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