US embassy cable - 05MUSCAT988

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000988 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PPD, NEA/P, INR/R/MR 
 
LONDON FOR GOLDRICH 
PARIS FOR ZEYA 
USCENTCOM FOR PLUSH 
FOREIGN PRESS CENTER FOR ASILAS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO, KMDR, OIIP, MU, Public Affairs 
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: RICE'S VISIT, DOHA SUMMIT 
 
 
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Trust . . . 
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1. "Oman," the government-owned Arabic-language daily, published 
an editorial on June 20 under the headline "Rice's Visit And The 
Importance Of The Peace Process": 
 
"Secretary Rice's visit to the region is important not only for 
moving the peace process forward, but also for further developing 
U.S.-Arab relations.  The Arabs hope that Washington finally 
recognizes the significance of achieving just and lasting 
settlements for the conflicts in this region....  The United 
States must act seriously to put pressure on Israel to shoulder 
its responsibilities for peace in the Middle East." 
 
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. . . But Verify 
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2. The privately-owned Arabic daily "al-Watan" ran an editorial 
on June 20 entitled "Beware Of Israeli Traps": 
 
"Notwithstanding Rice's arrival, Israel has a history of 
springing traps on various proposals that aim to bring peaceful 
and fair compromises to the long-suffering Palestinians.  Look at 
the evidence: new settlements in the West Bank, the construction 
of an underwater barrier off the Gaza coast, and the use of 
harmful radioactive investigative equipment at Israeli 
checkpoints are all designed to stop the peace process.  However, 
the Arabs are still holding out hope that the upcoming Abbas- 
Sharon summit will be free of such traps." 
 
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Aligning Our Interests 
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3. "Oman" carried an editorial on June 13 entitled "Deepening 
Dialogue and Communication": 
 
"The G-77 [or Nonaligned Movement] summit in Doha attracted over 
130 countries, and highlighted the efforts of these countries to 
eliminate the suffering of others.  More attention is now paid to 
the developing nations of the world, particularly the economies 
of Africa, Asia, and Latin America.  The G8 resolution to cancel 
the debts of these poor nations is a positive first step towards 
removing the obstacles that hinder development.  The Sultanate 
continues to work at deepening the dialogue and communication 
between countries to serve the best interests of the globe." 
 
BALTIMORE