AMBASSADOR STRESSES COOPERATION IN GLOBAL WAR ON

UNCLAS CAIRO 007238 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