REACTION FROM YEREVAN, ARMENIA: PRESIDENT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 YEREVAN 000226

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR INR/R/MR-STHIBEAULT, EUR/PPD-MLOGSDON AND
SRUEDY, EUR/CACEN-ESIDEREAS, EUR, EUR/ACE, EUR/SNEC,
EUR/SE

E.O. 12958; N/A
TAGS: KMDR OPRC PGOV PREL KPAO AM
SUBJECT: REACTION FROM YEREVAN, ARMENIA: PRESIDENT
BUSH'S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS



1. SUMMARY: President George W. Bush's State of the
Union Address was widely covered in Armenian media,
both print and broadcast. Coverage by broadcast media
was mostly factual, using CNN, EuroNews or Russian
sources. Print media used the Russian Washington File
provided by the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section as
well as other Internet sources. The main focus of the
coverage was on the President's statements on the war
against terror, war in Iraq, situation in the Middle
East and immigration reform. The following is a
summary version of print reports. END SUMMARY

U.S. PRESIDENT PROMISED TO CONTINUE WAR AGAINST TERROR


2. Government official Armenian language daily
HAYASTANI HANRAPETUTIUN (01/22) published a long report
on President Bush's State of the Union address on its
international news page. The main focus of the
coverage was on the President's statements on the war
against terrorism, policy on Iraq and situation in the
Middle East. In a commentary the newspaper wrote:
"President Bush hinted that the struggle against
terrorists is conducted not only overseas, but also
inside the U.S. In this respect he called on the U.S
Congress to renew the Patriot Act, which provides
unprecedented wide authorities to the law enforcement
agencies in the fight against terrorism."

U.S. CAN ATTACK ENEMIES WITHOUT WARNING


3. Centrist Armenian language daily AZG (01/22) placed
a top article under the above headline on the
international news page. The article highlighted the
President's statements on the war against terrorism,
U.S. policy on Iraq, negotiations with Libya on
eliminating weapons of mass destruction and new
immigration reform. Commenting on the U.S. policy on
combating terrorism, the newspaper wrote: "Delivering
his annual State of the Union Address to Congress,
President Bush primarily spoke about the struggle
against terrorism, which, in his words, will be of an
offensive nature. The President particularly stated
that America grants itself the right to start a war at
any time when the security of the nation [American] is
threatened... `America will never ask permission for
protecting the security of its citizens,' stated
President Bush hinting at the oppositionist position of
France, Germany, Russia and China in the war against
Iraq."

NEW TIMES IN THE U.S. AND OUTSIDE ITS BORDERS


4. Oppositionist Armenian daily "ARAVOT" (01/22)
published a long article on the second page of the
newspaper. The main focus was on the war against
terrorism. "In his State of the Union Address President
Bush openly stated: America is on the offensive in the
struggle against terrorism. `America will never ask
permission for protecting its citizens,' throwing
obvious hints to France, Germany, Russia and China in
the Iraqi war context, the President justified the new
emphasis in U.S. foreign policy. The President's
annual State of the Union Address markedly differred
from the previous ones with a special passionate
description of things and reiteration of the U.S. role
in the current international developments. It is easy
to understand it - presidential elections are coming
up, and it is not by chance that the President's
statements were mainly built on the ideas of the
security and prosperity of American citizens... It is
not secret that international terrorism has become a
serious threat to not only the U.S. but to the entire
civilized world community. It is also indisputable
that a similar threat to the world is a possible
acquisition of WMDs by certain regressive, "Asian
mentality" bearing countries. Therefore, the
international community or at least its civilized
section should accept the new realities in the world
and the U.S role in leading those developments."

U.S WILL ATTACK ITS ENEMIES WITHOUT WARNING


5. Pro-government Russian language newspaper NOVOYE
VREMYA (01/22) published an article under the second
page column "The Theme of the Day." The article draws
parallels between President Bush's statements delivered
to Congress. "Making a similar statement to Congress
last year, Bush referred to the inevitable
threat of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction. Later on
such statements about the presence of these weapons in
Iraq became a reason for going to war with Iraq.
Since weapons of mass destruction have not been found
so far, Bush touched upon this issue in his current
statement very carefully. He just mentioned that a
group of American experts have already revealed the
existence of weapons of mass destruction programs. Now,
justifying the war in Iraq, he said that Libya, under
the pressure of the war in Iraq, has agreed to scrap
its WMD programs."

ORDWAY