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courage is contagious

Viewing cable 07DAMASCUS236, Baghdad Conference, Syria/Iran, Syria/EU, Lebanon,

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07DAMASCUS236 2007-03-11 14:49 2011-08-24 01:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Damascus
VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHDM #0236/01 0701449
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 111449Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3108
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 6632
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 4392
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 3007
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 7553
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 1613
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 4950
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM 1162
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA//
INFO RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 7289
UNCLAS DAMASCUS 000236 
 
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:  Baghdad Conference, Syria/Iran, Syria/EU, Lebanon, 
Palestinian Territories (3/9-11) 
 
 
1.  Summary:  Syrian papers on Mar. 11 reported the inauguration of 
the Baghdad Conference of Iraq's Neighboring Countries on Mar. 10. 
The Syrian delegation was headed by Assistant Foreign Minister Ahmad 
Arnus, who delivered a statement in which he explained Syria's 
position toward the difficult situation in Iraq and ways to achieve 
the required political solution.  The statement also stressed 
Syria's support for Iraq and all of its people, and condemned as 
terrorist the attacks that target Iraqi citizens and national 
establishments.  The statement expressed Syria's support for a 
political solution leading to the restoration of security and 
stability and the establishment of a new Iraq with an Arab and 
Islamic identity and affiliation and good relations with its 
neighbors.  The statement stressed that the achievement of national 
reconciliation must take into consideration the need to confront 
sectarianism and to prepare for a comprehensive Iraqi national 
dialogue. 
 
On Syrian-Iranian relations, papers on Mar. 11 reported that Deputy 
Commander-in-Chief of the Syrian Army and Minister of Defense Gen. 
Hassan Tourkmani and Iranian Minister of Defense Mostafa Mohammad 
Najjar reviewed on Mar. 10 the latest developments in the region, 
bilateral relations between the two countries and means of 
developing them.  Talks also touched upon cooperation between the 
armies of the two countries. 
 
Independent al-Wattan on Mar. 11 reported that President Jacques 
Chirac has lifted his veto and agreed "without reservation" on a 
trip to Damascus scheduled for March 14 by Javier Solana, the 
European Union's Foreign Policy Chief.  Solana will first stop in 
Riyadh and Beirut to discuss the Lebanese issue.  Papers also 
reported a statement by Information Minister Dr. Muhsin Bilal to 
Iranian Channel Al-Alam on Mar. 10 reiterating that the European 
summit's decision to send Solana to Syria proves that Damascus was 
never part of the problem but part of the solution and that 
solutions come from Damascus and with its help. 
 
End of summary. 
 
2.  Selected Headlines: 
 
"The Baghdad conference supports Iraq's sovereignty, independence 
and unity.  Syria:  We support a political solution, national 
reconciliation, confrontation of sectarian strife, and reconsidering 
the constitution" (Government-owned Tishreen, 3/11) 
 
"The International conference on Baghdad will open today.  Hopes and 
calls for discussing the region's issues" (Government-owned 
Tishreen, 3/10) 
 
"US Democrats call for scheduling withdrawal of US forces from Iraq. 
 Commander of US forces in Iraq:  No military solution in Iraq" 
(Government-owned Tishreen, 3/9) 
 
"Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Armed Forces and Minister 
of Defense General Tourkmani and Iranian Defense Minister Najjar 
discuss cooperation between the Syrian and Iranian armies" 
(Government-owned Tishreen, 3/11) 
 
"VP Shara reviews formation of the Palestinian government with 
al-Qaddoumi, Head of the PLO Political Bureau, and discusses 
Syrian-Iranian cooperation with Iranian VP Daoudi" (Government-owned 
Tishreen, 3/9) 
 
"With European authorization, EU Foreign Policy Chief Solana is to 
visit Syria within days.  Ireland:  Syria has a great influence and 
we seek to contact it as a partner" (Government-owned Tishreen, 
3/10) 
 
"Information Minister Bilal:  The visit to Syria by Javier Solana, 
European Union High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security, 
proves that Syria has never been part of the problem but is part of 
the solution" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 3/11) 
 
"Failure of the July aggression means failure of the US project. 
Hizbollah SecGen Nasrallah:  The Israeli myth has ended.  Americans 
only think about their own interests and settlements that rescue 
 
them" (Government-owned Tishreen, 3/10) 
 
"Moscow and Beijing renew refusal to politicize the International 
Tribunal on the al-Hariri assassination" (Government-owned 
Al-Thawra, 3/9) 
 
"Ehud Olmert confesses that the war against Lebanon was prepared in 
advance and had nothing to do with the two Israeli prisoners" 
(Government-owned Al-Thawra, 3/9) 
 
"Israel's Premier Olmert's confession unveils falseness of the 
governing team in Lebanon.  Lebanese President Lahoud:  al-Saniora 
government has lost constitutionality since 11/11/06" 
(Government-owned Tishreen, 3/10) 
 
"Israeli forces kill a Palestinian officer, and the new Palestinian 
government is to be announced in two weeks." (Government-owned 
Tishreen, 3/11) 
 
"A UN Human Rights committee condemns brutal Israeli practices 
against the Palestinian people" (Government-owned Tishreen, 3/11) 
 
"A European welcome of the Mecca Accord precedes the Abbas-Olmert 
meeting" (Government-owned Tishreen, 3/10) 
 
"President Putin:  The situation in the world dictates continuing 
development of Russian forces" (Government-owned Tishreen, 3/10) 
 
3.  Editorial Block Quotes: 
 
-------------------------------------- 
 
"Baghdad Conference.... The Opportunity" 
 
-------------------------------------- 
 
Samir al-Shibani, a commentator in government-owned Tishreen, wrote 
(3/11):  "The US president needs to come down to earth and be honest 
with his people, before others.  He needs to courageously admit his 
mistake and failure in the invasion of Iraq and to comply with the 
Baker-Hamilton recommendations.  The Baghdad conference does not 
tolerate a change in American tactics;  it requires a comprehensive 
change in the US Administration's vision toward the Iraqi issue, 
which is threatening the region and the world with dire and 
destructive consequences.... 
 
"Syria is participating in the Baghdad conference because it has a 
sense of fraternal and ethical responsibility toward Iraq and 
because the security, unity, sovereignty, and stability of Iraq are 
Syrian demands as much as they are Iraqi demands.  Syria will do 
everything in its power and will work effectively to render the 
conference successful because this is an opportunity no one has the 
right to waste.  Iraq is on fire and can no longer tolerate the 
flames that have engulfed lives, heritage, and security.... 
 
"It is an opportunity to hold constructive dialogue and open the 
package of problems from which the region is suffering, from Iraq 
and the need to set a timetable for the withdrawal of the Americans 
and the achievement of national reconciliation, to Palestine and the 
occupied Arab territories, to Sudan and Somalia.  Finding a 
comprehensive solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict, which is the 
core of the problem;  freeing the region from the weapons of mass 
destruction; and fighting terrorism from its roots, not by force, 
are issues that cannot be delayed.  These intertwined problems will 
be the test for American intentions and will show if these 
intentions are constructive or destructive.  The success of the 
Baghdad conference is in the interest of all parties, but this 
depends on American intentions...." 
 
-------------------- 
 
"For Whom the Test?" 
 
-------------------- 
 
Izz-al-Din al-Darwish, an editorialist in government-owned Tishrin 
 
wrote (3/9):  "President Bush said that the Iraq conference is a 
test of the intentions of Syria and Iran, an attempt to thwart the 
parley before it convenes.... 
 
"Such remarks do not suggest that the US Administration intends to 
work seriously to bring Iraq out of its crisis through the launch of 
a comprehensive political process that will enable Iraq to regain 
its sovereignty in full and will end with an unconditional 
withdrawal from that country.... 
 
"How can Syria and Iran help without serious US cooperation that 
takes into consideration the mistakes of the war...? 
 
"Dialogue with the Americans must cover all issues of the region 
because they are intertwined.... A dialogue with the United States 
means nothing if it does not include the Arab-Israeli conflict, the 
situation in Iraq, a fight against the root-causes of terror, and 
the removal of weapons of mass destruction from the region...." 
 
------------------------------- 
 
"US Veto at Baghdad Conference" 
 
------------------------------- 
 
An unsigned op-ed in government-owned Tishreen, said (3/11):  "David 
Satterfield stated that the Baghdad conference will be a test for 
Syria and Iran and that the United States will confront the two 
countries in the conference.... 
 
"This is a unilateral announcement of failure in advance.... This is 
a kind of 'veto' Washington is using to foil any unanimity or 
consensus.... 
 
"Are Iraqis required to get ready to see their hopes for salvation 
dashed just because the occupation wants to impose its conditions on 
everyone, Iraqis and non-Iraqis?  Are they required to get ready for 
a new chapter of bloody violence that will displace the last Iraqis 
who remain alive?  Or is there some hope that the Bush 
administration will reconsider its calculations and take serious and 
open-minded measures required for a solution to the Iraqi problem, 
and that the Baghdad summit will then serve as the beginning?" 
 
-------------------- 
 
"Olmert's Presents" 
 
------------------- 
 
Isam Dari, Chief Editor of government-owned Tishreen, wrote (3/10): 
"Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert confessed that the war on 
Lebanon in July was preplanned and not a response to the abduction 
of the two Israeli soldiers.  We present this confession to the 
February 14 team in Lebanon and to those who stabbed the resistance 
in the back with their poisonous daggers before, during, and after 
the Israeli aggression in the summer.... 
 
"We knew this fact, and Hizbollah knew it.  Hasan Nasrallah, 
Hizbollah SecGen, revealed this.  The February 14 team supported the 
Israeli aggression and spent millions of dollars on a vicious and 
intensive media campaign during which it tried to hold the 
resistance responsible for the Israeli disaster that descended on 
Lebanon. 
 
"We feel sorry for the February 14 team because the Israeli PM 
betrayed it and deprived it of the claim it used to mislead the 
Lebanese public first and the world second.... 
 
"The Lebanese people are discovering today that those who are 
trading in freedom, patriotism, and truth are the farthest from 
these principles and values.... 
 
"Those who are talking about a political victory they achieved when 
they brought the wolf of Resolution 1701 to the Lebanese house are 
the ones who took advantage of the Israeli aggression to build 
domestic pressure to help them usurp power illegally and in a way 
 
not consistent with either the Lebanese political structure or the 
social and sectarian fabric that characterizes Lebanon." 
 
Corbin