Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05PARIS4061
2005-06-10 10:02:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Paris
Cable title:  

MEDIA REACTION REPORT - GUANTANAMO

Tags:  OPRC KMDR FR 
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UNCLAS PARIS 004061

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 - GUANTANAMO
PARIS - FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2005


(A) SUBJECTS COVERED IN TODAY'S REPORT:

GUANTANAMO

(B) SUMMARY OF COVERAGE:

THE BUDGET BATTLE BETWEEN PRESIDENT CHIRAC AND PRIME MINISTER
BLAIR THAT HAS ARISEN FROM JACQUES CHIRAC'S CALL ON LONDON TO
MAKE A "GESTURE OF SOLIDARITY" WITH THE EU BY GIVING UP ITS
"REBATE" ON AGRICULTURAL SUBSIDIES NEGOTIATED IN 1984 BY
MARGARET THATCHER, THE FRANCO-GERMAN TENSIONS FOLLOWING OVER
THE FUTURE OF THE CONSTITUTION AND AIRBUS-BOEING CONFLICT IN
LIGHT OF OPENING OF THE 2005 PARIS AIR SHOW DOMINATE HEADLINES
TODAY.

CENTRIST ECONOMIC LA TRIBUNE CARRIES A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT ON
THE PARIS AIR SHOW IN WHICH THE A380 IS FEATURED AS THE "STAR
ATTRACTION." IN THE AREA OF MILITARY AVIATION, LA TRIBUNE'S
THIERRY DEL JESUS NOTES "THE ORGANIZERS OF THIS YEAR'S AIR
SHOW HAVE EVERY REASON TO REJOICE WITH THE MASSIVE MILITARY
PARTICIPATION OF THE UNITED STATES. AFTER ITS NOTEWORTHY
ABSENCE IN 2003 AS A RESULT OF THE DISAGREEMENTS CONCERNING
THE WAR IN IRAQ. THIS IS A COMMERCIAL AND DIPLOMATIC TURN OF
EVENTS THAT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE PRESTIGIOUS IMAGE OF THE
AIR SHOW BUT ALSO ADD TO THE SUSPENSE. THE MILITARY CONTRACTS
THAT WILL BE NEGOTIATED, NAMELY SINGAPORE'S CHOICE BETWEEN
BOEING'S F15 AND DASSAULT'S RAFALE, REPRESENT BILLIONS OF
DOLLARS."


ECONOMIC DAILIES REPORT THE OPENING OF THE G-7 FINANCE
MINISTERS MEETING WHICH IS TO BE HELD THIS WEEKEND IN LONDON.
THE MINISTERS WILL HAVE "PLENTY ON THEIR PLATE" ACCORDING TO
CENTRIST ECONOMIC LA TRIBUNE, BUT ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL TOPICS
FOR DISCUSSIONS WILL CENTER ON THE U.S. PROPOSAL TO CANCEL THE
DEBT OF THE POOREST COUNTRIES. LA TRIBUNE WARNS: "WASHINGTON'S
CONCESSIONS ARE TOO RECENT AND TOO IMPRECISE TO HOPE FOR AN
AGREEMENT TO BE REACHED THIS WEEKEND."

THE FRONT-PAGE OF RIGHT-OF CENTER LE FIGARO CARRIES A REPORT
ON INTERIOR MINISTER NICOLAS SARKOZY'S PROPOSALS MADE
YESTERDAY AT A UMP CONVENTION AT THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ON
IMMIGRATION AND INTEGRATION. SARKOZY'S PROPOSALS CALLS FOR A
"50 PERCENT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS ESCORTED
BACK TO THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN." THE INTERIOR MINISTER ALSO
ADVOCATES SELECT IMMIGRATION IN ORDER TO "CONTROL THE FLOW OF
IMMIGRANTS RATHER THAN BE SUBJECTED TO IT." THE NEW POLICY
WOULD IN EFFECT ALLOW FRANCE TO ACCEPT ONLY THOSE NEW
IMMIGRANTS IT NEEDS FOR ITS ECONOMY.

LIBERATION CARRIES A FULL-PAGE REPORT PENNED BY FABRICE
ROUSSELOT AND PASCAL RICHE ENTITLED "IN THE U.S. PRESSURE IS
MOUNTING ON GUANTANAMO" FOLLOWING THE AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
REPORT THAT QUALIFIED GUANATAMO BAY AS A `MODERN-DAY GULAG.'
PRIVATE TF1 TELEVISION FEATURED A REPORT DURING THE EVENING
NEWSCAST LAST NIGHT ON THE POLITICAL PRESSURE MOUNTING IN THE
U.S. AGAINST THE GUANTANAMO DETENTION CENTER. THE REPORT
UNDERSCORED THAT IT IS THE PENTAGON THAT INVENTED THE TERM
"ENEMY COMBATANT" AND CALLED THE CENTER A "TIME BOMB" THAT THE
WHITE HOUSE DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO DEFUSE. (SEE PART C)

(C) SUPPORTING TEXT/BLOCK QUOTES:

GUANTANAMO

"IN THE U.S. PRESSURE IS MOUNTING ON GUANTANAMO"
FABRICE ROUSSELOT AND PASCAL RICHE IN LEFT-OF-CENTER
LIBERATION (06/10): "IN WASHINGTON THE APPEALS ARE INCREASING
NUMEROUS AND LOUD TO SHUT DOWN THIS PRISON THAT OPENED IN
JANUARY 2002. ACCORDING TO ITS DETRACTORS, GUANTANAMO FUELS
THE RISK OF ATTACKS AGAINST AMERICANS RATHER THAN THE
CONTRARY. IN THE STATE OF LAW THAT IS THE UNITED STATES,
GUANTANAMO IS AN ABOMINATION THAT SHOCKS A GOOD DEAL OF
AMERICANS." WOLFF