MEDIA REACTION ZIM/FRENCH ELECTIONS; HARARE

UNCLAS HARARE 001139

SIPDIS

AF/PD FOR COX AND ROBERTSON, AF/S FOR KRAFT AND SCHLACHTER,
AF/RA FOR DIPALMA, INR/R/MR, NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ZI PREL PHUM
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ZIM/FRENCH ELECTIONS; HARARE



1. Under headline "Europe's double standards exposed" the
government-controlled weekly "The Sunday Mail" dedicated
its May 12 editorial to stating that circumstances
surrounding the outcome of the French election are no
different from the disputed presidential poll in Zimbabwe.
Excerpts:

". . .The just-ended presidential elections in France
made it very clear for everyone to see Europe's double
standards. In the elections. . .President Chirac won
over 82 percent of the votes against Le Pen's 18
percent. What is interesting in the elections is the
way the whole of Europe united in making sure that Le
Pen loses the elections. Even the French media united
in making sure that Le Pen, who they consider to be
threat to their country's interests, loses the
elections.

". . .By fighting to make sure that Le Pen loses, the
people of France were defending their country's
interests and what they did is exactly what the people
of Zimbabwe did when they voted for President Mugabe. .
. Mr. Tsvangirai is Zimbabwe's version of France's Le
Pen. While the French describe Le Pen as a 'xenophobic
candidate,' Zimbabweans describe Mr. Tsvangirai as a
'sellout. . .' It has been said before that Americans
would not salute Osama Bin Laden if he wins elections in
their country and surely there is nothing wrong when
Zimbabweans say a British-sponsored party will never
rule in Zimbabwe. . ."

SULLIVAN