VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHDM #0224/01 0661519
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 071519Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3086
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 6622
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 4387
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 2999
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 7551
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 1611
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 4948
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM 1160
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA//
INFO RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 7287

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 000224 
 
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:  Syria/Iraq, Syria/US, Syria/EU, Lebanon, Palestinian 
Territories,  (3/6-7) 
 
¶1.  Summary:  Syrian papers on March 6 and 7 reported the visit to 
Damascus of Iraqi VP Tarek al Hashimi and his meeting with President 
Assad, VP Sharaa and other Syrian officials.  The purpose of the 
visit was to boost bilateral relations and reiterate support for 
national reconciliation in Iraq.  Assad and Hashimi discussed Syrian 
efforts to support national reconciliation and stability in Iraq. 
 
President Assad also met with the Belgian FM and reviewed with him 
the latest regional developments.  A joint press conference showed 
differences on some issues, including the issue of the 
Syrian-Lebanese borders.  Mouallem said Syria would close the 
borders if international monitors were deployed there.  Assad also 
met with the US National Radio Network and reviewed with them the 
regional situation. 
 
End of summary. 
 
¶2.  Selected Headlines: 
 
"President Assad reiterates to Hashimi Syria's support for national 
reconciliation and Iraq's unity" (Government-owned Tishreen, 3/7) 
 
"Otri:  Combating corruption is a prominent national mission" 
(Government-owned Tishreen, 3/7) 
 
"President Assad meets with Belgium's FM, discusses regional 
situation and Partnership Agreement " (Government-owned Al-Thawra, 
3/7) 
 
"President Assad explains to a US media delegation Syrian positions" 
(Government-owned Al-Thawra, 3/7) 
 
"Iraqi Vice President al-Hashemi is due in Damascus today" 
(Government-owned Tishreen, 3/5) 
 
"Al-Maliki does not rule out that the Baghdad conference will be a 
basis for regional dialogues.   Tehran expresses hope for the 
success of the Baghdad Conference" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 3/5) 
 
"Mouallem:  Syria will close its borders with Lebanon if 
international monitors are deployed on the borders" (Independent al 
Watan, 3/7) 
 
"Syria and Venezuela stress the importance of the Arab-Latin 
American convergence" (al Watan, 3/6) 
 
"Sharaa:  National accord and ending occupation will guarantee the 
return of stability " (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 3/6) 
 
¶3.  Editorial Block Quotes: 
 
-------------------- 
 
"The People at the Summit" 
 
-------------------- 
 
Issam Dari, Chief Editor of government-owned Tishreen, wrote (3/7: 
"It is absolutely rejected that hostile fingers play with the 
(Arab)Summit schedule, whether directly or through mediators, so 
that decisions come out in accordance with Israeli and American 
interests, and totally contrary to the prevailing Arab current, 
which represents the interests of all Arabs, from the Gulf to the 
Atlantic Ocean. 
 
"Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni announced rudely and 
insolently, in what looks like an order for Arabs, that she wants 
the Riyadh summit to 'review the Arab Initiative, by introducing 
amendments, regarding, especially, the paragraph about the refugees' 
right to return....' 
 
"However, what makes us sad and suspicious are those calls for 
amending the Initiative to become 'more convenient for the Israeli 
interest.' 
 
There is no doubt that the 'people at the Summit' are responsible to 
 
the 'people at the Bottom.'  For whose sake are these concessions? 
And why do some of us seek to please the American master and Israel 
at the expense of Arab principles, rights and, even, existence?" 
 
----------------------------------------- 
 
"Between Failure and the Illusion of victory " 
----------------------------------------- 
 
Ahmad Burghul, a columnist in government-owned Al-Thawra, commented 
(3/7):  "Apparently President Bush is not interested in the dilemma 
from which his troops are suffering in Iraq.  Nor is he concerned 
about the devastation that has taken place in the country, which has 
been occupied and destroyed in violation of international law... 
 
"The democratic Congress is in constant confrontation with President 
Bush, and the majority of Americans are now scared that Bush may 
push the US into a new war with Iran for the sake of Israel's 
interests.. . 
 
"President Bush managed to divide Americans about his unilateral 
policy and his decision to invade Iraq in 2003.... And now Americans 
have to face the horrible consequences of the folly of Bush, Cheney 
and Rice, who waged this aggressive war to accomplish the 
instructions of the neo-conservative snakes, who misled American and 
international public opinion, and made (people) believe that the 
unjust occupation would bring democracy for Iraqis, who are 
desperate for it." 
 
Corbin