Special Media Reaction: Vice President's Visit to Saudi

UNCLAS RIYADH 000508

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP; NEA/PPD; INR/R/MR; INR/NESA; RRU-NEA; NEA/RA; PA
WHITE HOUSE FOR OVP PRESS OFFICE; NSC
LONDON FOR SREEBNY
DUBAI FOR PELLETIER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR PREL OIIP SA
SUBJECT: Special Media Reaction: Vice President's Visit to Saudi
Arabia


1. Vice President Cheney's visit generated editorial commentary
that coupled oil prices with the weak U.S. dollar and urged progress
on the Middle East Peace Process. Four local op-eds appeared in the
local press in addition to factual reporting in all papers.


2. Local Commentary

Oil prices and the weak U.S. dollar:

- Mainstream high-circulation daily Al-Jazira's March 22 commentary
entitled "Who Raised the Oil Prices!" stated, "The price of an oil
barrel is now less than its real value a year ago because it is
pegged to a weak currency. The Americans are mainly responsible for
this weakness due to the deterioration of their economy... Mr. Vice
President should pay attention to correct his country's currency,
which has caused a disaster for both oil producers and consumers."

- Limited circulation daily newspaper Al-Bilad's March 22 editorial
entitled "Oil Production Increase Is Not a Solution," stated, "An
oil production increase will not bring stability to oil markets; the
U.S. must consider its monetary policy... Any increase in oil
production will not benefit the economies of oil producing
countries... Moreover, it will not help restore the stability of
economies affected by a weakened dollar."

Middle East Peace:

- Al-Madina editorialized March 24, "King Abdullah urged Cheney to
put pressure on Israel to conclude a peace agreement before the end
of President Bush's term in January 2009. His request matches the
Annapolis Conference Resolutions, sponsored by the U.S. It is
natural for Washington to commit itself to those resolutions and to
work towards realizing them on the ground by exercising real
pressure on Israel to force it to implement its peace agreements
with the Palestinians."

- Al-Watan's March 24 editorial stated "The U.S. Vice President
understands very well Israel is an expansionary state which was
created by raping the lands of others. It began in a part of
Palestine, then became all of Palestine, and extended to the Sinai,
the Golan, and southern Lebanon... This security [of Israel] will
not be achieved and peace will be an illusion with the expansionary
settlement policies, building of barriers, and arrests."


3. Selected Headlines

- March 22, Al-Riyadh: "During his meeting with the U.S. Vice
President at his Jenadriya farm, King Abdullah conveyed his
displeasure with the slow American peace effort"

- March 22, Al-Jazira: "King Abdullah presented the U.S. Vice
President with the King Abdulaziz Sash. They discussed bilateral
relations and ways to enhance them in the interests of both
countries."

Fraker