AMBASSADOR STRESSES COOPERATION IN GLOBAL WAR ON

UNCLAS CAIRO 007149

SIPDIS

NEA/PD FOR FRANK FINVER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER KPAO KMDR OPRC EG
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR STRESSES COOPERATION IN GLOBAL WAR ON
TERROR DURING 9-11 MEDIA OUTREACH EVENTS


1. Summary: To commemorate the anniversary of the
September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York and
Washington, the Ambassador conducted an exclusive one-on-
one interview with leading Egyptian satellite network,
Dream TV, on September 11. He also attended the opening of
a September 11 photo exhibit at The American University in
Cairo (AUC) during which he spoke to print reporters and
another Egyptian satellite network, Orbit TV, about the
international significance of 9-11. End summary.


2. TV coverage: On September 11, Dream TV aired an
exclusive thirty-minute interview, dubbed in Arabic, with
the Ambassador to commemorate and discuss the 9-11 attacks.
The Ambassador also granted a brief interview about 9-11
with Egyptian satellite channel Orbit TV at the opening of
an exhibit of 9-11 photos at the American University in
Cairo, the same day. In both interviews, the remarks
focused on the 9-11 attacks and linked them to Egyptians'
experience of the recent terrorist bombings in Sharm El
Sheikh. The Ambassador stressed that the global war on
terror needs the assistance and cooperation of all nations,
including Egypt. [Note: Transcripts of the Ambassador's
TV interviews can be read in their entirety at
http://egypt.usembassy.gov. End note.]


3. Print coverage: Independent daily Al-Masry Al-Youm
(circulation: 20,000) on September 13 printed a prominent
feature story on page 3 on the Ambassador's appearance at
the photo exhibit, making note of his comment that the
exhibit honored victims of terrorist attacks worldwide,
including those in Sharm El Sheikh, and that terrorism
would not succeed. Independent daily Nahdet Masr
(circulation: 20,000) ran a front-page article on the
Ambassador's visit to the opening of the 9-11 exhibit.

RICCIARDONE