Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
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05PARIS2635 | 2005-04-19 10:14:00 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy Paris |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. |
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 002635
SIPDIS DEPT FOR INR/R/MR; IIP/RW; IIP/RNY; BBG/VOA; IIP/WEU; AF/PA; EUR/WE /P/SP; D/C (MCCOO); EUR/PA; INR/P; INR/EUC; PM; OSC ISA FOR ILN; NEA; WHITE HOUSE FOR NSC/WEUROPE; DOC FOR ITA/EUR/FR AND PASS USTR/PA; USINCEUR FOR PAO; NATO/PA; MOSCOW/PA; ROME/PA; USVIENNA FOR USDEL OSCE. E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR FR SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION REPORT - IRAQ - THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT MADAEN PARIS - TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2005 (A) SUBJECTS COVERED IN TODAY'S REPORT: IRAQ - THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT MADAEN B) SUMMARY OF COVERAGE: THE QUARREL BETWEEN PRIME MINISTER RAFFARIN AND INTERIOR MINISTER DE VILLEPIN, WHO IS SAID TO BE MANEUVERING FOR THE POSITION OF PRIME MINISTER AFTER AN ANTICIPATED, POST- REFERENDUM CABINET RE-SHUFFLE, IS TODAY'S MAJOR FRONT-PAGE STORY. LEFT-OF-CENTER LIBERATION HEADLINES "MAY THE WORST MAN WIN" OVER A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE TWO PLAYERS. FOR POPULAR RIGHT- OF-CENTER FRANCE SOIR, IT IS "PANIC AT THE SUMMIT" WHILE LE PARISIEN TITLES "THE CLASH." RIGHT-OF-CENTER LE FIGARO HEADLINES "THE DE VILLEPIN-RAFFARIN BATTLE" AS IT PUBLISHES THE LATEST POLL ON VOTER INTENTION FOR THE REFERENDUM, WHICH SHOWS ONCE AGAIN THAT THE `NO' IS AHEAD, WITH 55 PERCENT OF VOTER INTENTION; THE `YES' GETS 45 PERCENT. LEFT-OF-CENTER LE MONDE HEADLINES: "THE PERSISTING `NO' INCREASES PRESSURE ON CHIRAC." EDITORIALS ARE OVERWHELMINGLY DEVOTED TO THE GOVERNMENT CONTROVERSY AND THE REFERENDUM. CATHOLIC LA CROIX CARRIES AN INTERVIEW WITH FM BARNIER: "ON MAY 29, VOTERS MUST VOTE SOLELY ON THE CONSTITUTION. WHEN IT COMES TO TURKEY'S MEMBERSHIP FOR EXAMPLE, THE QUESTION WILL BE DEALT WITH IN FIFTEEN YEARS FROM NOW OR MORE, AND FRENCH CITIZENS WILL GIVE THEIR OPINION THROUGH A REFERENDUM. IF THE `NO' WINS, THOSE WHO ARE DREAMING OF A FREE TRADE ZONE/EUROPE, OF A EUROPE/SUPERMARKET, WILL HAVE WON. THE PROJECT FOR A POLITICAL EUROPE WILL BE STALLED AND FRANCE'S INFLUENCE WILL BE REDUCED. WE MUST BE WATCHFUL OF THE WORLD AROUND US. I DO NOT WANT THE FUTURE OF MY COUNTRY TO BE DETERMINED ON WALL STREET AND UNDONE IN BEIJING." TODAY'S MAJOR INTERNATIONAL STORY REVOLVES AROUND CHINA AND JAPAN. LEFT-OF-CENTER LIBERATION INTERVIEWS CHINA EXPERT VALERIE NIQUET ON THE REASONS BEHIND CHINA'S GROWING ANGER AGAINST JAPAN: "BEHIND CHINA'S ANGER WE MUST SEE THE FACT THAT BEIJING DOES NOT WANT JAPAN TO HAVE A PERMANENT SEAT AT THE UNSC. THE REFORM HAS BEEN UNDER DISCUSSION FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS. BUT IT SEEMED THAT A RESOLUTION WAS NEAR AND JAPAN HAD A CHANCE FOR A PERMANENT SEAT. CHINA WANTS TO SAFEGUARD ITS POSITION OF INFLUENCE ON THE INTERNATIONAL SCENE, AND IN ASIA IN PARTICULAR." RIGHT-OF-CENTER LE FIGARO INTERVIEWS ISRAELI DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER SHIMON PERES: "THE FUTURE LIES WITH THE ROADMAP. BUT BEFORE WE CAN BEGIN TO IMPLEMENT IT, THE ISSUE OF TERRORISM MUST BE RESOLVED. I BELIEVE WE NEED TO HELP MAHMOUD ABBAS EVEN MORE, AND WE WILL DO THAT. ALL THOSE WHO WANT PEACE MUST HELP HIM. AS LONG AS HAMAS BEARS ARMS, IT WILL BE OUT OF THE QUESTION TO NEGOTIATE WITH THEM." THE MYSTERIOUS HOSTAGE-TAKING INCIDENT IN MADAEN IS RELATED IN LIBERATION AND FRANCE SOIR. BOTH OUTLETS SUGGEST THERE MAY HAVE BEEN MANIPULATION BEHIND THE STORY TO FOMENT DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN THE SUNNI AND SHIITE COMMUNITIES. (SEE PART C) (C) SUPPORTING TEXT/BLOCK QUOTES: IRAQ - THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT MADAEN "A HOSTAGE SITUATION WITHOUT HOSTAGES" SACHA BALIT VANDERBROUCK IN RIGHT-OF-CENTER FRANCE SOIR (04/19): "THE OUTCOME OF THE IMAGINARY HOSTAGE TAKING SITUATION IS AN INDICATION OF THE EXTREME TENSION ON THE GROUND. THE FACT THAT OVER EIGHTY PEOPLE COULD POSSIBLY HAVE BEEN KIDNAPPED AT ONCE CAME AS NO SURPRISE, AND THE OVERLOAD IN RUMORS AS WELL AS IN DISINFORMATION ARE FEEDING INTO GROWING SUSPICION BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES. THE QUESTION REALLY IS `WHO IS PULLING THE STRINGS?' THE SHIITES ARE SCREAMING `SCANDAL' WHILE THE SUNNIS TALK OF MANIPULATION. WHAT IS CERTAIN IS THAT NO ONE CAN SEE CLEARLY. BUT THE CHOICE OF MADAEN IS NO COINCIDENCE: BECAUSE IT HAS A MIXED POPULATION OF SHIITES AND SUNNIS, IT IS THE IDEAL PLACE TO IGNITE A FIRST FIRE THAT CAN SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COUNTRY." WOLFF |