MEDIA REACTION: MIDDLE EAST: UN PEACEKEEPING FORCE; GLOBAL

UNCLAS SAO PAULO 000800 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE INR/R/MR; IIP/R/MR; WHA/PD DEPT PASS USTR USDOC 4322/MAC/OLAC/JAFEE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR OPRC OIIP ETRD BR SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: MIDDLE EAST: UN PEACEKEEPING FORCE; GLOBAL ECONOMY: SUSPENSION OF THE DOHA ROUND TALKS; WESTERN HEMISPHERE: MERCOSUL SUMMIT, CHAVEZ; SAO PAULO ¶1. "Peacekeeping Force" Liberal, largest circulation daily Folha de S. Paulo (7/25) opined: "The proposal of an international force made up mainly of European troops to be sent to the South of Lebanon is praiseworthy.... That seems to be the best way both for an immediate ceasefire and to ensure that the events that triggered the current conflict are not repeated in the near future. The extinction of Hezbollah as a militia is essential for peace in the region. The South of Lebanon can no longer be used as a platform from which radicals launch rockets against Israel. The Lebanese state must exert a real control over its territory. This does not mean that the Lebanese Shiites are to be deprived of political representation. But it is not reasonable that they maintain, through Hezbollah, a state within a state.... However, for the plan to be successful, more than NATO troops will be necessary. The key to neutralizing the militia's military power is Syria. Diplomatic moves should bring it back to the negotiation table. It is difficult, but not impossible. Damascus' alliance with Hezbollah is much more circumstantial than ideological. If Syrian dictator Bashar al Assad concludes that he has more to gain by breaking relations with the militia than by supporting it, it is very likely that he will do that. What remains to be seen is what the US and Israel can offer in exchange. Washington could normalize its diplomatic and commercial relations with Damascus. Israel would need to suggest the return of the Golan Heights." ¶2. "Failure at the WTO" Liberal, largest national circulation daily Folha de S. Paulo (7/25) editorialized: "The failure in the Doha Round trade negotiations complicates the future scenario of multilateral agreements due to the expiration, in July 2007, of the fast track mechanism that authorizes the US President to negotiate commercial pacts.... The main obstacle to such negotiations comes from the fact that neither the US nor the EU will accept any reduction in their tariff and non-tariff barriers to imports of agricultural products.... Developing nations have been pressured to make further concessions in the industrial goods sector, but the potential gains in terms of their agricultural products' access to developed nations' markets would be very limited.... It is obvious that the developed nations must advance in their proposals to open their agricultural markets if they really want to resume multilateral negotiations. The result of the suspension of the Doha Round may be the proliferation of bilateral and regional trade agreements, which will fragmentize even more the norms and rules of international commerce." ¶3. "Doha Round Collapse" Center-right O Estado de S. Paulo maintained (7/25): "Brazil and other developing nations will be the most affected by the collapse of the global trade negotiations.... Maybe it is premature to announce the Doha Round's death and prepare its funeral, but it is hard at this moment to avoid the impression of a final collapse.... The main responsibility for the impasse can be attributed to the developed powers.... A week ago, there were signs that the US was preparing to make the Europeans responsible for the probable failure.... What will remain in the scenario are regional, bilateral and inter-region agreements, which will make international trade more complicated. Among the major economies, the Brazilian is the least prepared to face this game. Tied to a Third World vision, the current Brazilian administration did not have the necessary pragmatism to pursue trade agreements with the partners that most interest the nation." ¶4. "Mercosul Summit Emitted Politically Mistaken Signs" Business-oriented Valor Economico commented (7/25): "By attracting ideology to Mercosul's core, Brazil is running the risk of being overcome by neighbors that are cleverer in playing that trump card in addition to lacking common sense.... By inviting Bolivian President Evo Morales and Cuban dictator Fidel Castro to join Mercosul, what President Lula da Silva did in practice was to place political interests not on the same level of the commercial ones, but above them. The indication of Venezuela to occupy a rotating seat at the UN Security Council unquestionably revealed the bloc's political preferences as well as its increasing commitment with a leader that has distanced himself from democratic practices." ¶5. "Ideology And Mercosul" An editorial in center-right O Estado de S. Paulo (7/25) remarked: "Nothing prevents Mercosul from doing business with other blocs or nations, but its statute forbids the association with non-democratic partners.... The premature reference to the entry of Cuba in the originally Southern group was not the only inconsistency of President Lula's conduct in Cordoba.... The first problem is Chvez's clear intention of using Mercosul as a platform for his anti-Americanism and to affirm his hegemonic aspirations. By watching what has happened in Venezuela, the second problem is knowing how long one will consider Venezuela a democracy in accordance with Mercosul's statutes." McMullen