US embassy cable - 05ABUDHABI706

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 000706 
 
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; ALSO PASS TO MOC 
PARIS FOR ZEYA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP, KMDR, TC 
SUBJECT:  MEDIA REACTION:  AL HARIRI ASSASSINATION 
 
1.  SUMMARY:  THE ASSASSINATION OF RAFIQ AL-HARIRI, FORMER PRIME 
MINISTER OF LEBANON, DOMINATED COVERAGE IN LOCAL ELECTRONIC AND 
PRINT MEDIA.  THE UAE GOVERNMENT CONDEMNED THE ASSASSINATION OF 
AL HARIRI IN AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT.  AN EDITORIAL IN "AL ITTIHAD" 
POINTED OUT THAT THE ASSASSINATION OF AL HARIRI WAS AIMED TO 
DESTABILIZE LEBANON'S SECURITY, WHILE ANOTHER EDITORIAL IN "AL 
KHALEEJ" DESCRIBED HARIRI'S ASSASSINATION AS "AN ECONOMIC AND 
POLITICAL EARTHQUAKE".  END SUMMARY 
 
2.  THE UAE GOVERNMENT CONDEMNED THE ASSASSINATION OF AL HARIRI. 
THE OFFICIAL NEWS AGENCY, WAM, PUBLISHED THE FOLLOWING 
ANNOUNCEMENT IN ALL LOCAL ENGLISH AND ARABIC DAILIES: 
 
"The Ministry of Presidential Affairs mourned the death of former 
Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq al-Hariri and a large number of 
innocent people.  In the name of President His Highness Sheikh 
Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the people of the UAE, the 
Ministry extends heartfelt condolences to the family of Hariri 
and Lebanese government as well as the people of Lebanon.  The 
departed was well known for his prestigious position not only at 
the Lebanese level but also at Arab and global levels.  It 
confirms that the killing of Hariri represents a great loss not 
only for his family but also for all Lebanon.  Hariri played a 
great role in achieving peace in Lebanon and consolidating its 
national unity and restore Lebanon's role at regional and 
international levels.  He was known for his role in rebuilding 
Lebanon.  May God bestow mercy on him and other victims and grant 
their families' patience to bear their loss.  The UAE has 
strongly denounced the hideous crime that claimed the life of 
Hariri and a large number of innocent people.  This was announced 
by Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and 
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.  Sheikh Hamdan said the 
UAE is condemning the killing of Hariri as a horrific criminal 
act.  He said "the UAE is condemning this grisly crime, praying 
to Almighty Allah to bestow mercy on Hariri and others who lost 
their lives.  `We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family 
of Hariri and the people of Lebanon.'  Sheikh Hamdan called on 
the Lebanese people to stick together and enhance their national 
unity, particularly in this critical juncture, to thwart attempts 
by Lebanon's enemies, who targeted all Lebanon and its unity and 
stability.  The crime was an attack on the stability of Lebanon, 
meant to trigger sedition among Lebanese people.  Sheikh Hamdan 
said "we pray to Almighty Allah to preserve Lebanon from 
repercussions of this brutal attack.  The Court of His Highness 
Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member 
and Ruler of Sharjah, also mourned the death of Hariri.  It 
offered heartfelt condolences to the family of Hariri, the 
Lebanese government and people. It prayed to Allah Almighty to 
bestow mercy on Hariri and other victims." 
 
3.  UNDER THE HEADLINE "TARGETING LEBANON,"  "AL ITTIHAD" 
EDITORIALIZED 02/15: (ARABIC DAILY, ABU DHABI-BASED, SEMI- 
OFFICIAL, CIRCULATION 85,000) 
 
"COMMITTING THIS CRIME AT THIS SPECIFIC TIME IS DESIGNED TO 
DESTROY LEBANON'S ACHIEVEMENTS IN HEADING STRONGLY TOWARDS THE 
FUTURE AND LEAVING BEHIND ALL PREVIOUS PAINS. THIS CRIMINAL ACT 
TARGETS THE STABILITY OF LEBANON.  THE LEBANESE PEOPLE SHOULD 
REACT DURING THIS PERIOD WITH AN EYE TO THE FUTURE AND WITH THE 
WISDOM THAT PUTS LEBANON AND ITS INTERESTS ABOVE ALL OTHER 
CONSIDERATIONS.FOILING ATTEMPTS BY THE POWERS OF EVIL TO DESTROY 
LEBANON.  THE LEBANESE ARE REQUIRED, REGARDLESS OF THIS LOSS, TO 
MOVE AHEAD IN A PEACEFUL FASHION.TO GET OUT OF THIS CRISIS 
STRONGER AND MORE POWERFUL." 
 
4.  NOTING THAT WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY IN LEBANON IS AN 
SECURITY, POLITICAL, AND ECONOMIC EARTHQUAKE WITH SECURITY, 
POLITICAL, AND ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS, "AL KHALEEJ" EDITORIALIZED 
02/15: (ARABIC DAILY, SHARJAH-BASED, SEMI-OFFICIAL, CIRCULATION 
90,000) 
 
"THE CRIME OF ASSASSINATING AL-HARIRI, A PROMINENT INTERNATIONAL 
FIGURE, IS A SINFUL ACT WITH POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC RAMIFICATIONS 
AIMED TO RUIN CIVIL STABILITY AND PEACE IN LEBANON, AND SPREAD 
CHAOS REGIONALLY. THERE IS ONLY ONE SIDE THAT WILL BENEFIT FROM 
DESTROYING LEBANON, FROM SHAKING ITS STABILITY AND TRYING TO TURN 
IT BACK TO THE TIMES OF FIGHTING, CIVIL WAR AND ISRAELI INVASION. 
REGARDLESS OF WHO COMMITTED THIS CRIME, THE ONLY BENEFICIARY SIDE 
IS OUR ZIONIST ENEMY.  THE ONLY LEBANESE RESPONSE TO THIS CRIME 
SHOULD BE THE UNITY OF ALL THE LEBANESE. WE HOPE THAT ALL 
LEBANESE PEOPLE, REGARDLESS OF THEIR POLITICAL AFFILIATIONS, WILL 
STAND TOGETHER TO MAINTAIN A UNITED LEBANON." 
 
5.  POINTING OUT THAT ASSASSINATING AL-HARIRI IN LEBANON 
YESTERDAY IS AIMED AT THE COUNTRY'S SECURITY AND STABILITY, "AL 
BAYAN" EDITORIALIZED 02/15: (ARABIC DAILY, DUBAI-BASED BUSINESS- 
ORIENTED, CIRCULATION 40,000) 
". THIS ASSASSINATION COMES AT A TIME WHEN LEBANON STANDS AT AN 
IMPORTANT CROSSROAD.  THE CHOICES LEBANON MAKES NOW WILL HAVE A 
SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON A WIDE RANGE OF INTERNAL AND REGIONAL 
ISSUES.  IT IS EASY TO BLAME MORE THAN ONE SIDE BOTH INTERNALLY 
AND EXTERNALLY, BUT THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THERE WAS A POWERFUL 
AUTHORITY BEHIND COMMITTING THIS CRIME IN SUCH A PROFESSIONAL 
WAY.  AND THIS AUTHORITY ACHIEVED ITS GOALS BY ASSUMING THAT 
LEBANON IS STILL IN A WAR ENVIRONMENT.  WHAT IS REQUESTED FROM 
THE LEBANESE PEOPLE AT THIS CRUCIAL AND DANGEROUS TIME IS TO TURN 
THEIR BACKS ON CONFLICT AND DENY THE GOALS OF THE PERPETRATORS OF 
THIS CRIME, AND AGAIN RESCUE THEIR OWN COUNTRY." 
 
6.  ALL MAJOR ARAB TV STATIONS INCLUDING AL-JAZEERA, AL-ARABIYA 
AND ABU DHABI DEVOTED THEIR ENTIRE COVERAGE ON FEBRUARY 14 TO THE 
ASSASSINATION OF FORMER LEBANESE PRIME MINISTER RAFIQ AL-HARIRI. 
ABU DHABI TELEVISION WAS THE FIRST CHANNEL IN THE ARAB WORLD TO 
ANNOUNCE THE HARIRI'S ASSASSINATION. 
SISON