US embassy cable - 05MUSCAT1214

UNCLAS MUSCAT 001214 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI, NEA/PPD, NEA/P, INR/R/MR 
 
LONDON FOR TSOU 
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: SHARM SUMMIT EXPECTATIONS 
 
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No To Terrorism 
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1. "Al-Watan," a privately-owned Arabic daily, carried an 
editorial on July 31 entitled "By Protecting Egypt We Protect 
Ourselves": 
 
"Although the coming summit is an Egyptian summit made for Egypt, 
it is also created for the whole Arab world and for the 
protection of humanity...  This summit is to defend ourselves and 
to stand in the face of the destructive waves that have appeared 
in our region. The Arabs are meeting in Sharm Al-Sheikh to say 
that they are not scared of terrorism and will not keep quiet and 
do nothing about it.  Arab solidarity will be renewed every time 
these deviants attack any of the Arab countries.  Everyone should 
acknowledge that we are protecting ourselves, our futures, and 
our culture." 
 
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Reform and Terrorism in the Region 
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2. The government-owned Arabic daily "Oman" featured an editorial 
on August 1, entitled "Sharm Al-Sheikh Summit:  What is Required 
From the Arabs?": 
 
"The Sharm Al-Sheikh summit is taking place at an exceptional 
time because the Islamic and Arab worlds are facing a furious and 
unjust campaign against them. Violence has become the character 
of this period and the issue of reform in Arab countries is still 
under discussion. The Arabs at the Sharm Al-Sheikh summit must 
take many steps, not only in the Palestinian or Iraqi fronts, but 
also on internal issues including reform and combating terrorism. 
The situation is very complicated in the region; it calls for a 
comprehensive solution..." 
 
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A Summit for the People of the Arab World 
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3. "Al-Watan" also published an editorial on August 1 entitled 
"Urgent Arab Summit": 
 
"If the real intention of this summit is only to react to what 
happened in Sharm Al-Sheikh, it will be limited its goals... What 
we hope for from this summit is more than a reaction or political 
posturing. It should discuss deteriorating conditions in the 
region... Every one knows that whenever explosions take place, 
they blame America and its policies in Iraq and Afghanistan. They 
should know that this did not come from nowhere; instead, it 
resulted from the current situation and denying this fact is a 
lie." 
 
BALTIMORE