VZCZCXYZ0004
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMS #0374 1401235
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 191235Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY MUSCAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9601
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0534
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0423

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000374 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD, NEA/PI, AND INR/R/MR 
LONDON FOR TSOU 
PARIS FOR ZEYA 
FOREIGN PRESS CENTER FOR SILAS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP KPAO KMDR MU
SUBJECT: OMAN MEDIA REACTION: U.S. PEACE EFFORTS, DOHA DIALGOUE AND 
BUSH'S WEF SPEECH. 
 
 
¶1. SUMMARY:  State-owned Arabic daily "Oman" recognized the Bush 
administration's peace efforts, but accused Israel of hindering real 
progress.  "Oman" also signaled its hope for a positive outcome from 
the Doha dialogue, noting strong international support as the key. 
In a criticism of the President's WEF speech, private Arabic daily 
"Al-Watan" said that isolating Syria removes an essential player 
from any peace solution. END SUMMARY. 
 
-------------------------- 
Assassinating Their Dreams 
-------------------------- 
 
¶2. On May 15, Government-owned Arabic "Oman" (circulation 38,000) 
recognized the U.S. administration's efforts to achieve a peace 
accord between Israel and the Palestinians, but said these efforts 
remain blocked by Israel.  According to "In Order to Achieve Peace, 
Stability and Prosperity": 
 
"During the celebration of the declaration of its statehood, Israel 
took extraordinary security measures including the closure of 
Palestinian territories and the tightening of their blockade of the 
Palestinians, which caused suffering in the occupied West Bank and 
in Gaza.  Were these measures useful in suppressing the Palestinians 
and assassinating their dreams to return to establish an independent 
Palestinian state?  The numerous and continuous efforts by U.S. 
President Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice clearly show 
their hope of reaching a peace agreement between Palestinians and 
Israel before leaving the White House.  However, it seems that 
Israeli Prime Minister Olmert and his government are not interested 
in helping the U.S. administration.  At the very least, they want to 
procrastinate and delay, and they are not held accountable for 
obstructing American efforts.  Israel also moved to block Egyptian 
efforts to calm the situation in the occupied Palestinian 
territory." 
 
------------------------------ 
"Widespread Attention" on Doha 
------------------------------ 
 
¶3. On May 18, "Oman" commented that the strong multinational support 
for Lebanese reconciliation bodes well for success in Doha. 
"Internal support and Regional Agreement" said: 
 
"The Doha dialogue is not only catching widespread attention at all 
levels but is also garnering substantial support from Lebanon, Arab 
countries, and the regional and international community.  But, 
certain parties have always been deliberately hindering the 
possibility of agreement or consensus between brothers in order to 
serve their own interests.  With Iranian, American, French, and 
European support, the efforts in the Qatari capital Doha have 
created a good and friendly atmosphere that is in itself a positive 
impetus to put the people of Lebanon before any one faction." 
 
---------------------- 
The Real Actors Absent 
---------------------- 
 
¶4. On May 19, private Arabic daily "Al-Watan" (circulation 42,000) 
criticized President Bush's speech at the World Economic Forum, 
saying that Syria (among others) must participate in order to make a 
real peace.  "Aggressive and Adrift Invitations": 
 
"All [President Bush's] speeches show that he has not learned 
anything from the lessons and experiences of the past.  He talks 
about peace, but ignores the roles of the countries involved, 
including Syria.  Syria's positive contribution is very important in 
dealing with the Palestinian and Lebanese crisis.  If Bush intended 
at the World Economic Forum to remove from the peace process 
resistance leaders from Syria, Lebanon and Palestine, then who is 
going to make this peace?  The real actors will be absent from the 
framework of the peace process." 
 
GRAPPO