MUBARAK BLAMES DEMONSTRATIONS FOR UNEMPLOYMENT;

UNCLAS CAIRO 003767 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC PGOV KPAO EG SUBJECT: MUBARAK BLAMES DEMONSTRATIONS FOR UNEMPLOYMENT; GAMAL SPEAKS: EGYPTIAN MEDIA THEMES, MAY 10 TO 15 ¶1. Constitutional reform: The People's Assembly debate and approval of a constitutional amendment to article 76 dominated media coverage May 10 - 15. Viewers of Egyptian TV and pan-Arab satellite channels Al-Jazeera and Al- Arabiya on May 10 - 11 saw scenes of heated debate, with Ayman Nour and Muslim Brotherhood (MB) parliamentarians walking out. Predictably, the pro-government press liked the proposed amendment; the opposition and independent media did not. For example, a May 14 comment in opposition daily Al Wafd (circulation: 200,000) called for a boycott on the upcoming referendum because of "the political crime the parliament, the Shura Council, and NDP officials have committed by undermining Mubarak's constitutional reform initiative." ¶2. President Mubarak blames demonstrations for unemployment: Mubarak's interview with the Kuwaiti newspaper Al Siyassa ("Politics") was reprinted in full by pro-government newspapers Al Akhbar (circulation: 800,000) and Al Ahram (circulation: 750,000) on May 14. In the Al Ahram version of the interview, Mubarak alleged that the "Kifaya" (Enough) movement "had been paid" for its recent demonstrations, and he blamed "unjustified demonstrations for chasing away foreign investment and increasing unemployment." Mubarak further claimed that the MB wished to seize power and "reign forever, causing unrest in the country." On May 15, however, Al Ahram published a correction stating that its version of Mubarak's interview had been "twisted" and that the version published in Al Akhbar was more accurate. (Note: It is rare for an Egyptian publication to print a correction. End note.) While Al Ahram did not specify what needed to be corrected, only Al Ahram quoted Mubarak, in a sub-headline, saying that he was "awake to" alleged USG - MB talks and that he had "information" on them. ¶3. Gamal speaks: On May 12, Gamal Mubarak held a press conference to discuss article 76 and Egypt's democratic future. Embassy contacts working for western media outlets told PA Officer that this press conference was most likely organized principally for their benefit, noting that Gamal began taking questions first in English and from western media reps. One western media contact summarized the content as follows: "The press conference boiled down to Gamal saying, 'You guys in the western media just don't understand us.'" Another suggested that Gamal was "defiant" in his answers and reluctant to address questions about the Kifaya movement, finally asking, "Who are these Kifaya guys? Who cares?" ¶4. Al Jazeera reporters arrested: Egyptian website Masrawy.com reported that eight reporters and technicians with Al Jazeera satellite TV in Cairo were detained and questioned for several hours on May 13 after filming a conference at the Judges' Club. (Note: The Judges' Club conference had been convened to decide whether or not judges should agree to monitor this year's presidential elections. End note.) Among those detained was Al Jazeera's Cairo bureau chief. The reporters later filed their report, noting that their detention was "added salt and pepper" on the day's events. ¶5. "An (Israeli) Embassy in the Building": Superstar comic actor Adel Imam held a May 11 press conference to promote his latest film, "An Embassy in the Building," to be released in July. His character in the film, an oil engineer, spends 25 years in Dubai and then returns to Egypt to discover that the Israeli Embassy is next door to his apartment. Imam claimed in his press conference that the film "is a message to Israel and any other country Egypt has signed peace agreements with, to make them understand the ordinary Egyptian citizen's point of view." Imam also stressed that the film is a comedy and not political. (Note: Adel was recently embroiled in a controversy with pro-government weekly magazine Al Ahram Al Arabi (circulation: 10,000),which had accused him of attacking Egypt's July Revolution in an Israeli magazine. The magazine later publicly apologized to Imam for the article. End note.) GRAY