VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHDM #0886/01 3510529
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 160529Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5689
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 7469
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 5035
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 3775
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 8032
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 2258
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 5665
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM 1621
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA//
INFO RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 7644

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 000886 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR PA, NEA/ELA, INR/IC/CD, INR/R/MR VOA NEWS CA, 
NEA/PPD, IIP/G/NEA-SA MRUSSELL 
WHITE HOUSE FOR NSC 
CENTCOM FOR CCPA 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: KMDR PREL KPAO OPRC SY
SUBJECT: Special Media Reaction Report: Jimmy Carter's Visit to 
Damascus 
 
¶1.  Summary: The December 13-15 visit to Damascus by former 
President Jimmy Carter consumed headlines in all four Syrian dailies 
during the course of the visit.  The tone of reporting was decidedly 
optimistic, particularly on the prospects for U.S.-Syrian relations 
and the return of a U.S. Ambassador to Damascus, with the 
government-owned press seeing in Carter's upbeat remarks a new era 
in U.S.-Syrian relations. End Summary. 
 
------------------------- 
Key Stories in the Media: 
------------------------- 
 
Asad-Carter Meeting: 
Syrian papers on December 14 and 15 focused on the visit to Damascus 
by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter.  Banner headlines announced 
Carter's December 13 meeting with President Asad.  The coverage 
focused on Carter's comments, during his press conference, on the 
Middle East peace process, the Turkey-mediated talks between Syria 
and Israel and the issue of the occupied Syrian Golan.  According to 
media reports, the meeting between Carter and Asad touched upon 
Syrian-American relations and prospects for improving these 
relations under the Obama Administration. 
 
Carter's Press Conference: 
All papers on December 14 quoted extensively from Carter's news 
conference following his meeting with President Asad, in which 
Carter said: "Peace will not be achieved in the region without the 
full Israeli withdrawal from the occupied Syrian Golan and from the 
rest of the occupied Arab territories." 
 
The Syrian media highlighted Carter's comments on Syrian-U.S. 
relations: "Everything will be better when U.S. President-elect 
Barack Obama takes office". 
 
Media reported Carter's calls for establishing peace in the region 
on the basis of UNSC resolutions and the Arab peace initiative, 
reconciliation among all Palestinian factions, and the need for 
Israel to fulfill its commitments towards Palestinians.  Papers also 
highlighted Carter's statement expressing hope that Obama will make 
Middle East peace a top priority. 
 
Mr. Carter said that his talks with President Asad touched upon 
U.S.-Syrian relations, expressing hope that the U.S. ambassador 
would return to Damascus with the advent of the new U.S. 
Administration. 
On Turkish-mediated indirect talks between Syria and Israel, Carter 
said the U.S. has to be involved in the peace talks between Syria 
and Israel in the future. 
 
On the situation in Iraq, Mr. Carter said Obama will abide by his 
promises, leading to better relations with the countries of the 
region, enabling the Iraqi people and their government to run their 
country's affairs. 
Carter-Mashaal Meeting: 
All papers on December 15 reported President Jimmy Carter's meeting 
with Khaled Mashaal, Head of Hamas Political Bureau.  A Palestinian 
source told Kuwaiti News Agency that both men discussed the 
situation in the Palestinian territories, inter-Palestinian 
conflict, and the issue of imprisoned Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. 
 
Websites: 
Elaph website quoted a Syrian political analyst as saying that 
Carter's visit to Syria sends indirect messages about the prospect 
for resolving regional issues. 
 
------------------- 
Selected Headlines: 
-------------------- 
"President Asad discusses the peace process and the tragic situation 
in the Palestinian territories with Carter. Carter:  Syrian-American 
relations will improve with the new U.S. administration. Carter in 
the press conference: Peace cannot be fulfilled without an Israeli 
pullout from the Golan." (SARG-owned Tishreen, December 14) 
"President Asad accompanies his guest in a visit to Malula. Carter: 
'We hope that the American and Syrian people will enjoy peace and 
that the Palestinian people will regain their rights.' (Independent 
al-Watan, December 15) 
 
"Carter and Mashaal meet in Damascus to explore solutions to end the 
Palestinian people's suffering" (Independent al-Watan, December 15) 
--EDITORIAL 
 "For a Dialogue That Eliminates Fears" 
An editorial in SARG-owned Al-Thawra on December 14 read:  "The 
positions expressed by Carter in Damascus constitute a demand and a 
need that has been absent from U.S. discourse for many years... 
"Indeed, everyone is willing to discuss regional issues with the 
U.S.... The U.S. dialogue that Carter talked about is necessary at 
all times, not only with the region, but also with the world at 
large... 
"Syria, which has called for dialogue in all circumstances, sees in 
the American direction announced by former President Carter a new 
era and a horizon which opens the door to an important stage in the 
American political approach towards the region..."