VZCZCXRO8701
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHMS #0452/01 1280933
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 080933Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8194
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0484
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0376
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 000452 
 
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: SHARM EL-SHEIKH IRAQ SUMMIT, HAMAS 
SANCTIONS, EU-GCC RELATIONS 
 
¶1. SUMMARY: Government-owned "Oman" says that regional cooperation 
is "vital" to stop violence in Iraq, and said that lifting the 
"blockade against the Palestinians" can advance the Peace Process. 
Privately owned "Al-Watan" calls on the EU to be "more 
understanding" of Arab political concerns, more independent, and 
less subject to "American pressures" on developments in Palestine, 
Iraq, and Lebanon, among other issues.  END SUMMARY. 
 
------------------------------------------ 
BLOCK QUOTES: REGIONAL COOPERATION ON IRAQ 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶2. On May 4, state-owned daily "Oman" (circulation 38,000) published 
an editorial called "Sharm al-Sheikh and the Situation in Iraq": 
 
"The situation in Iraq is tense and presenting a huge dilemma to the 
American administration, which in turn is facing continuous 
pressures from the Democratic majority in the Congress.  This means 
that President Bush is looking to the Sharm al-Sheikh summit for the 
support of the neighboring countries, especially Iran and Syria, to 
stop the violence that has been occurring in Iraq since the American 
invasion in April 2003.  The American losses in this war are 
increasing and are expected to reach 4,000 by the end of the year. 
Regional cooperation is a vital issue and it seems that the American 
administration has realized that there is no other alternative. 
Therefore, regional cooperation to bring peace, security, and 
stability in Iraq is the main goal for the stability of the whole 
region." 
 
------------------------------------ 
END THE "BLOCKADE" AND ADVANCE PEACE 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶3.  On May 6, "Oman" also ran an editorial entitled, "The Urgent 
Need to End the Blockade in Palestine": 
 
"It seems [the lifting of the blockade against Palestinians] will 
not take place soon.  Israel's policies and destruction of the 
Palestinians' infrastructure leads to results that are even worse 
than the blockade.  Yet, as some EU countries have started to make 
calls on ministers of the current Palestinian government, they 
should acknowledge the importance of lifting the political and 
economic blockade for the sake of advancing the Peace Process, 
securing regional stability, and enhancing the relations between the 
Palestinians and other international parties.  It is also worth 
noting that the suggestions given by the American administration to 
facilitate the Peace Process in the Middle East, provided that 
Israel is committed to implementing international resolutions, will 
certainly contribute to creating a proper environment for advancing 
the Peace Process." 
 
------------------------------------------ 
U.S. "PRESSURES" PREVENT E.U. INDEPENDENCE 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶4. On May 7, "Al-Watan" (circulation 42,000) wrote about the 
importance of the seventeenth EU-GCC ministerial meeting, to be held 
in Riyadh on May 8, under the headline "Europe Needs to Be More 
Understanding": 
 
 
 
"The GCC's relations with the European Union are long-standing and 
quite important, and the GCC countries continuously strive towards 
developing these relations, especially in the areas of economics and 
politics.  Here, the importance of the seventeenth GCC ministerial 
meeting (to be held tomorrow in Riyadh) becomes evident... Despite 
the active EU-GCC relations, Europe doesn't share the GCC's concern 
with the steps being taken to stabilize [the Middle East].  This is 
despite the EU's power as a united block under one political 
umbrella, which has the potential to give it power and independence 
from foreign influences...but American pressures don't leave the EU 
any opportunity to take a more positive or independent position, 
particularly in regards to Palestine or Iraq... Europe needs to take 
a greater interest in the political side of things than it does now. 
 The EU doesn't seem to realize the interest that GCC countries take 
in settling the security situation in the Middle East... Europe 
should be more cautious in attempting to divorce the political and 
economic tracks.  Because Europe and the GCC share an interest in 
protecting their energy supplies, Europe should be more 
understanding and positive when it comes to dealing with the sources 
of Arabs' concerns, especially regarding political and strategic 
 
MUSCAT 00000452  002 OF 002 
 
 
issues." 
 
GRAPPO