MEDIA REACTION REPORT - SECRETARY RICE TO MIDDLE EAST

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 PARIS 004327

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 - SECRETARY RICE TO MIDDLE EAST
IRAN ELECTIONS EU ISSUES - EU SUMMIT
PARIS - MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2005


A) SUBJECTS COVERED IN TODAY'S REPORT:


1. SECRETARY RICE TO MIDDLE EAST

2. IRAN ELECTIONS

3. EU ISSUES - EU SUMMIT

B) SUMMARY OF COVERAGE:

THE RISING PRICE OF OIL AND THE FAILED EUROPEAN SUMMIT ARE TWO
OF TODAY'S MAJOR FRONT-PAGE STORIES. FOR LEFT-OF-CENTER LE
MONDE "THE EU-25 `FREEZE' THE EU CONSTITUTION;" LIBERATION
HEADLINES "THE EU KO STANDING;" AND LA CROIX "THE EUROPEANS IN
SEARCH OF A SECOND WIND." COMMENTARIES ABOUND ON THE FAILED EU
BUDGET AND COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY, WITH LE MONDE WRITING
ABOUT "TWO FAILURES" WHICH ARE TURNING INTO "BLAIR'S TWO
VICTORIES." (SEE PART C) IN A COMMENTARY IN LE FIGARO THE
BLAIR-CHIRAC ANIMOSITY IS ANALYZED, EVEN IF COMMENTATOR
PHILIPPE GOUILLAUD WRITES: "BLAIR DID NOT MANAGE TO SPLIT THE
CHIRAC-SHROEDER TANDEM. AND JUNKER MADE VERY HARSH REMARKS
AGAINST BLAIR. NOW THAT THE PERSONAL RELATIONS BETWEEN BLAIR
AND CHIRAC HAVE REACHED A GLACIAL ERA, BLAIR WILL BENEFIT FROM
PRESIDENT BUSH'S AID AT THE NEXT G8 SUMMIT FROM JULY 6 TO 8."
LE FIGARO CARRIES AN OP-ED BY BENITA FERRERO-WALDNER, EUROPEAN
COMMISSIONER IN CHARGE OF FOREIGN RELATIONS, ON EUROPE'S
POLITICAL ROLE ON THE INTERNATIONAL SCENE. (SEE PART C)

A POLL FOR LE JOURNAL DU DIMANCHE SHOWS THAT PRESIDENT CHIRAC
CONTINUES TO FALL IN POPULARITY, WITH ONLY 28 OF RESPONDENTS
SUPPORTING HIS POLICIES. THE COMMENTARY READS: "THE BAROMETER
SHOWS THE OPPOSITE OF A POLL OF FEELINGS TRIGGERED BY A
SPECIFIC EVENT OR ANNOUNCEMENT. IT REFLECTS A DEEPLY GROUNDED
POPULAR TREND."

LE JOURNAL DU DIMANCHE ALSO CARRIES A REPORT ALLEGING THAT
FRENCH HOSTAGE FLORENCE AUBENAS WAS LIBERATED FROM IRAQI
CAPTORS FOLLLOWING PAYMENT OF A 15 MILLION DOLLAR RANSOM. THE
PAPER'S INFORMATION IS ALLEGEDLY CORROBORATED BY ROBERT
MENARD, PRESIDENT OF JOURNALISTS WITHOUT BORDERS." GILLES
DELAFON REPORTS THAT THE FRENCH AUTHORITIES HAVE DENIED PAYING
A RANSOM, "BUT WERE NOT CONVINCING."

IN INTERNATIONAL NEWS SECRETARY RICE'S VISIT TO THE MIDDLE
EAST IS FACTUALLY REPORTED WITH LIGHT COMMENTARY, WHILE THE
ELECTIONS IN IRAN ARE WIDELY COMMENTED. (SEE PART C)

WITH THE PARIS AIR SHOW HAVING CLOSED ITS DOORS ON SUNDAY, THE
LATEST FIGURES INDICATE THAT AIRBUS IS IN THE LEAD WITH 280
REGISTERED ORDERS 146 FOR BOEING. A RELATED ARTICLE IN LE
FIGARO ECONOMIE REPORTS: "THE AEROSPACE INDUSTRY IS WORRIED
ABOUT AN `ANTI-AIRBUS' TREND IN AMERICAN POLITICAL CIRCLES.
MANY ARE THOSE WHO FEEL THAT THE ANTI-AIRBUS AMENDMENT WILL
KEEP AIRBUS FROM PARTICIPATING IN THE PENTAGON'S BID FOR
TANKER AIRCRAFT. THE FEELING IN THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ATLANTIC
IS GENERALLY ANTI-EUROPEAN AND EVEN ANTI-FRENCH. BUT THE `ANTI-
AIRBUS' BILL WILL BE FACING SENATOR MCCAIN WHO IS EAGER TO
CHANGE HOW BOEING DOES THINGS. IN HIS VIEW, THE AMERICAN
AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURER MUST STOP FUNCTIONING IN A POSITION OF
MONOPOLY, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO TANKER AIRCRAFT. MCCAIN
IS TEMPTED TO USE AIRBUS TO SHAKE BOEING AND FORCE IT TO LOWER
ITS PRICES."

LE FIGARO REPORTS A PARIS "COLLABORATIVE" MEETING BETWEEN U.S.
AND FRENCH JUDICIAL REPRESENTATIVES ON THE HALLIBURTON
CORRUPTION INVESTIGATION. THE PRESENCE IN PARIS LAST WEEK OF
"A HIGH U.S. OFFICIAL," MARK MENDELSON, IS NOTED.

A POLL CONDUCTED SIMULTANEOUSLY IN THE U.S. AND FRANCE FOR LE
MONDE SHOWS THAT "THE FRENCH AND THE AMERICANS HARBOR NEGATIVE
VIEWS OF ONE ANOTHER. PUBLIC OPINION ON BOTH SIDES APPEARS TO
BE LESS INCLINED TO DO AWAY WITH THE ACRIMONY THAT HAS
DOMINATED THE FRANCO-AMERICAN DIALOGUE FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS.
OBVIOUSLY WHAT IS TRUE OF DIPLOMACY IS NOT TRUE FOR PUBLIC
OPINION."

(C) SUPPORTING TEXT/BLOCK QUOTES:

SECRETARY RICE TO MIDDLE EAST

SIPDIS

"A JARRING NOTE"
PATRICK SAINT-PAUL IN RIGHT-OF-CENTER LE FIGARO (06/20): "THE
ISRAELI PRESS PRESENTED SECRETARY RICE'S VISIT AS A
`MAINTENANCE VISIT,' WITH THE SECRETARY TRAVELING TO ENCOURAGE
BOTH SIDES. BUT SECRETARY RICE WAS TREATED TO A DISPIRITING
DIGEST OF THE DIFFICULTIES THAT MUST BE OVERCOME."

"EGYPT, AN ESSENTIAL REGIONAL ALLY"
CLAUDE GUIBAL IN LEFT-OF-CENTER LIBERATION (06/20): "WHILE IN
CAIRO, SECRETARY RICE WILL ENCOURAGE DEMOCRATIZATION AS SHE
RAISES HER VOICE AGAINST REPRESSION. SHE WILL CONGRATULATE
WITH ONE HAND, ALL THE WHILE USING THE STICK WITH THE OTHER.
THESE PAST FEW MONTHS, RELATIONS BETWEEN EGYPT AND THE U.S.
HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY CHAOTIC. A CRISIS THAT CULMINATED IN THE
CANCELLATION OF SECRETARY RICE'S TRIP IN MARCH. JUST AS
WASHINGTON EXPRESSED ITS DESIRE TO MAKE EGYPT A MODEL OF ITS
POLICY OF DEMOCRATIZATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST. BUT WASHINGTON
CANNOT AFFORD TO BE TOO CRITICAL OF EGYPT, WHICH IS PLAYING A
ROLE IN THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN NEGOTIATIONS. AND SO THE U.S.
MUST ALL AT ONCE STAY ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF CAIRO EVEN AS IT
RAISES ITS VOICE. A DOUBLE LANGUAGE THAT HAS ELICITED MUCH
CRITICISM."

IRAN ELECTIONS

"IRAN'S CALL"
PIERRE ROUSSELIN IN RIGHT-OF-CENTER LE FIGARO (06/18): "THE
IRANIANS ARE PROVING THEY HAVE LOST NONE OF THEIR ASPIRATIONS
FOR CHANGE. THE ELECTIONS IN IRAN DO NOT CORRESPONDENT TO THE
IDEA WE IN THE WEST HAVE OF A DEMOCRACY. PRESIDENT BUSH DID
NOT FAIL TO RECALL THIS FACT SO THAT THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF
IRAN IS NOT TAKEN AS THE MODEL OF DEMOCRATIZATION HE WANTS FOR
THE `GREATER MIDDLE EAST.' BUT THE FACT REMAINS THAT MANY OF
AMERICA'S ALLIES IN THE REGION, STARTING WITH PAKISTAN, COULD
WELL FIND THEIR INSPIRATION IN IRAN'S ELECTION. THIS DOES NOT
MEAN THAT IRAN'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS ARE USELESS. EVEN IF
THE REFORMISTS ARE NO LONGER IN THE LEAD, THEY HAVE MADE THEIR
MESSAGE HEARD AND THE REGIME, HOWEVER MUCH THEOCRATIC, WILL
HAVE TO TAKE IT INTO ACCOUNT. IRANIANS HAVE FEW ILLUSIONS.
POLITICAL FREEDOM WILL NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT. ASPIRATIONS FOR
CHANGE CONCERN ESSENTIALLY THE ECONOMIC SITUATION AND A DESIRE
TO LOOK TO THE WEST. THE FAVORITE, RAFSANDJANI, WHO HAS
CAMPAIGNED IN FAVOR OF A RAPPROCHEMENT WITH THE U.S., HAS
NOTHING OF A REFORMIST. WHOEVER IT IS THAT SUCCEEDS KHATAMI,
THE WEST WILL HAVE TO ANSWER IRAN'S CALL, ALL THE WHILE
KEEPING FROM CONSOLIDATING THE MULLAH'S REGIME."

"BUSH'S ROLE"
GEORGES MALBRUNOT IN RIGHT-OF-CENTER LE FIGARO (06/20): "THE
ATTACKS PRESIDENT BUSH MADE ON THE EVE OF THE IRANIAN
ELECTIONS AGAINST `A DEMOCRACY OF FAADE' MAY HAVE INCITED
SOME TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ELECTIONS."

EU ISSUES - EU SUMMIT

"EUROPE, A PLAYER WITH A WORLDWIDE DIMENSION"
BENITA FERRER-WALDNER, EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER IN CHARGE OF
FOREIGN RELATIONS IN RIGHT-OF-CENTER LE FIGARO (06/20):
"TODAY'S EU-U.S. SUMMIT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW THAT
WHATEVER OUR INTERNAL DIFFERENCES, WE ARE MOVING TOWARDS
SPEAKING WITH ONE VOICE. THE SUMMIT'S AGENDA ALREADY PROVES
THAT EUROPE IS FULLY ABLE TO HOLD ITS RANK ALONGSIDE THE U.S.
THIS WEEK, THE EU AND THE U.S. WILL JOINTLY ORGANIZE AN
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON IRAQ. THIS IS THE RESULT NOT OF A
NEW TREATY BUT OF A RESOLUTE POLITICAL WILL. THE BRUSSELS
CONFERENCE WILL PROVIDE THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT WITH THE SUPPORT
IT NEEDS TO DEAL WITH THE CHALLENGES IT IS FACING. AS PART OF
THE QUARTET, WE ARE HELPING THE ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS TO
RESOLVE THEIR CONFLICT. OUR BIGGEST SUCCESS IN MATTERS OF
FOREIGN POLICY IS PROBABLY WHAT THE EU EXPANSION HAS BROUGHT
THE WORLD IN TERMS OF PEACE AND SECURITY ON THE EUROPEAN
CONTINENT. IN THE EYES OF THE U.S., THIS PROBABLY REPRESENTS
OUR MOST MARKED IMPACT ON INTERNATIONAL STABILITY AND
PROSPERITY. TODAY WE ARE LAUNCHING A NEW TRANSATLANTIC
INITIATIVE FOR ECONOMIC INTEGRATION AND GROWTH, MEANT TO
STRENGTHEN TRADE AND INVESTMENT BETWEEN THE EU AND THE U.S. .
OUR FOREIGN POLICY AROUND THE WORLD PROMOTES PEACE, PROSPERITY
AND SECURITY. IN ALL SECTORS WE WORK HAND IN HAND WITH OUR
AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVING OUR SHARED OBJECTIVES."

"BLAIR TAKES THE UPPER HAND"
LEFT-OF-CENTER LE MONDE IN ITS EDITORIAL (06/20): "THE DOUBLE
FAILURE OF BRUSSELS, NEGOTIATING THE BRITISH `REBATE' AND THE
COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY, HAS RESULTED IN A DOUBLE VICTORY
FOR BLAIR. HELPED BY HIS RECENT RE-ELECTION AND THE WEAKENED
FRANCO-GERMAN COUPLE, BLAIR WAS ABLE TO IMPOSE HIS VIEWS. WITH
TWO WEEKS TO GO BEFORE HE TAKES OVER AS PRESIDENT OF THE EU,
BLAIR HAS TAKEN THE UPPER HAND. THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER
REJECTS THE NOTION THAT HIS INTENTION IS TO ERODE EUROPE'S
SOCIAL MODEL, BUT THE FACT IS THAT HIS PROGRAM IS NOTHING MORE
THAN A LIBERAL PROGRAM. EUROPE IS STALLED." WOLFF