MEDIA REACTION: CONDOLEEZZA RICE

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000527

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 GOLDRICH;ALSO FOR MOC
PARIS FOR ZEYA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR TC
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: CONDOLEEZZA RICE



1. SUMMARY: SECRETARY CONDOLEEZZA RICE'S STATEMENTS DURING HER
FIRST VISIT AS SECRETARY OF STATE DOMINATED COVERAGE IN LOCAL
PRINT AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA. ABU DHABI TV AND DUBAI TV BOTH
CARRIED EXCERPTS OF HER STATEMENT DURING A PRESS CONFERENCE IN
THE UK. AN UNUSUALLY POSITIVE EDITORIAL IN "AL BAYAN" LAUDED HER
STATEMENTS AND NOTED THAT THE U.S. SEEMS TO BE CHANGING ITS
FOREIGN POLICY AND WILL LISTEN TO THE "VOICE OF REASON" INSTEAD
OF THE "VOICE OF THE CANNON". ANOTHER EDITORIAL IN "AKHBAR AL
ARAB" NOTED THAT THE U.S. WOULD NOT BE USING POWER TO IMPOSE
DEMOCRACY. END SUMMARY.


2. LAUDING SECRETARY RICE'S STATEMENT YESTERDAY, "AL BAYAN"
EDITORIALIZED 02/05: (ARABIC DAILY, DUBAI-BASED BUSINESS-
ORIENTED, CIRCULATION 40,000)

"SECRETARY OF STATE RICE DID A GOOD THING YESTERDAY BY ANNOUNCING
THAT MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAN IS NOT ON THE U.S.
ADMINISTRATION'S AGENDA AND THAT HER COUNTRY STILL HAS
`DIPLOMATIC MEANS' TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS WITH TEHRAN. RICE'S
STATEMENTS POINTED OUT A NEW APPROACH IN THE U.S. FOREIGN POLICY
THAT GIVES WAY TO THE `VOICE OF REASON' INSTEAD OF THE `VOICE OF
CANNONS', WHICH WERE HEARD VERY LOUDLY DURING THE BUSH'S FIRST
PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION. SINCE THE U.S. IS THE MOST POWERFUL
COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, IT HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SUPPORTING
INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY. THESE RESPONSIBILITIES COULD
BE EASILY ACHIEVED BY ENGAGING IN MEANINGFUL NEGOTIATION IN
RESPONSE TO DISPUTE AND CONFLICT, WHICH WOULD LEAD TO FUNDAMENTAL
SOLUTIONS THAT DO NOT REQUIRE THE VIOLENCE OF WAR. THE WHOLE
WORLD IS WAITING FOR THE U.S. TO ASSUME THIS DIPLOMATIC ROLE, AND
IT IS DEFINITELY CAPABLE OF ACHIEVING PEACE IF IT HAS A REAL
DESIRE TO BUILD A CLIMATE THAT IS MORE SECURE, STABLE AND QUIET.
THIS WILL LEAD TO THE SPREAD OF JUSTICE, DEMOCRACY, AND FREEDOM
WITHOUT ANY BLOOD SHED."


3. UNDER THE HEADLINE "RICE'S PROMISES," AKHBAR AL-ARAB"
EDITORIALIZED 02/05: (ARABIC DAILY, ABU DHABI-BASED, CIRCULATION
20,000)

". IT IS NORMAL THAT RICE WILL HAVE AN AGENDA TO RE-BUILD THE
MIDDLE EAST ACCORDING TO A NEW VISION THAT FOCUSES ON THE SPREAD
OF U.S. DEMOCRACY, LIKE IN OCCUPIED IRAQ AND PALESTINE. AS STATED
BY MANY U.S. OFFICIALS, WASHINGTON DOES NOT WANT TO IMPOSE
DEMOCRACY THROUGH MILITARY POWER BUT THROUGH AGREEMENT."
SISON