MIXED COMMENTARY ON NAZIF VISIT TO WASHINGTON:

UNCLAS CAIRO 003901

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC PGOV KPAO EG
SUBJECT: MIXED COMMENTARY ON NAZIF VISIT TO WASHINGTON:
EGYPTIAN MEDIA THEMES, MAY 16 TO 22



1. Headlines: President Mubarak's visit with Libyan
leader Moamar Gaddafi and other African leaders to discuss
Darfur May 17 - 18 was widely covered, as was Mubarak's May
17 statement encouraging Egyptians to get out and vote on
the constitutional amendment referendum on May 25.
Mubarak met May 21 with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
in Sharm El Sheikh, with statements of both leaders urging
Israel to "apply the Sharm understandings" covered in
Egyptian newspapers. The publication by a UK tabloid of
Saddam Hussein in his underwear received front-page
coverage the weekend of May 20 21, as did Afghan
President Hamid Karzai's call for the USG to investigate
allegations that soldiers tortured to death two Afghani
prisoners, as reported in the New York Times on May 20.
End headlines.


2. Nazif goes to Washington: PM Nazif's meeting with
President Bush at the White House on May 18 was reported
enthusiastically by pro-government newspapers and TV,
highlighting President Bush's praise for Egypt's "historic
reform initiative," ongoing U.S. economic assistance to
Egypt, and the "strong relations" between Egypt and the
U.S. Commentary about Nazif's visit, however, was mixed.
While pro-government and conservative commentators praised
the visit, the opposition and independents seized on
Nazif's "insulting" remarks to USA Today on May 15 that
democratic reform in Egypt would "take some time, because
[opposition] parties are not yet mature enough." Much of
the commentary on Nazif's remarks was moderate in tone,
with critics charging that Nazif had made a "mistake" --
save for opposition Al Wafd (circulation: 180,000),which
used more strident language throughout the week to
criticize Nazif's remarks to his "American masters."


3. Opposition's boycott of referendum on Article 76:
"Egyptians should stay home on the day of national
mourning!" was the banner headline in Al Wafd on May 21, as
the newspaper continued its ongoing media campaign against
the May 25 referendum on a constitutional amendment. On
May 22, all newspapers reported on the Shura Council's
retort to the opposition's planned boycott, stating that it
was "political weakness and an attempt to gain the
limelight." A pro-government commentator who appeared on
Egyptian TV Channel One's program "Halat Hiwar" ("State of
the Discussion) on May 22 described the opposition's
boycott as displaying "a complete lack of understanding
about how democracy works." Notable was the amount of
commentary in the Egyptian media about the boycott and the
opposition's motives, compared to the paucity of discussion
about the referendum itself.


4. Ruby's latest video: The newest music video by
Egyptian pop star Ruby, "Ib'a Abilni" ("Meet Me"),can now
be seen (repeatedly) in Cairo's cafes and clubs. (Note:
Most cafes and clubs that cater to young people in Cairo
have a TV set turned on to an Arabic video channel. End
note.) In the video, Ruby dances provocatively in Pharonic
costumes. A chorus of conservative Ruby critics claim the
singer has "overstepped the line" by insulting Egyptian
culture and heritage, according to pan-Arab news website
"Al Bawaba" on May 19. Ruby's response? She claims to
portray the Pharaohs' "humanistic side," aiming to show her
audience that ancient Egyptian civilization "celebrated the
pleasures of life."

GRAY