Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09PARAMARIBO166
2009-06-05 18:47:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Paramaribo
Cable title:
SURINAME: POSITIVE REACTION TO THE PRESIDENT'S
how-toVZCZCXRO2028 PP RUEHGR DE RUEHPO #0166 1561847 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 051847Z JUN 09 FM AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0727 INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHGE/AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN PRIORITY 2084 RUEHAO/AMCONSUL CURACAO PRIORITY 1307
UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000166
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
WHA/CAR FOR JROSHOLT
WHA/PDA FOR LCORWIN AND TPICKREL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO NS
SUBJECT: SURINAME: POSITIVE REACTION TO THE PRESIDENT'S
CAIRO SPEECH
REF: STATE 55334
UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000166
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
WHA/CAR FOR JROSHOLT
WHA/PDA FOR LCORWIN AND TPICKREL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO NS
SUBJECT: SURINAME: POSITIVE REACTION TO THE PRESIDENT'S
CAIRO SPEECH
REF: STATE 55334
1. (SBU) SUMMARY. Three Surinamese TV stations broadcasted
the President's Cairo speech and all four national daily
newspapers gave it positive media coverage. Surinamers pride
themselves on the religious harmony in their own
multi-cultural society, and President Obama's message along
those lines will be widely embraced. END SUMMARY.
2. (U) Despite inconvenient timing (the President's speech
aired during Suriname's morning work commute: 7:10 AM
Suriname time),Surinamese broadcast media gave the event
substantial coverage. The speech was broadcast live on three
of the ten major television stations, and at least one other
station carried partial rebroadcasts of the speech along with
commentary from BBC and CNN. Radio stations included
highlights from the speech during their broadcast news
coverage. Suriname's one afternoon daily newspaper provided
same-day coverage, and the other three national newspapers
(morning papers) carried positive coverage of the speech the
following day, including a front page article in the
newspaper of record, De Ware Tijd. Another newspaper
featured the headline "Positive Reactions to Obama's Speech."
3 (U) PDOff invited three prominent Muslim religious leaders
to his home for a breakfast viewing party; although all
regretted that they could not attend for work or
health-related reasons, this courtesy invitation underscored
the significance and importance of this speech and augmented
the good will generated from the speech itself. One of these
invitees, the Secretary of the Surinamese Islamic Society and
Chief Editor of a Surinamese national daily newspaper, Mr.
James Lallmohamed, remarked to PD Assistant that he believes
that all Surinamese Muslims share this positive reaction.
Comments from various other Surinamers to PDOff were positive
and included remarks around the efficacy of the President's
approach and the notion that the President is "working
towards peace." Post prominently featured the SPOTLIGHT USA
"A New Beginning" link on its homepage; this linked to
America.gov's coverage of the President's speech and provided
users with the opportunity to receive speech-related SMS
updates.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: Surinamers are proud of Suriname's
peaceful, multi-religious society, so any message from the
United States promoting peace and intercultural harmony will
be warmly embraced. Post will continue to monitor the
Surinamese reaction to the President's speech. END COMMENT.
SCHREIBER HUGHES
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
WHA/CAR FOR JROSHOLT
WHA/PDA FOR LCORWIN AND TPICKREL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO NS
SUBJECT: SURINAME: POSITIVE REACTION TO THE PRESIDENT'S
CAIRO SPEECH
REF: STATE 55334
1. (SBU) SUMMARY. Three Surinamese TV stations broadcasted
the President's Cairo speech and all four national daily
newspapers gave it positive media coverage. Surinamers pride
themselves on the religious harmony in their own
multi-cultural society, and President Obama's message along
those lines will be widely embraced. END SUMMARY.
2. (U) Despite inconvenient timing (the President's speech
aired during Suriname's morning work commute: 7:10 AM
Suriname time),Surinamese broadcast media gave the event
substantial coverage. The speech was broadcast live on three
of the ten major television stations, and at least one other
station carried partial rebroadcasts of the speech along with
commentary from BBC and CNN. Radio stations included
highlights from the speech during their broadcast news
coverage. Suriname's one afternoon daily newspaper provided
same-day coverage, and the other three national newspapers
(morning papers) carried positive coverage of the speech the
following day, including a front page article in the
newspaper of record, De Ware Tijd. Another newspaper
featured the headline "Positive Reactions to Obama's Speech."
3 (U) PDOff invited three prominent Muslim religious leaders
to his home for a breakfast viewing party; although all
regretted that they could not attend for work or
health-related reasons, this courtesy invitation underscored
the significance and importance of this speech and augmented
the good will generated from the speech itself. One of these
invitees, the Secretary of the Surinamese Islamic Society and
Chief Editor of a Surinamese national daily newspaper, Mr.
James Lallmohamed, remarked to PD Assistant that he believes
that all Surinamese Muslims share this positive reaction.
Comments from various other Surinamers to PDOff were positive
and included remarks around the efficacy of the President's
approach and the notion that the President is "working
towards peace." Post prominently featured the SPOTLIGHT USA
"A New Beginning" link on its homepage; this linked to
America.gov's coverage of the President's speech and provided
users with the opportunity to receive speech-related SMS
updates.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: Surinamers are proud of Suriname's
peaceful, multi-religious society, so any message from the
United States promoting peace and intercultural harmony will
be warmly embraced. Post will continue to monitor the
Surinamese reaction to the President's speech. END COMMENT.
SCHREIBER HUGHES