VZCZCXYZ0008
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMS #0298 1130321
ZNR UUUUU ZZH (CCY ADX084B733 MSI4042 611)
P 220321Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9505

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000298 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
                 C O R R E C T E D  C O P Y 
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD, NEA/PI, AND INR/R/MR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP KPAO KMDR MU
SUBJECT: OMAN MEDIA REACTION: PALESTINIAN FACTS, IRAQI REALITY AND 
OMAN/IRAN RELATIONS 
¶1. SUMMARY:  private Arabic daily "Al-Watan" continues to opine on 
the conundrum of Israeli settlement expansion even as its leaders 
negotiate. State Arabic daily "Oman" wrote that the only solution to 
 
the Iraq dilemma is that its people unify to end sectarianism and 
end American presence there. "Oman" also commented on the visit of a 
high-level Omani delegation to Tehran as a sign of the state of 
relations between the two countries. END SUMMARY. 
 
------------------------- 
ISRAEL'S COVERT EXPANSION 
------------------------- 
 
¶2.  On April 19, privately owned Arabic "Al-Watan" (circulation 
42,000) suggested that Israel is creating more settlements despite 
international resolutions so that in future negotiations they can be 
included as territory, depriving Palestinians of their lands, saying 
"Facts Can No Longer Be Ignored": 
 
"At a time when the Palestinian leadership of different beliefs and 
views is keen in the struggle to liberate their lands, establish an 
independent state, and try to co-exist with Israel in an atmosphere 
that respects the rights of all, we find Israel resorting, every 
time the Palestinians show flexibility on the negotiating front, to 
violence, cruelty, arrest, and killing that coincides with a 
tireless wave for expanding settlements. One victim after another is 
being speared while the world is watching, convinced by Israeli 
propaganda about the myth of self-defense. In the meantime, Israel 
resorts to further tenders for the construction of new settlements, 
stretching the list of its colonies to form settlement blocs aimed 
at tearing the Palestinian territories so that they can include them 
in the to Israeli state in the coming negotiations." 
 
-------------------------------------- 
IRAQ: "NEW TRAGEDIES AND MORE VICTIMS" 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶3. Government-owned Arabic daily "Oman" (circulation 38,000) wrote 
on April 17 about the "Bitter Reality of Iraq": 
 
"With every day that passes, Iraq witnesses new tragedies and more 
victims in the midst of American floundering and an Iraqi government 
lacking in all areas... The country faces a continuous state of 
anarchy since the American occupation of this Arab country. 
Therefore, the best solution to the cycle of violence is that all 
faithful sons of Iraq unify, to get rid of first the occupier and 
second all those who oppose the interest of Iraq and its stability, 
which keeps the country open for sectarianism and strife. Iraq has 
suffered greatly during the American invasion and turned Iraqi lives 
into a hell no safer for any citizen than before." 
 
----------------------------------- 
OMAN-IRAN: "A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP" 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  "Oman" also commented on April 20 on the Omani Deputy Prime 
Minister's visit to Tehran, saying it augured "Strong Relations and 
Promising Horizons": 
 
"It is a time when it can be said that the Sultanate and the Islamic 
Republic of Iran have not only a special relationship, but also a 
firm and solid one, which has broad prospects, strong and mutual 
political will, and development in various areas. Iranian-Omani 
relations give, over the past decades, an ideal example of how 
relations can be built between any countries in this vital region of 
the world. In addition, the visit of H.H Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al 
Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Cabinet Affairs and the accompanying 
high level delegation is very important, both in light of what it 
represents to the Omani Iranian relations and in regard to the close 
cooperation between the two countries in many areas... This visit 
also represents a continuation of the exchange of wise views between 
the two leaderships on the developments in the region in this 
critical period and many issues including security and stability." 
 
GRAPPO