MEDIA REACTION: PAKISTAN, IRAN-ISRAEL, NATO MINISTERIAL, VP

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BERLIN 001327

STATE FOR INR/R/MR, EUR/PAPD, EUR/PPA, EUR/CE, INR/EUC, INR/P,
SECDEF FOR USDP/ISA/DSAA, DIA FOR DC-4A

VIENNA FOR CSBM, CSCE, PAA

"PERISHABLE INFORMATION -- DO NOT SERVICE"

SIPDIS

E.0. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO PK AK IR IS GM RO EZ PL
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: PAKISTAN, IRAN-ISRAEL, NATO MINISTERIAL, VP

BIDEN IN EUROPE;BERLIN


1. Lead Stories Summary

2. Secret Meeting between Iran and Israel

3. Afghanistan/NATO Ministerial

4. Taliban in Pakistan

5. Biden in Europe


1. Lead Stories

Primetime newscasts and all major newspapers opened with stories
that
the future coalition has abandoned its plan to create a "shadow
budget." Frankfurter Rundschau headlined: "Shadow over the budget,"

and Sueddeutsche highlighted: "Serious setback for CDU/CSU and
FDP--
Coalition got stuck in financial tricks." Editorials focused on the

coalition talks.


2. Secret Meeting between Iran and Israel

Frankfurter Rundschau headlined: "Diplomatic Sensation," noting that

there was "indirect contact between Israel and Iran during a secret

nuclear conference in Cairo." Sueddeutsche headlined on its front
page "Israel and Iran break taboo," adding "enemy countries talk
about
nuclear disarmament in the Middle East. Israel and Iran have for
the
first time in 30 years participated in talks over a Middle East free

of nuclear weapons."

Frankfurter Allgemeine remarked in a front page report: "Israel and

Iran have made contact for the first time in 30 years. The Israeli

nuclear authority confirmed the secret meeting... In Tehran, the
report
was denied as a 'pure lie.'" Inside the paper, Frankfurter
Allgemeine
added: "The rejection of Israel is part of Iran's ideology. Verbal

attacks do not rule out secret meetings; however, if they did take
place, making them publically known has most likely undermined
Iran's
willingness to hold further meetings. The visit of the Israeli
representative to Cairo is important for another reason: In the
course
of the summer, there were increasing calls in Egypt to boycott
Israel
and to ban meetings with Israelis."

Tageszeitung editorialized: "Be warned against euphoria. The first

contact between Iran and Israel could have been the last for a
considerable time. This would be sad, because there is no reason
why
there should not be contact between the two countries, who have
never
fought a war against each other, do not need to settle accounts, and

do not argue over land.... The nuclear missiles aiming at Tel Aviv
and
Dimona are not the only reason why politicians in Jerusalem are
repeatedly considering a preemptive attack. The changing power

BERLIN 00001327 002 OF 003


balance in the Middle East is similarly dramatic. If Iran becomes a

nuclear power, the moderate Islamic countries would no longer set
the
tone, but instead a country that puts a great part of its limited
resources into the promotion of terror organizations abroad. The
relationship between Israel and Iran will not improve, because this

would be the end of the 'axis of evil'.... For dtente, the people
in
Iran who desire more democracy and human rights must assume power."



3. Afghanistan/NATO Ministerial

Some German media carried relatively short and factual reports on
the
NATO ministerial in Bratislava, noting that "NATO Secretary General

Rasmussen called on NATO members to increase their military and
political engagement in Afghanistan" (Frankfurter Rundschau).
ZDF-
TV's Heute reported: "Rasmussen warned against the failure of the
mission, saying that it would only be a matter of time until Europe

reaps the consequences. Defense ministers are therefore
particularly
struggling with the question of whether to deploy more soldiers to
Afghanistan." Tagesspiegel noted: "However, the uncertain political

situation after the manipulated presidential election will make a
decision difficult."

Under the headline "The German Holbrooke," Tagesspiegel commented on

the creation of the post of German envoy for Afghanistan. "The news

sounds good: the new government wants to nominate an envoy for
Afghanistan who is responsible for the country in a
cross-departmental
way. This would meet an old demand of international and national
experts, if the person is taken seriously.... All ministries
involved
fear that they would lose something. It is therefore important to
nominate somebody who is well-known internationally and well plugged

into the government parties. The person must also focus on
Pakistan,
otherwise the job would be deprived of practical significance. This

person would be the counterpart of U.S. envoy Richard Holbrooke, but

should certainly not present himself so ruthlessly. Particularly
now,
as the countries engaged in Afghanistan have come to a turning
point,
considerable work awaits such an envoy."


4. Taliban in Pakistan

Sueddeutsche's editorial highlighted (in a subheadline) that "in
Pakistan, the fear of the Taliban has become bigger than the hatred

against the United States." The paper opined: "Militant extremists

are only spreading terror, with which they have made themselves the

enemy of Pakistanis. For the time being, the people therefore stand


BERLIN 00001327 003 OF 003


by the army and its war against the extremists. This sounds trite,

but it has not always been like this. For a long time, people
believed that their government was participating in the war against

terrorism only as America's lapdog. Anti-Americanism continues to
be
widespread within society... However, the extremists are no longer

controllable and they are attacking Pakistan. It is therefore
becoming increasingly clear who Pakistan's enemy is: the Taliban....
The
people in Pakistan have realized that the Taliban will not resolve
their existential problems. However, neither are they hearing
anything progressive from their elected leaders. The offensive in
Waziristan would be the right time for a reorientation."


5. Biden in Europe

Under the headline "Biden acknowledges Romania's mission in Iraq and

Afghanistan," Frankfurter Allgemeine reported: "Vice President Biden

emphasized the 'strong strategic partnership' the U.S. has with
Romania and spoke up in favor of integrating the Republic of Moldova

into euro-Atlantic structures. After talks with Romanian President

Basescu, Biden underscored that Romania supports the new American
missile defense system.... On Thursday, Biden was expected in
Prague...
Unlike in Warsaw, the irritation over the cancellation of former
President Bush's project to deploy a missile defense shield has not

yet subsided.... Biden is not expected to make a specific proposal
for
the Czech Republic's participation in a mobile missile defense
shield."

Berliner Zeitung analyzed: "Biden assures partners during his visit

that the new beginning of U.S.-Russian relations will not be at the

expense of Poland and the Czech Republic. Both countries still do
not
believe this, however, and assume that renewed U.S.-Russian
relations
will be a zero-sum game: if Washington gets closer to Moscow, it
will
pull further away from Warsaw and Prague-and vice versa. Obama has

decided that he needs Russia as a partner, not an opponent, to meet

the current challenges. This will be the starting point for other
foreign political decisions."

MURPHY