MEDIA REACTION: DPRK NUCLEAR PROGRAM, IRANIAN NUCLEAR

UNCLAS SAO PAULO 000118 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: DPRK NUCLEAR PROGRAM, IRANIAN NUCLEAR PROGRAM; SAO PAULO "One Step Forward To Non-Proliferation. But Iran Still Behind" Center-right national circulation daily O Estado de S. Paulo's Paris correspondent Giles Lapouge reported (2/14): "North Korea has agreed to close its nuclear reactor in Yongbyon. If the Beijing agreement is maintained, it will be the end of a 13-year negotiation to overcome the deadly risk that the North Korean arsenal represents.... But there is one question: since the 1994 agreement was broken by North Korea, shouldn't we worry that the agreement signed in Beijing will also be broken by the lunatic and worrisome Kim Jong-il? First, the guarantees North Korea obtained now are much more advantageous than those of 1994.... Second, now North Korea has negotiated with five great powers, including China, which exerts strong influence on Pyongyang. Moreover, North Korea's internal situation is abominable.... The assistance promised by the five powers is its only protection against chaos. If the agreement is respected, it will be an immense step toward non-proliferation. But the final victory is not assured, since Iran continues to develop its own nuclear program. The Iranians are astute and have sent signs contradicting what their own Mullahs say. Under such a rhetorical exercise, the threat continues.... The Americans, who never believed in the EU's peaceful approach to Tehran, are exasperated. Their patience with Iran as well as with the Europeans is ending. The way offered to the Europeans is a narrow one. If they persist with their posture, they will run the risk of two disgraces: first, allowing Iran to truly become a nuclear power; then they may force the U.S. to bomb Iran with the risk of starting a fire throughout the Middle East." McMullen