MEDIA REACTION: THE PRESIDENT'S INTERVIEW WITH AL-ARABIYA

UNCLAS OSLO 000085 STATE FOR NSC,PA/PRS,EUR/NB,EUR/PPD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KPAO NO SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: THE PRESIDENT'S INTERVIEW WITH AL-ARABIYA 1.Two editorials from Norway stress the change of tone and strong signals of engagement in the Middle East apparent in the President's Al Arabiya interview. 2.'The War on Terror is out'. In a commentary in newspaper of record Aftenposten (circulation 250,000) on 1/27, Washington correspondent Alf Ole Ask says: 'The interview which Obama gave to Al-Arabiya last night contained no references to Bush's term 'war on terror' This is yet another example of how Obama is placing himself at a safe distance from his predecessor.... At the same time he has also made it clear that he will defeat Al Qaeda. He repeated that in the interview. Some observers have said that Obama's statements seem more like a change of tone and works than a real change of policies. On the other hand; choice of words is not irrelevant in the diplomatic and political game...' 3.'Hope for the Middle East'. The editorial in VG (1/29) reads: 'Barack Obama chose to give his first big TV interview as U.S. president to the Arabic TV station Al- Arabiya. That in itself is a strong signal that he is serious when he says that he wants to engage in the Middle East. He wants dialogue, not confrontation. He wants a new start for the relationship between the U.S. and the Muslim world. That is good... With his complex background he is also better equipped than most to create dialogue and understanding across racial, cultural and religious lines... When Norwegians think of dialogue, they often think of something soft, good, and free of friction. It is obviously not what kind of dialogue he proposes. He wants critical and clear dialogue... His predecessors Bill Clinton and George W. Bush waited until the end of their terms to get involved in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. That was too late... With Obama's involvement there can be new hope for the peace process in the Middle East. Now it is up to the parties.' WHITNEY