COTONOU: MAY, 2009 REPORT ON THE PLACEMENT OF STATE AND

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 COTONOU 000247 DEPARTMENT FOR AF/PD (ANYASO, TITUS, LISENBY),AF/W (ACOOK) SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OEXC SCUL OIIP KPAO BN SUBJECT: COTONOU: MAY, 2009 REPORT ON THE PLACEMENT OF STATE AND MISSION-PRODUCED MATERIALS ¶1. PAS Cotonou reports the following placements of State Department materials, articles on Mission-hosted activities and U.S. centered articles in the government-owned newspaper, La Nation, and various independent newspapers. ¶2. Print Media: May 4: An article in the right-of-center independent daily L'Autre Quotidien, titled "Grippe A HIN1: les Etats-Unis comptent 160 casa averes." (Swine flu: 160 Cases Have Been Detected in the United States). May 5: The following articles were published: An article in the left-of-center independent daily L'Informateur, titled "Etats-Unis: ce qu'on ne dit pas d'Obama." (United States: What Is Not Being Said About Obama. An article in L'Autre Quotidien and in the left-of-center independent daily La Nouvelle Tribune, about Post's latest Speaker Program based on a Mission-produced press release titled "Un Imam americain en viste de travail au Benin." (A U.S. Imam on a Working Visit to Benin). L'Autre Quotidien also carried another article based on President Barack Obama's statement on World Press Freedom Day titled, "Declaration du President Barack Obama a l'occasion de la Journee Internationale de la liberte de la presse." (President Barack Obama's Declaration Regarding World Press Freedom Day.) May 7: An article in the right-of-center independent daily Le Matinal titled, "Cooperation avec les institutions de Bretton Woods: Le Ministre Lawani obtient six milliards CFA pour le Benin." (Cooperation with the Bretton Woods Institutions: Minister Lawani Gets 6 Billion CFA for Benin). May 12: An article in the state-controlled La Nation, about Post's Speaker Program titled, " Dialogue avec la communaute musulmane au Centre Culturel Americain: homme ou femme, chacun a une mission sur terre. " (Dialogue With the Muslim Community at the American Cultural Center: Both Men and Women Have a Mission in the World). La Nation also carried an article titled, " Etats-Unis: M. Carson assume ses nouvelles fonctions de Secretaire d'Etat adjoint aux Affaires Africaines. " (United States : Mr. Carson Takes on his New Position as Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs). An article in the left-of-center independent daily Le Telegramme and L'Autre Quotiien titled, "Un soldat americain tue 5 camarades sur une base militaire de Bagdad." (An American Soldier Kills 5 of his Colleagues on a Military Base in Baghdad). May 13: The following articles were published: An article in La Nouvelle Tribune titled, "Etats-Unis: Obama tres attendu sur la reforme de la sante." (United States: Obama is Expected to Bring Reforms to the Health Sector). An article in the left-of-center independent daily Nouvelle Expression titled, "Proche-Orient: Obama recevra Netanyahu, Moubarak et Abbas entre le 18 et le 28 mai." (Middle East: Obama Will Meet with Natanyahu, Moubarack and Abbas Between May 18 and May 28). May 14: The following articles were published: An article in the right-of-center L'Aurore titled, "Grippe porcine: 500 cas supplementaires aux Etats-Unis." (Swine Flu: 500 Additional Cases in the United States). An article in La Nation titled, "Activite du MCA-Benin a Lokossa: des geometres formes a l'utilisation d'instruments modernes." (MCA-Benin'S activities in Benin: Land Surveyors Have Been Trained in the Use of Modern Equipment). An article in La Nouvelle Tribune, based on the entirety of the State Department's op-ed titled, "Les droits de l'homme fondamentaux: notre engagement solennel." (Fundamental Human Rights: Our Solemn Commitment). An article in Nouvelle Generation about the Washington D.C. launching of a book written by a renowned Beninese Economist and Politician titled, "Tournee international du Dr Yacouba Fassassi pour la promotion de son ouvrage intitule "En route pour le Futur." (Dr Yacouba Fassassi's International Tour for the Promotion of His Book Titled "On Route for the Future"). May 18: COTONOU 00000247 002 OF 004 An article in La Nation, about the certificates awarded to 36 outgoing Peace Corps Volunteers titled, "Cooperation entre les Etats-Unis et le Benin: 36 Volontaires du Corps de la Paix ont recu leurs certificats d'appreciation." (U.S.-Benin Cooperation: 36 Peace Corps Volunteers Receive Their Certificates of Appreciation). An article in Le Matin, announcing President Barack Obama's upcoming trip to Ghana titled "Etats-Unis: le President Obama en visite au Ghana en juillet." (United States: President Obama Will Visit Ghana in July). May 19: An article in the left-of-center independent daily newspapers Le Matinal and Nouvele Expression, titled "Moyen-Orient: rencontre Obama-Netanyahu a la Maison Blanche." (Middle-East: Meeting Between Obama and Netanyahu at the White House). May 20: The following articles were published: An article in the right-of-center independent daily L'Aurore, titled "Bill Clinton devient l'Emissaire Special de l'Onu en Haiti." (Bill Clinton Becomes United Nations' Special Emissary to Haiti). An article in Le Matin, titled, "Realisation de plans fonciers ruraux avec la technique Gps: une realite au Benin grace a MCA-Benin." (Performing rural land surveys with GPS technology : This has Become a Reality in Benin thanks to MCA-Benin's Assistance). An article in the left-of-center independent daily La Nouvelle Tribune titled, "Projet Acces au Foncier: MCA-Benin aguerrit 50 Experts Geometres." (Access to Land Project: MCA-Benin Trains 50 Land Surveyors). An article in Le Telegramme titled, "Environnement-Etats-Unis - Industrie Automobile: Barack Obama s'attaque a la pollution automobile." (Environment - Barack Obama Attacks Pollution Caused by Automobiles). An article in La Nation, titled "Obama-Netanyahu: inquietude en Israel sur un froid avec washington." (Obama-Netanyahu : Israel is Concerned About a Possible Cooling in Relations with Washington). An article in the right-of-center independent daily Le Challenge, based on the entirety of the transcript of the news article by Mr. James Jones titled "Celebration des 100 jours de Barack Obama: un nouvel engagement pour le 21eme sihcle." (Celebration of Barack Obama's First 100 Days:A New Commitment For the 21stCentury). Le Challenge also carried an article titled, "Pour sa premiere visite en Afrique en tant que President des Etats-Unis, Barack Obama sera au Ghana les 10 et 11 juillet 2009." (For His First Trip to Arica as President of the United States, Barack Obama will be in Ghana on July 10 through July 11). An article in the left-of-center independent daily Nouvelle Generation titled, "Realisation des plans fonciers ruraux: MCA-Benin forme des geometres." (Achievement of Land Security in Rural Areas: MCA-Benin Trains Land Surveyors). Nouvelle Expression carried two other articles titled "Benjamin Netanyahu acheve sa visite sous pression a Washington." (Benjamin Netanyahu Ends His Visit to Washington Under Pressure),and "Bill Clinton nomme emissaire de l'Onu a Haiti." (Bill Clinton Appointed as UN Emissary to Haiti). Two articles in L'Autre Quotidien titled, "Securisation et acces au foncier: formation des geometres: MCA-Benin introduit la technologie Gps." (Access to Land Project and Training of Land Surveyors : MCA-Benin Introduces GPS Technology),and "Le vice-President Americain Joe Biden en visite en Bosnie." (U.S. Vice President Joe Biden visits Bosnia). L'Autre Quotodien carried a third article titled, "Obama et Netanyahu mettent leurs divergences au grand jour." (Obama and Netanyahu Make Their Disagreements Well Known to the Public). An article in La Nouvelle Tribune titled, "Projet Acces au foncier: MCA-Benin aguerrit 50 Experts geometres." (Access to Land Project: MCA-Benin Trains 50 Land Surveyors). An article in the right-of-center independent daily Fraternite titled, "Formation en arbitrage commercial international au Benin: MCA-Benin oeuvre pour l'amelioration de la gestion des differends commerciaux." (Training in International Commercial Dispute Settlements: MCA-Benin is Working to Improve the Settlement of Commercial Disputes). May 22: An article in La Nouvelle Tribune titled, "Etats-Unis: Obama reaffirme sa volonte de fermer Guantanamo." (United States: Obama COTONOU 00000247 003 OF 004 Reaffirms his Willingness to Close Down Guantanamo). An article in L'Autre Quotidien titled, "Economy: the United States are Interested in the Angolan Market). An article in La Nation titled, "Birmanie: Hillary Clinton juge le proces d'Aung San Suu de scandaleux." (Burma: Hillary Clinton Describes the Trial of Aung San Suu as Scandalous). An article in Nouvelle Expression titled, "Obama fait front dans la tourmente sur la prison de Guantanamo." (Obama Remains Firm in the Debate About the Closing of Guantanamo). An article in La Nouvelle Tribune titled, "Partenariat MCA-Benin /CameC-CCIB: des arbitres et mediateurs outilles." (Partenership Between MCA-Benin and a Component of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Benin: Training of Commercial Mediators). May 25: The following articles were published: An article in the centrist independent daily, Le Municipal, titled, "Cooperation entre le Benin et les Etats-Unis: 36 Volontaires du Corps de la Paix en fin de mission au Benin."(Cooperation between Benin and the United States: 36 Peace Corps Volunteers End Their Mission to Benin). An article in La Nation titled, "Formation du MCA-Benin au profit du CAMeC-CCIB : Mediateurs, Arbitres et staff recoivent leurs parchemins." (MCA-Benin Trains the Staff of the Beninese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Benin: the Mediators, the Referees and the Members of Staff Receive Their Certificates). An announcement in L'Autre Quotidien titled, "Programme National du Benin pour le Millenium Challenge Account MCA-Benin: Appel a candidatures pour le recruitement du personnel de la Commission Nationale d'Appui a l'obtention des titres fonciers."(National Program of Benin for the Millenium Challenge Account: Job Announcement for Recruiting Eligible and Qualified Staff to Serve in the National Committee for the Delivery of Land Security License). May 26: The following articles were published: An article in La Nouvelle Tribune titled, "Cooperation U.S.-Benin: les etudiants de l'ENEAM s'informent sur MCA-Benin."(The Students of the National School of Economics, Administration and Management are Learning About the Functioning of MCA-Benin). An article in Le Matin titled, "Millenium Challenge Account Benin: le Conseil Consultatif en session." (Holding of MCA-Benin's Consultative Council). Le Matin also carried an article titled, "Cour Supreme des Etats-Unis: Obama nomme la premiere Juge hispanique. "(Supreme Court of the United States: Obama Appoints the First Hispanic Female Attorney). May 27: The following articles were published: An article in the state controlled La Nation and in the independent daily newspapers Nouvelle Expression, L'Autre Quotidien, La Nouvelle Tribune and Fraternite titled, "7eme session du Conseil Consultatif de MCA-Benin: preparer le dernier trimestre de l'annee 3 du programme."(Seventh Session of the Consultative Council: Preparations for the Last Trimester of the Third Year of the Program). Nouvelle Expression also carried an article titled : "Obama nomme la premiere juge hispanique a la Cour Supreme." (Obama Appoints the First Hispanic Female Attorney to the Supreme Court). An article in the right-of-center independent daily, L'Aurore, titled, "Barack Obama en Arabie Saoudite le 3 juin." (Barack Obama Will Visit Saudi-Arabia on June 3). May 28: An article in La Nation titled, "Etats-Unis: la faillite ineluctable apres l'echec de la restructuration de la dette."(United States Bankruptcy Becomes Unavoidable Following the Failure of Debt Restructuring). ¶3. Electronic Media: During the period of this report, the state-owned radio station, covering the entire country, broadcast lengthy reports on most Mission-hosted activities in French and all major local languages. Several privately-owned radio and TV stations, including the most prominent Cotonou-based Golfe TV and a new VOA partner, Canal 3, also covered most Mission events. In partnership with VOA, Golfe FM COTONOU 00000247 004 OF 004 regularly aired VOA news in English and French, from Monday through Friday. VOA news in French on Golfe FM is broadcast every morning (Monday through Friday),beginning at 7:30, while the news in English is scheduled from Monday through Friday, beginning at 17:30. A former WorldNet partner, LC2, continues to broadcast the Crossroad Cafe series in English. RAWLINGS