US embassy cable - 04ABUDHABI3123

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 003123 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARP; NEA/PPD; NEA/RA; INR/R/MR; PA; INR/NESA; 
INR/B; IIP/G/NEA-SA 
WHITE HOUSE FOR PRESS OFFICE; NSC 
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA 
USCINCCENT FOR POLAD 
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH; PARIS FOR ZEYA 
LONDON PASS TO MOC 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP, KMDR, TC 
SUBJECT:  MEDIA REACTION: IRAN'S RELATION WITH IAEA AND UN 
 
1.   Summary: An editorial in English daily "Gulf News" calls on 
Iran to put its nuclear program under IAEA supervision and urges 
the US to follow an agreed international route for a solution. 
Arabic daily "Al-Ittihad" strongly attacks the international 
community's silence vis a vis Israeli atrocities in Palestine 
compared to its resolve in other parts of the world, describing 
this as a double standard. 
 
2.   Under the headline, "Be cautious on nuclear reaction--Iran 
and US should not unilaterally pursue their own agenda", "Gulf 
News" (leading English daily in UAE, Dubai-based, privately 
owned, circ 90,000) editorialized: 
 
     "Iran is yet again in the international frame for its 
     nuclear program.  This time the US has threatened both 
     sanctions and further possible action including 
     intervention.  This escalation of American threats ahead of 
     the agreed multinational action cannot be solely due to the 
     reality in Iran and has to have something to do with the 
     elections going on in the US.  It is necessary to repeat a 
     simple message: Iran has every right to develop a non- 
     military, peaceful nuclear program, but it continues to do 
     so and is becoming a serious issue for Iran and the Middle 
     East.  In addition, as Iran moves ahead with its program, it 
     is very important that Iranian nuclear sites are open to 
     international inspection, as all nuclear sites in the world 
     would be.   The IAEA has a vital role in monitoring the 
     world's nuclear resources.Iran categorically denies US 
     claims that it is developing nuclear weapons.  But the news 
     yesterday was that Washington did not seem to wait for the 
     process to happen, and was ready to move to take unilateral 
     action.  There are two issues here: the US has to follow the 
     agreed international route to a solution, and Iran has to 
     have a transparent peaceful nuclear program." 
 
3.   The UAE's Arabic dailies carried straightforward reports 
regarding U/S Bolton's remarks in Israel on Iran's nuclear 
program.  There were no comments or editorial on this subject. 
 
4.   Under the headline "International Justice" an unsigned 
editorial in "Al-Ittihad" (Arabic daily, Abu Dhabi-based, semi- 
official, circ 65,000) reads: 
 
     "The UN speeds up efforts in certain areas and gets 
     remarkably active with a loud voice, especially at the 
     Security Council.  It holds sessions and unanimously takes 
     resolutions giving the relevant nations certain time frames 
     for implementation for adaptation while the major powers 
     pressure to ensure interpretation.  However, these acts 
     disappear and no sound is heard and completely becomes 
     absent when it comes to crimes committed against unarmed 
     civilians.. It is nice to watch UN organizations backed by 
     the superpowers defend helpless refugees in Darfur by armed 
     gangs and urge the Sudanese government to cooperate to 
     disarm these gangs to ensure stability.  However, it is a 
     disgrace for the UN to turn its face from what happens in 
     Palestine committed by the right wing Zionists under 
     Sharon.Double standards and looking with one eye at issues 
     of the world, while turning the other eye off the same 
     issues when they occur on another front, is unacceptable and 
     contradicts international law and justice.  The continuation 
     of this increases hatred and frustration, pushing many 
     people to commit group suicide.  It is a disgrace for the UN 
     and the world community to remain silent, onlooking these 
     crimes that will eventually wreck the foundations of 
     international peace and security." 
 
SISON