Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05PARIS4518
2005-06-28 11:03:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Paris
Cable title:  

MEDIA REACTION REPORT - IRAN IRAQ

Tags:  OPRC KMDR FR 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 004518 

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 - IRAN IRAQ
PARIS - TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2005


(A) SUBJECTS COVERED IN TODAY'S REPORT:

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 004518

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 - IRAN IRAQ
PARIS - TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2005


(A) SUBJECTS COVERED IN TODAY'S REPORT:


1. IRAN

2. IRAQ

B) SUMMARY OF COVERAGE:

A WIDE VARIETY OF MOSTLY DOMESTIC STORIES DOMINATE TODAY'S
FRONT PAGES, WITH RIGHT-OF-CENTER LE FIGARO AND MARSEILLES-
BASED REGIONAL LA PROVENCE DEVOTED TO ITER, THE EXPERIMENTAL
NUCLEAR REACTOR. LA PROVENCE HEADLINES: "ITER'S SUNRAYS
SHINING ON CADARACHE," WHICH IS THE FRENCH VENUE CHOSEN FOR
THE REACTOR. LE FIGARO HEADLINES: "ITER, GALILEO: THE
SUCCESSES OF EUROPEAN TECHNOLOGY."

AMONG TODAY'S INTERNATIONAL NEWS, THE MEETINGS BETWEEN
AMERICAN OFFICIALS AND IRAQI INSURGENTS CONTINUE TO SPILL INK:
FOR LE FIGARO IT IS A SIGN "THAT LONDON AND WASHINGTON WANT TO
INCLUDE SUNNI INSURGENTS IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS." IN
REGIONAL OUEST FRANCE, EDITORIALIST JOSEPH LIMAGNE TITLES HIS
COMMENTARY ON THE SITUATION IN IRAQ "FROM BAD TO WORSE." (SEE
PART C) MENTION IS MADE IN SEVERAL OUTLETS OF PRESIDENT BUSH'S
ADDRESS THIS EVENING IN FORT BRAGG, "COINCIDING WITH THE FIRST
ANNIVERSARY OF THE TRANSITION OF POWER IN IRAQ." POPULAR RIGHT-
OF-CENTER FRANCE SOIR TITLES: "IRAQ DESTABILIZES BUSH," (SEE
PART C) WHILE LIBERATION WRITES: "TONIGHT, PRESIDENT BUSH WILL
SPEAK TO THE NATION TO EXPLAIN THE ACTIONS OF HIS
ADMINISTRATION, WHICH IS UNDER ACCUSATIONS OF HIDING THE
REALITY OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN IRAQ."

LE FIGARO CARRIES AN INTERVIEW WITH AMR MOUSSA, LEADER OF THE
ARAB LEAGUE, ABOUT DEMOCRATIZATION. HE ALSO CONCLUDES ON
SECRETARY RICE'S VISIT TO THE REGION: "THIS WAS SECRETARY

SIPDIS
RICE'S FIRST TRIP IN THE ARAB WORLD IN HER ROLE AS SECRETARY
OF STATE. THE RESULT IS OVERALL POSITIVE. I BELIEVE THAT BOTH
SHE AND THE U.S. NOW UNDERSTAND THAT THE PALESTINIAN QUESTION
CANNOT BE LEFT ASIDE. IN THE ARAB WORLD DEMOCRACY MUST FOLLOW
A CERTAIN PROCESS. DEMOCRACY IS ASKING THE PEOPLE WHAT ROAD
THEY WANT TO TAKE TO BUILD THEIR COUNTRY. THOSE WHO WANT TO
PLAY A ROLE NEED TO OFFER CHOICES THAT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS
OF THE 21ST CENTURY."

THE AFTERMATH OF THE IRANIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ELICITS
MUCH COMMENTARY. LE FIGARO TITLES ON ITS FRONT PAGE:
"WASHINGTON RAISES ITS VOICE," WHILE IN CATHOLIC LA CROIX THE

QUESTION OF THE DAY IS: "CAN IRAN DO WITHOUT RELATIONS WITH
THE U.S.?" THE ANSWER BY CERI RESEARCHER FARIDA ADELKHAH:
"IRAN NEEDS THE U.S., IF ONLY IN ORDER TO HAVE A STABLE
ENVIRONMENT. AHMADINEJAD'S REMARKS ABOUT THE U.S. WERE
DESTINED FOR DOMESTIC CONSUMPTION. HIS SPEECH IS IRRESPONSIBLE
BECAUSE IMPROVING RELATIONS WITH THE U.S. WAS EVERY
CANDIDATE'S WATCHWORD. PARLIAMENT MEMBERS MADE CLEAR THEIR
WISHES FOR D ENTE ON THE INTERNATIONAL SCENE. IRANIANS LIVE
INSIDE THEIR OWN CONTRADICTIONS: THEY WANT TO EXIST ON THE
INTERNATIONAL SCENE BUT THEY ALSO WANT THEIR INDEPENDENCE."

RIGHT-OF-CENTER LES ECHOS CARRIES A COMMENTARY BY ECONOMIST
NICOLAS BAVAREZ TITLED: "SHOCK THERAPY FOR EUROPE." AMONG HIS
SUGGESTIONS FOR A POST-MAY 29 EUROPE: "THE MAD RUSH TO EXPAND
EUROPE MUST BE HALTED. THIS IMPLIES POSTPONING MEMBERSHIP FOR
BULGARIA AND ROMANIA, AND PUTTING A STOP TO THE NEGOTIATIONS
WITH TURKEY, WHICH IS NOT PART OF EUROPE, NEITHER BY ITS
CULTURE OR ITS HISTORY."

LE MONDE REPORTS ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH JUNE 26TH REPORT ON
ARBITRARY ARREST, DETENTION AND TORTURE IN THE NAME OF THE WAR
ON TERRORISM IN THE UNITED STATES.

LE MONDE ALSO REPORTS ON THE NOMINATION OF FORMER STATE
DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL AND REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE MEMBER
PATRICIA HARRISON TO BE PRESIDENT OF CPB AND COMMENTS: "HER
NOMINATION TAKES PLACE JUST WHEN THE ATMOSPHERE BETWEEN THE
WHITE HOUSE AND THE MEDIA SHOWS SIGNS OF TENSION."

(C) SUPPORTING TEXT/BLOCK QUOTES:
IRAN

"WASHINGTON REVISES ITS IRANIAN POLICY"
JEAN-LOUIS TURLIN IN RIGHT-OF-CENTER LE FIGARO (06/28): "THE
ELECTION OF A HARD-LINER IN IRAN WILL NOT GIVE THE AMERICANS
RENEWED CONFIDENCE IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH TEHRAN. EXPERTS
BELIEVE THAT THE NEW IRANIAN PRESIDENT WILL NOT BOTHER TO PUT
ON GLOVES IN HIS DEALINGS WITH THE AMERICANS AND THE
EUROPEANS. THEY ALSO AGREE THAT A MILITARY APPROACH IS NOT AN
OPTION. STRIKES AGAINST IRANIAN NUCLEAR INSTALLATIONS CANNOT
BE GUARANTEED SUCCESS; THEY WOULD BE MILITARILY IMPOSSIBLE TO
SUSTAIN BECAUSE OF THE IRAQI QUAGMIRE, AND POLITICALLY, THEY
WOULD BE DANGEROUS FOR THE REGION AND DOMESTICALLY
UNACCEPTABLE."

IRAQ
"FROM BAD TO WORSE"
JOSEPH LIMAGNE IN REGIONAL OUEST FRANCE (06/28): "IT HAS BEEN
BARELY A YEAR SINCE U.S. ARMY OFFICIALLY GAVE OVER THE REINS
OF POWER TO THE IRAQI AUTHORITIES. THE SITUATION THEN WAS
TRAGIC. TODAY, IT IS WORSE. GOING AFTER ARMED GUERRILLA GROUPS
IS NOT ENOUGH. ONE CAN UNDERSTAND GEORGE BUSH, TONY BLAIR AND
THE IRAQI PM ADMITTING TO TALKS WITH SOME OF THEIR
ADVERSARIES. BUT NOTHING SAYS THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO RALLY
THE MOST MODERATE AMONG THEM TO THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. STILL,
EVERY AVENUE MUST BE EXPLORED. IF, AS MANY EXPERTS BELIEVE,
THE NERVE CENTER OF AL-QAEDA IS NOW IN IRAQ, THEN IT IS
ESSENTIAL TO DEPRIVE ZARQAWI OF LOCAL ALLIES. IT HAS BECOME
VITAL TO STOP SUCH RAPPROCHEMENT. INCLUDING FOR US. EUROPEAN
ANTI-TERRORIST EXPERTS ARE LOOKING INTO THIS VERY CLOSELY.
BECAUSE YOUNG ISLAMISTS FROM EUROPE WHO ARE WAGING A `HOLY
WAR' IN IRAQ, AS THEIR ELDERS DID IN AFGHANISTAN AND BOSNIA,
WILL ONE DAY RETURN HOME. FOR THEM, IRAQ IS AT ONCE A GROUND
FOR OPERATIONS AND A TERRORIST LEARNING CAMP. THIS IS WHY,
WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT, THE OUTCOME OF THE IRAQI TRAGEDY
CONCERNS US ALL."

"U.S. CONFIRMS CONTACTS WITH GUERRILLAS"
ADRIEN JAULMES IN RIGHT-OF-CENTER LE FIGARO (06/28): "ONE
NEGOTIATES ONLY WITH ONE'S ENEMIES. IRAQ IS NO EXCEPTION TO
THE RULE. THE DEMAND FOR A PULLOUT CALENDAR MADE BY THE
INSURGENTS HAS BEEN REJECTED BY THE AMERICANS. FOR THEIR PART
THE AMERICANS ARE SAID TO HAVE ASKED THE INSURGENTS TO STOP
GIVING SUPPORT TO ZARQAWI. BUT THE INSURGENTS HAVE REJECTED
THE REQUEST, SAYING THAT FOREIGN ALLIES ARE THE EQUIVALENT OF
THE COALITION PUT TOGETHER BY THE U.S. TO INVADE IRAQ. IN
SPITE OF THIS STALEMATE, THE FACT THAT WASHINGTON HAS
ACKNOWLEDGED THE EXISTENCE OF SUCH TALKS MEANS THAT THE U.S.
IS CHANGING ITS THINKING ON IRAQ. TWO YEARS AFTER THE SUNNI
UPRISING, THE AMERICANS ARE BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE
USE OF MILITARY FORCE CONTRIBUTES AS MUCH TO THE GUERRILLA'S
DEVELOPMENT AS IT DOES TO ITS ERADICATION."

"IRAQ DESTABILIZES BUSH"
GUILLAUME DUMANT IN RIGHT-OF-CENTER FRANCE SOIR (06/28): "ONE
YEAR TO THE DAY AFTER THE TRANSITION OF POWER IN IRAQ,
PRESIDENT BUSH WILL TRY TO JUSTIFY HIS POLICY'S LEGITIMACY
BEFORE A MILITARY AUDIENCE IN FORT BRAGG. THE `TERRIBLE
DIFFICULTIES' PRESIDENT BUSH SPOKE OF AFTER HIS MEETING WITH
THE IRAQI PM ARE EXACTLY WHAT IS MAKING AMERICANS DOUBTFUL. IN
ORDER TO COUNTERBALANCE THIS LACK OF CONFIDENCE A VAST PUBLIC
RELATIONS CAMPAIGN IS UNDERWAY, WITH SEVERAL MEDIA APPEARANCES
BY BUSH AND RUMSFELD." WOLFF