MEDIA REACTION:SEC ENERGY BODMAN

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 004691 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 MCKUNE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR TC SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION:SEC ENERGY BODMAN ¶1. SUMMARY: THERE WAS GOOD AND UNIFORMLY POSITIVE MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE VISIT TO THE UAE BY SECRETARY OF ENERGY SAMUEL BODMAN. ARABIC AND ENGLISH DAILIES PROMINENTLY REPORTED EXCERPTS OF REMARKS MADE BY THE SECRETARY DURING A PA-ARRANGED PRESS CONFERENCE AND HIS MEETINGS WITH UAE PRESIDENT AND OTHER OFFICIALS. THE MEDIA ALSO HIGHLIGHTED THE SECRETARY'S PARTICIPATION IN THE LAUNCH OF THE ARABIC VERSION OF DOE'S INTERNATIONAL ENERGY OUTLOOK 2005. PA ALSO ARRANGED THREE TV INTERVIEWS WITH ABU DHABI TV, CNBC.ARABIA AND THE NEWS CHANNEL AL- ARABIYAH. END SUMMARY. ¶2. 2. UAE's print and electronic media prominently reported the visit to the UAE by Secretary of Energy Samiel Bodman. The media singled out his meetings with UAE President, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayid, which was attended by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Muhamamd bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Oil and Mineral Resources and the CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil company (ADNOC). The media featured remarks made by Secretary Bodman during a press roundtable with representatives of UAE and international media. ¶3. ¶4. 3. Abu Dhabi TV carried a 3-minute report based on the interview during the main evening newscast. Abu Dhabi TV later carried the entire interview at the late news roundup. ¶5. ¶6. 4. The following day, Arabic and English dailies highlighted Secretary Bodman's meeting with UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed. The media also reported Bodman's meetings with the UAE Minister of Oil and the CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). ¶7. ¶8. 5. The media also reported on a PA-arranged press conference which was attended by most local and international media outlets. Following are sample headlines of the Arabic and Englisgh dailies: Sharjah-based Pan-Arab daily "Al Khaleej," (circulation 85,000) headlined: "Khalifa reviews cooperation with U.S. Secretary of Energy. Bodman: `UAE plays an important role in stabilizing international oil market'." Abu Dhabi-based Arabic daily "Al Ittihad," (circulation 65,000) headlined: "Khalifa reviews cooperation ties with U.S. secretary of Energy. Washington: `UAE's oil policies support stability of the world market'." Dubai-based English language daily "Khaleej Times," (circulation 80,000) headlined: "U.S. is ready to invest in UAE oil industry." ¶6. The next day, Secretary Bodman attended the launch of the Arabic version of the U.S. Energy Information Administration's International Energy Outlook 2005. Coverage was extensive: Dubai-based English language daily "Khaleej Times," (circulation 80,000) headlined: "US wants Opec to keep market well supplied." Dubai-based English language daily "Gulf News" (circulation 95,000) headlined: "US and world economy 'can cope with high oil.'" Dubai-based Arabic daily "Al-Bayan" (circulation 90,000) headlined: "Secretary of Energy anticipates price of 57 dollars per barrel in 2006." Abu Dhabi-based Arabic daily "Al Ittihad" (circulation 65,000) headlined: "Secretary of Engery: We will work on stabilizing the price of oil with the cooperation of OPEC and the oil producing countries." Sharjah-based Pan-Arab daily "Al Khaleej" (circulation 85,000) headlined: Secretary of Engery inaugurates the Arabic version of Report for Energy 2005. 119 million barrels of oil are being consumed by the world everyday." ¶7. PA arranged two separate TV interviews with CNBC.Arabia, the Arabic version of CNBC, and the Dubai-based news satellite channel, Al-Arabiyah. Excerpts of both interviews were repeatedly aired during the course of the day. SISON