MEDIA REACTION; RCTV; G8 SUMMIT; 06/04/07

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001090 SIPDIS STATE FOR INR/R/MR, I/GWHA, WHA, WHA/PDA, WHA/BSC, WHA/EPSC CDR USSOCOM FOR J-2 IAD/LAMA SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPAO OPRC KMDR PREL MEDIA REACTION SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION; RCTV; G8 SUMMIT; 06/04/07 ¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT Weekend international opinion pieces are mostly related to the implications of the revocation of RCTV's license in Venezuela; and the upcoming G8 Summit with the major topics of disagreement between the US and Russia. ¶2. OPINION PIECES AND EDITORIALS - "Venezuela - Chavez's black and white TV" Leading "Clarin" carries an op-ed piece by its international analyst Oscar Raul Cardoso, who penned (06/02) "When one watches Telesur, it is impossible not to think 'I wish Hugo Chavez had not eliminated RCTV to replace it with Telesur-styled TV.' "... Obviously enough, RCTV used to be in complicity with conspirers against democracy trying to place businessman Pedro Carmona Estanga as a president... "However, we can also say the same about Venevision private TV network, and, in spite of it, it obtained the renewal of its license. Of course, what must have helped it is that ever since 2004, Venevision... cleaned its programming of all anti-Chavist vestiges. "It is interesting to note that the same 'coup d'etat organizer' term (which Chavez applies to RCTV) could be applied to Chavez himself when rebelling against the constitutional government in ¶1992. "... The concept of democracy is related to the idea of change and transformation that is intended to build a better life. However, making something Manichean of that change, in which everything that is not in line with the government is always bad, is not the way the present will work better." - "A little bit of competition" Left-of-center "Pagina 12" (06/03) writes "Hugo Chavez's decision not to renew RCTV's concession shocked Venezuela and the world of the media... "It seems obvious that a government voted by two-thirds of the people to promote a socialist regime aspires to have a TV channel to broadcast cultural programs instead of garbage TV. It also seems apparent that a government has the right not to renew a license because the opposite would be to suppose that licenses are eternal. RCTV was neither censored nor expropriated or fined or punished, but it had to transfer its programming to a cable TV signal and an Internet Site... "It seems obvious but it is not usual. The governments seldom confront economic groups controlling major mass media because the corporate response is frequently blunt. When they feel threatened, mass media wield their lobbying power to defend what they call 'freedom of expression' through their paid communicators who many times define themselves as 'independent journalists.' "One could argue that what Chavez did was not 'neat.' He had abundant reasons not to renew and even to deprive RCTV of its license because the channel had promoted the failed 202 coup d'etat. However, the government never submitted a formal complaint to investigate this behavior nor did it explain why RCTV was the only channel paying for that support when most 'independent' media had supported the coup. Nevertheless, here and everywhere governments negotiating renewals in private meetings are neither -'neat' in this regard. "... Until not a long time ago, a private oligopoly used to control the media agenda in Venezuela. Now, this oligopoly faces the competition of the Chavez administration's communication apparatus... A bit of competition is always good for the sake of information diversity." - "A hostile encounter between Moscow and the US" Luisa Corradini, international columnist of daily-of-record "La Nacion," writes (06/03) "This week, G8 leaders will desperately seek to avoid a new Cold War between Moscow and the West, which seems inevitable after the US decision to set up an antimissile shield on the Russian borders and Vladimir Putin's threats to 'turn Europe into an explosive trouble spot.' "Other important points of disagreement, such as the way to contain climate change and Kosovo's future status, confirm the profound prevailing tension in the G8... "The disagreement between Russia and the US has deepened during recent months due to Washington's decision to set up 10 interception missiles in Poland and ultra-modern radar in the Czech Republic in the framework of its antimissile shield project... "According to Moscow, this project is an act of provocation. 16 years after the end of the Cold War, the Kremlin has also denounced NATO's intention to expand its borders and let the US set up new bases in its former sanctuary, from Rumania up to Kirguiztan, as a premeditated form of aggression. "... Nonetheless, those are not the only points of friction between Washington and Moscow. The White House blames the Kremlin for the retreat suffered by democracy in Russia and the use of energy as a way of pressuring international politics. Additionally, both capital cities admit to having 'diametrically opposed' positions vis-`-vis the future of Kosovo. In opposition to the European countries and the US, Russia is against the UN mediator's plan for Kosovo, who is planning some form of 'monitored independence' for the Serbian province..." "... In this framework, the only topic that seems to have consensus is Iran. The G8 could decide on new sanctions against Tehran if it continues to refuse to halt its uranium enrichment-related activities in spite of the calls by the international community." To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our classified website at: http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires MATERA