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

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Editorial Quotes
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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