US embassy cable - 05DHAKA625

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 000625 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR I/FW, B/G, IIP/G/NEA-SA, B/VOA/N (BANGLA SERVICE) STATE 
FOR SA/PAB, SA/PPD (LSCENSNY, SSTRYKER), SA/RA, INR/R/MR, 
AND PASS TO USAID FOR ANE/ASIA/SA/B (WJOHNSON) 
 
CINCPAC FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR, J51 (MAJ TURNER), J45 
(MAJ NICHOLLS) 
 
USARPAC FOR APOP-IM (MAJ HEDRICK) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR, OIIP, OPRC, KPAO, PREL, ETRD, PTER, ASEC, BG, OCII 
SUBJECT: Media Reaction: Middle East Summit, Iraq; Dhaka 
 
Summary: Following the Middle East summit, newspapers 
express optimism about a permanent peace in the region. 
 
English "Daily Star" terms the multiparty election in Iraq 
as positive and urges the U.S. not to withdraw in haste. 
 
--------------------- 
1. MIDDLE EAST SUMMIT 
--------------------- 
 
"Mahmoud Abbas' Leadership" 
Independent English language weekly "Holiday" editorially 
comments (2/11): 
The deal struck by Mahmoud Abbas and Ariel Sharon in Sharm 
el Sheikh last week should ignite some kind of cheer in 
those who have regularly wished the Middle East well. The 
ceasefire which, as the two leaders tell us, is one of those 
bits of good news which comes but rarely to the region. It 
has especially been in the last three years that the 
intensity of the conflict has defied any logic, leading 
there to a stalemate that only ended with the death of 
Yasser Arafat. 
Mr. Abbas will need to demonstrate to his fellow 
Palestinians that he can be as tough as Mr. Arafat was in 
the struggle for a free Palestine. That means people in the 
region and around the world will watch how he goes about 
dealing with the question of Palestinians' right of return 
to their homes in the pre-1948 situation existing before the 
creation of Israel. 
Mahmoud Abbas may be acceptable to Ariel Sharon and George 
W. Bush. It is on whether or not his own people accept his 
way of upholding their cause that his political future will 
depend. 
------------- 
"The Israeli-Palestinains Peace Process" 
Conservative Bangla language newspaper "Ittefaq" editorially 
comments (2/12): 
 
International observers term the declaration to end 
hostilities as significant progress in the Middle East peace 
process . . . The attitude of Washington and Israel toward 
Mahmoud Abbas is positive. Abbas is himself known as a 
supporter of the Roadmap. After taking over the leadership, 
he initiated talks with Palestinian extremist groups. It is 
also significant that the Sharm el Sheikh summit included 
Hamas and other extremist groups. 
 
The historic value of the declaration is undeniable. There 
cannot be any meaningful peace talks in the atmosphere of 
conflict. It is a major achievement that all sides agreed to 
maintain the peaceful status quo. 
 
------- 
2. Iraq 
------- 
 
"Iraq: Election Is Just The first Step" 
An editorial page article in independent English language 
newspaper "Daily Star" opines (2/12): 
 
The U.S. administration has to be careful that they are not 
tempted into identifying Iraqi legitimacy with unchecked 
Shia rule. They have to remember about the multi-ethnicity 
of Iraq, the tribal structures and the divide among 
religious denominations. 
 
Iraq's election has opened another page in the history of 
the Middle East. There has been multi-party election. That 
is positive. 
 
However, the challenge comes now. The mechanical part has 
partially completed. A lot remains to be done nevertheless 
in the context of creating institutions. Security and 
eventual stability will require dialogue with the Sunni 
leadership. This is an important factor that cannot be 
neglected. Only the first phase of a political evolution 
from military occupation to political legitimacy of sorts 
has been completed. 
 
The United Nations and other important powers need to help 
the Iraqis, more than ever, over the nest two years. They 
have to create a sustainable, free Iraq, which can exist by 
itself. Failure to do this will mean n implosion, with 
radicals and fundamentalists creating more convulsions for 
the region. 
 
The U.S. needs to withdraw but not in haste. A precipitous 
withdrawal based on domestic public opinion will now be seen 
as an abnegation of responsibility. It might instead create 
civil war and anarchy, worse than what we have seen in the 
Balkans. 
 
Thomas