MEDIA REACTION: ISRAEL, A/H1N1, RUSSIA

UNCLAS BEIJING 001361 DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/CM, EAP/PA, EAP/PD, C HQ PACOM FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR (J007) SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR CH PREL ECON SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: ISRAEL, A/H1N1, RUSSIA -------------- Editorial Quotes -------------- ¶1. ISRAEL "Obama urges Israel to accept this historic opportunity for peace" The official intellectual publication Guangming Daily (Guangming Ribao) (05/20): "It was said that Obama's main goal for this meeting was to send a message to Netanyahu demanding that Israel not surprise the U.S. with an Israeli led military operation against Iran. However, Netanyahu hopes to see an American dialogue with Tehran conducted shortly. It seems that both Obama and Netanyahu have fulfilled 50% of their goals. Although they both want to maintain their special alliance, the Obama administration's Middle East strategy, based on their smart power concept, is hardly acceptable to a right-wing Israeli government. If the security situation between Israel and Palestine worsens, or the Iran issue becomes stagnant, then the conflict between the U.S. and Israel will become more acute." ¶2. A/H1N1 "American approach to isolation and quarantine" Global Times English (English-language daily published by the People's Daily) (05/20): "China has taken aggressive measures to contain the outbreak of the A/H1N1 influenza, acting more quickly and resolutely. By contrast, the U.S. has been very cautious about employing non-pharmaceutical interventions, despite the fact it has had more confirmed cases of A/H1N1 than any other country. Respect for individual liberties and dignity permeates all the major aspects of American pandemic prevention. The U.S. view of isolation and quarantine is deeply influenced by its culture, as well as its socio-economic system and medical systems. While some Americans complain that China has been too eager to use quarantines to fight outbreaks, many Chinese also criticize the U.S. for its ineffectiveness in containing pandemics. But really, the two countries have totally different characteristics and should understand more about each other." ¶3. RUSSIA "Russia-U.S. relations at a turning point" Global Times English (English-language daily published by the People's Daily) (05/20): "The Obama administration's interest is in following the Democratic Party's diplomatic philosophy of cooperation between great powers. The U.S. has suffered a number of diplomatic setbacks lately that make repairing relations with Russia imperative. The weak global economy also means that the two sides must seek compromises and mutually beneficial solutions to overcome the crisis. This would not have happened during the Bush administration. The agreement will help both sides slow a new arms race, something Russia especially wants. In the near future, Russian-U.S .relations are bound to improve greatly, especially after Medvedev and Obama meet in July. Improving relations between Russia and the U.S. will take pressure off China's relationship with both countries. A strained Russia-U.S. relationship would likely lead to increased ties between Moscow and Beijing, potentially making China's relationship with the U.S. frostier. Therefore, it's in China's interest to see the two powers improve their relationship." WEINSTEIN