Saudi Arabia: Special Media Reaction on Election of

UNCLAS RIYADH 001376

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/PPD (DBENZE, ASOMERSET),SCA/PPD (GSULLIVAN),INR/NESA,
RRU-NEA, PA, LONDON (DSREEBNY),DUBAI (MPELLETIER)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO KDEM SA PK
SUBJECT: Saudi Arabia: Special Media Reaction on Election of
Pakistani President Zardari


1. Summary: Coverage of the election of Asif Ali Zardari as the new
president of Pakistan has been extensive in the English-language
press. The Arabic-language coverage has been significantly less,
with only one newspaper printing a commentary on the election.
Everything else consisted of wire story reprints buried inside the
papers. Finally, three days later, official SAG congratulations
were sent via telegram. End summary.



2. Editorials and commentaries:

--Under the headline "Pakistan's New Phase" (09/07) Saudi Gazette
editorialized, "Zardari's first priority should be to bring
stability to his country. Stained by past corruption allegations, he
has an uphill task to perform in the interest of the country if he
wants to rebuild his image and win the trust of his people...With
his finger over the nuclear button, Zardari will also be under
immense international pressure, especially [from] America, to prove
his commitment for "peace" as defined by the superpower."

--Arab News (09/07) opined that "Nothing in Zardari's past would
persuade one to believe that he is the man Pakistan...needs at this
juncture...Widely distrusted and with no obvious political
experience, Zardari would seem to be entering on an impossible task
to restore political and social stability, while leading Pakistan to
the economic renaissance that has been so long delayed.

--In "Will Zardari Redeem Himself?" (09/07) Arab News columnist
Anwar Kemal wrote: "The fact is that Zardari has been elected
president of Pakistan. So reviling him and calling him insane is not
going to help the cause of Pakistan, especially when the country
faces extremely difficult, almost insoluble economic and law
problems...Zardari needs all the help he can get to stop Pakistan's
slide to lawlessness, religious extremism and economic insolvency."

--Under the headline "Pakistani Democracy and Difficult Timing,"
(09/08) Okaz columnist Talal Banan wrote, "In Pakistan today there
is an elected president, parliament, and regional council, but the
Supreme Constitutional Court judges were appointed by the previous
military president. The actual control over the nuclear power is in
the hands of the army generals...Strong challenges are facing the
new government from the opposition party and the army generals, who
are awaiting the appropriate opportunity to regain power."

--On 09/08 Arab News ran a commentary entitled "Will Zardari's
Amazing Luck Hold?" by Mushtak Parker in which he stated, "If
Zardari hopes to remain in office, he has to play the powerful
military, which despises him. The new chief of staff, Gen Ashfaq
Kayani, is a much more accomplished operator than his weak
predecessor. Given any excuse to restore stability in the country,
the army will not flinch from ousting the new president."



3. Analysis:

The English-language press has covered the election of Zardari
extensively due to the large Pakistani and Indian constituency among
their readership. On the other hand, the Arabic-language press has
not covered the election of Zardari in great part due to the lack of
official reaction by SAG. SAG may still be assessing the impact of
Zardari, a Shia, on Saudi Arabia's foreign policies. With today's
publication of SAG official congratulations, local media is expected
to respond in kind.

FRAKER