keeping the 
door open concerning the Iranian nuclear issue.  He also said that 
there should be an international strategy to fight terrorism, and a 
balance between security and human rights." 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
WESTERN "COLLUSION" WITH ISRAEL IN HEZBOLLAH COMBAT 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
¶6. "Oman" on September 25 published the editorial "Late 
 
MUSCAT 00001394  002 OF 002 
 
 
Confession": 
"The Arab confession on the failure of the peace project is late, 
wasting many opportunities to...bring the process back to the right 
track.  However, this failure has been balanced by the victory of 
the Lebanese resistance, which demonstrated that America and the 
West stand behind Israel...the Israeli war against Lebanon has 
revealed Western collusion with Israel." 
GRAPPO