VZCZCXYZ0033
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHDM #0448/01 1341228
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 141228Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3458
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 6794
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 4523
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 3145
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 7667
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 1743
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 5078
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM 1284
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA//
INFO RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 7409

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 000448 
 
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:  Asad Nomination/Referendum, Syria/Yemen, Syria/France, 
Iraq, Palestinian Territories, 
(5/14) 
 
¶1.  Summary:  Syrian papers on May 14 reported President Asad's 
meeting on May 13 with the Speaker and selected members of the 
People's Assembly, who conveyed to the President the Assembly's 
approval of the nomination of the President for a new term of office 
and its selection of May 27th as the date for the popular 
referendum.  They stressed that the referendum will be a national 
occasion to show the Syrian people's support for the President and 
his positions, which express the pulse of the street.  In this 
connection, Syrian papers published a number of articles praising 
President Asad's policies and noting Syria's accomplishments under 
his rule. 
 
Papers also reported President Asad's meeting on    May 13 with 
Yemeni Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qurbi, who conveyed a message 
from Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh on the latest developments 
in the region, bilateral relations, and the role that Yemen can play 
alongside Syria in enhancing security and stability and achieving a 
just and comprehensive peace in the region in accordance with the 
Arab peace initiative.  FM al-Qurbi underscored the significance of 
continued coordination and consultation between Syria and Yemen to 
serve the interests of the two countries and peoples and help boost 
joint Arab action.  Al-Qurbi also met with VP Shara and FM Mouallem. 
 
 
Government-owned Al-Thawra carried a statement by Lucien Bitterlin, 
Chairman of the Arab-French Friendship Association, that "Syria is 
the key to peace in the region".  Bitterlin expressed solidarity and 
support for Syrian efforts under the leadership of President Asad to 
achieve stability and security in the region. 
 
End of summary. 
 
¶2.  Selected Headlines: 
 
"President Asad receives the People's Assembly's approval of the 
nomination of President Asad for a new term of office" 
(Government-owned Tishreen, 5/13) 
 
"The Syrian people look forward to May 27th to exercise a 
constitutional right and a national duty through the referendum for 
a second constitutional term for President Asad.  The National 
Progressive Front:  The referendum means continuing on the path of 
steadfastness, development, and national dignity" (Government-owned 
Tishreen, 5/14) 
 
"President Asad receives a message from Yemeni President Ali 
Abdullah Saleh on latest regional developments and bilateral 
relations" (Government-owned Tishreen, 5/14) 
 
"Lucien Bitterlin, Chairman of the Arab-French Friendship 
Association:  Syria is a pivotal country in the region" 
(Government-owned Al-Thawra, 5/14) 
 
"President Mubarak:  No Arab leader dares to make a concession on 
the Palestinian right of return in the Arab Peace Initiative" 
(Government-owned Tishreen, 5/14) 
 
"Failure of the security Plan in the Gaza Strip.  Four Palestinians 
killed in intra-Palestinian clashes" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 
5/14) 
 
"US military enforcements to Diyala.  250 Iraqis victimized by two 
explosions in Baghdad and northern Iraq" (Government-owned Al-Ba'th, 
5/14) 
 
¶3.  Editorial Block Quotes: 
 
-------------------------- 
 
"Secrets of Syria's Power" 
 
-------------------------- 
 
Ahmad Dawwa, a commentator in government-owned      Al-Thawra, wrote 
(5/14):  "Many in the region and beyond thought that the vicious 
 
 
campaign of pressure and threats against Syria, in which some Arab 
forces participated and to which they devoted funds and other means, 
would end with tragic consequences for the country.... 
 
"But Syria stood fast in the face of the storm, and events and 
developments proved that its policy was right and its role was 
pivotal.  Moreover, Syria is being counted on regionally and 
internationally to spare the peoples of the region the repercussions 
of what the advocates of wars and chaos did that jeopardized 
security and stability of the world .... 
 
"The secret of Syria's power lies in the fact that it never 
bargained over any of its rights and never accepted the language of 
orders and pressure. 
 
"Syria's power also lies in its dependence on itself and its 
potentials, which increase day after day through the efforts of its 
sons, despite the surrounding political circumstances, and under the 
leadership of President Asad, who guides, follows up, and encourages 
reform projects on all levels...." 
 
----------------------- 
 
"Arabs and Losing Bets" 
 
----------------------- 
 
Muhi Eddin Mohamed, a commentator in government-owned Tishreen, 
wrote (5/14):  "The political winds in the US, France and the UK do 
not do Arabs any good, even though the new leaders sympathize with 
Arabs.  Arabs must sympathize with each other and must defend their 
interests, rights, wealth and territories if they are really 
concerned about living as dignified people, not as satellites.... 
 
"We have had enough bets on changing leaders and politicians all 
over the world.  So far we have not reaped anything, because of the 
absence of joint Arab action on the political, military and economic 
levels.... In order to confront future challenges, Arabs must learn 
the lesson of Syria's insistence on its rights, its persistence in 
national and pan-Arab principles, and its rejection of bargaining on 
its national and regional security.  Syria has succeeded in 
confronting fierce storms and in foiling US pressure by controlling 
the recklessness of extremists and neoconservatives, even if only 
partially.  Syria has also succeeded in changing world public 
opinion toward Arab causes.  Will Arabs learn from the lessons of 
history...?" 
 
Corbin