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O 041427Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3058
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UNCLAS DAMASCUS 000208 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR PA, NEA/ARN, INR/IC/CD, INR/R/MR:STHIBEAULT AND 
JMCCARTER, VOA NEWS CA, NEA/PPD:CBOURGEOIS, AZAIBACK, AND 
AFERNANDEZ, IIP/G/NEA-SA MDAVIDSON 
WHITE HOUSE FOR NSC 
CENTCOM FOR CCPA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY
SUBJECT:  Shara's "Le Monde" Interview, Mouallem's Cairo Visit, 
Bilal, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestinian Territories, Golan, Iran (3/2-4) 
 
 
¶1.  Summary:  Syrian papers featured VP Shara's interview with 
French daily "Le Monde" published 
March 2 in which he expressed Syria's relative optimism on the 
success of an international meeting in Baghdad aimed at stabilizing 
Iraq, saying that "much depends on the attitude of the United 
States;  I am optimistic, but in a measured fashion."  He added that 
Syria, as a key player, is ready to do its best to find a solution 
to the current situation, as it is in Syria's interest to see a 
peaceful Iraq.  He warned that the situation could get even worse. 
Shara called upon all parties to be prudent, for "the situation 
there is chaotic and is slipping out of control.  One must be very 
prudent because important issues are at stake."  On Syrian-French 
relations, the vice president expressed hope that the crisis between 
the two countries will end with the French presidential election, 
whoever wins, because there is no reason for the continuation of 
boycott between the two countries, and healthy normal relations must 
be restored in the service of the two countries' interests. 
 
Papers also reported FM Mouallem's arrival in Cairo to take part in 
the Arab League Council meeting on March 4 that will decide subjects 
for the agenda of the Arab summit in Riyadh on March 10.  Mouallem 
met on March 3 with Amr Mousa, SecGen of the Arab League, focusing 
on the agenda, including rejection of US unilateral sanctions on 
Syria.  The Mouallem-Mousa discussions also dealt with developments 
in the Palestinian territories, the Golan, Lebanon and Iraq. 
Mouallem also held talks with Antonio Guterres, UN High Commissioner 
for Refugees, on UN efforts to hold an international conference on 
means of extending aid to Iraqi refugees.  Guterres expressed deep 
thanks to the Syrian leadership for efforts aimed to ease the 
suffering of the refugees. 
 
Papers also cited a statement by Minister of Information Dr. Mohsen 
Bilal to Iranian al-Aalam Satellite channel on March 3 confirming 
Syria's participation in the Arab Summit in Riyadh and saying that 
Syria's participation would be "active and influential."  Bilal 
described Syrian-Saudi relations as "fraternal and friendly" since 
they are two sisterly Arab countries working in the same Islamic 
Arab arena for just Arab causes in Palestine, Lebanon and Iraq and 
for Islamic solidarity.  Minister Bilal noted that Syria wants to 
deal with Lebanon as a "sovereign sisterly Arab country represented 
by a national government embodying the Lebanese people."  Bilal 
noted that "[Israeli PM] Olmert might think of an adventure against 
Syria to save himself from the current impasse due to his defeat 
before the Lebanese resistance."   "Syria has never trusted the 
Israeli government because it might begin an adventure at any 
moment, and we are taking this into consideration," the Information 
Minister said. 
 
End of summary. 
 
¶2.  Selected Headlines: 
 
"In an interview with French daily 'Le Monde', VP Shara expresses 
relative optimism over the Iraq conference" (Independent Al-Wattan, 
3/4) 
 
"FM Mouallem discusses agenda of the forthcoming meeting of the Arab 
League Council and the Arab summit in Riaydh with League Secretary 
General Amr Mousa" (Government-owned Tishreen, 3/4) 
 
"Information Minister Dr. Mohsen Bilal:  We strive for active, 
unified Arab solidarity and we support everything the Lebanese agree 
upon;  Our relations with Saudi Arabia are fraternal" 
(Government-owned Tishreen, 3/4) 
 
"The EU discusses Israeli nuclear arms in Brussels tomorrow" 
(Government-owned Tisrheen, 3/4) 
 
"Growing condemnations of US policy and its Lebanese symbols. 
Lahoud:  I will take a constitutional step to save Lebanon" 
(Government-owned Tishreen, 3/4) 
 
"The deteriorating situation of injured US soldiers in Iraq and 
Afghanistan results in the firing of US Army Secretary Francis 
Harvey" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 3/4) 
 
"A mortar attack against a British base in Iraq.  The security 
situation in Iraq continues to deteriorate.  Bodies of 14 security 
officers found.  3164 US solders killed in Iraq" (Government-owned 
Tishreen, 3/3) 
 
"Challenges for the new security plan in Baghdad increase.  Three US 
soldiers killed in various places in Iraq" (Government-owned 
Tishreen, 3/4) 
 
"Announcement of the Palestinian national unity government is 
postponed.  Nablus is hit by a calamity and Bel'in defies the 
occupation" (Government-owned Tishreen, 3/3) 
 
"US officers in Iraq:  We are facing a collapse in Iraq on the 
Vietnamese model" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 3/2) 
 
"A Conference is to be held in Cairo today to defend al-Aqsa Mosque" 
(Government-owned Tishreen, 3/4) 
 
"Israeli forces kidnap a Lebanese youth before the eyes of UNIFIL 
forces.  Lebanese forces:  The US project will not be passed in 
Lebanon.  Former Lebanese Minister Wadee al-Khazen:  The February 14 
team works to stir up chaos" (Government-owned Tishreen, 3/3 
 
"Lebanese opposition:  Feltman has aborted a solution in Lebanon" 
(Government-owned Al-Thawra, 3/2) 
 
"A US study:  War against terrorism has spread horror" 
(Government-owned Al-Thawra, 3/2) 
 
"US journalist Hersh:  Israel's defeat in Lebanon has changed US 
strategy" (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 3/2) 
 
"Ahmadinejad is to visit Saudi Arabia next week" (Government-owned 
Al-Thawra, 3/2) 
 
¶3.  Editorial Block Quotes: 
 
------------------------------------- 
 
"The Golan on the Road to Liberation" 
 
------------------------------------- 
 
Midhat al-Salih, a commentator in independent Al-Wattan, wrote 
(3/2):  "The victories of the Lebanese resistance against the 
Israeli enemy, especially the latest victory in July, constituted a 
new turning point in the region on the military and political 
levels.... 
 
"The July victory proved once again that the Arab resistance is able 
to stand fast and wage a confrontation.  In fact, the victory of 
Hizbollah and all those who supported the resistance in Lebanon 
rekindled our hopes and made us think effectively of this sacred 
right [resistance] as the only option that Israel understands.... 
 
"Moreover, it became clear after the July victory, even to Arab 
moderates, that Israel will not allow any of the peace initiatives, 
talks, and efforts in the region, whether proposed by the peoples of 
the region or imported from abroad, to achieve peace unless this 
peace is based on the expansionist Zionist vision.... 
 
"Syria, which has never spared an effort to achieve a just and 
comprehensive peace that would bring back the Golan in full, never 
abandoned the resistance option, especially since it knew that 
Israel never wanted peace, and that it does not want peace today. 
Israel has always ignored peace calls and plans, regardless of their 
sources and forms. 
 
"We today call for adherence to the Syrians' sacred right to armed 
resistance for the liberation of the Golan, first because this is 
the duty of every Syrian and second because the administration of 
George Bush Junior and Israel, regardless of the government that 
rules it, do not appear ready, in the foreseeable future, to give up 
our Golan through negotiations and good relations, as some people 
think.  Israel has never done that.  It has always rudely and 
 
insolently rejected diplomatic means and international efforts that 
began after its occupation of the Golan and the other Arab 
territories in 1967...." 
 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
"What Are Arabs Waiting for to Lift the Siege?" 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
Ahmad Dawwa, an editorialist in government-owned Al-Thawra, wrote 
(3/2):  "It is noted that the broad international welcome that the 
Mecca agreement received (only a few discordant voices rejected it) 
has not been translated into support for Palestinians and pressure 
on Israel, which is trying hard to move the Palestinians from one 
trench to another and prevent them from implementing what they 
agreed on. The pressure and the calls for respecting the agreements 
must be directed toward Israel, which has never respected any 
agreement, treaty, or international resolution.... 
 
"Arabs, who have collectively decided to break the siege and help 
Palestinians, must immediately and unhesitatingly break the siege, 
before all others, so as to serve as a bridge for the international 
community, which is waiting to see what the Arabs are going to do in 
this regard. 
 
"It would be sad and shameful for a non-Arab country to move toward 
breaking the siege on the Palestinian people while Arabs are still 
waiting and making calculations, and while Israel is engaging in 
incursions and demolitions and working day and night to kill the 
agreement on the formation of a Palestinian unity government before 
it sees the light of day...." 
 
----------------------- 
 
"Epidemic of Terrorism" 
 
----------------------- 
 
Isam Dari, Chief Editor of government-owned Tishrin, wrote (3/3): 
"The United States is spreading terrorism, death, and destruction in 
the four corners of the globe.... 
 
"Acts of terrorism and the number of terrorism victims have 
increased since Washington declared its war on terror.... Terrorism 
came to the Middle East with the arrival of the Jewish gangs in 
Palestine at the beginning of the 20th century.... Terrorism is 
still an official policy for Israeli governments.... 
 
"The plague of terrorism is sweeping the whole world at the hands of 
those who claim to be fighting terrorism and defending human rights. 
 We de not think we need evidence to prove that terrorism is a 
Zionist industry par excellence, marketed by Americans par 
excellence.  The nations of the world know this fact fully. 
 
"The US Administration must acknowledge shame and must stop making 
false claims.  Then we will accept any false justifications for the 
destructive American wars.  But we will certainly not accept the lie 
of fighting terrorism.  This is a big joke, not believed 
even those who made it and who are trying to sell it to the world." 
 
 
------------------------------------------ 
 
"Participation for the Sake of the Nation" 
 
------------------------------------------ 
 
Samir al-Shibani, an editorialist in government-owned Tishreen, 
wrote (3/3):  "The news of the conference that Iraq's neighboring 
countries will hold in Baghdad on Saturday is making the headlines 
of the international print and audio-visual media.... 
 
"Dialogue is a required and necessary -- indeed inevitable -- 
language among parties and forces trying to reach a reasonable 
formula serving as a common denominator and opening a genuine window 
 
of hope that the directly concerned people might be saved from their 
tragedy.  This is all the more true when the talk is about the 
tragedy of the Iraqi people. Millions of Iraqis have been displaced. 
 The best Iraqi scientists have been killed.  The main wealth of 
Iraq has been looted and its heritage stolen.  Iraq has been placed 
in an unusual prison whose brutality everyone has heard about 
through the infamous Abu Ghraib.... 
Out of its concern for Iraq -- land, unity, sovereignty, and dignity 
-- Syria announced that it will participate in the Baghdad 
conference on Saturday.  It is participating in the conference not 
out of love for dialogue and meetings with the Americans and others 
only.  This is a new step to be added to the record of Syria, which 
is open for talks with everyone without exception, but this will 
remain based on the national and pan-Arab principles that Syria has 
always championed.  Iraq, like Palestine, is the door to every 
agreement, harmony, and understanding.  We note here that Baghdad's 
upcoming meeting has great importance and that dialogue in general 
is not an end in and of itself but a means to reach a solution to 
all the problems of the region. 
 
Corbin