MEDIA REACTION - GLOBAL ECONOMY: FINANCIAL MARKET CRISIS;

UNCLAS SAO PAULO 000138 SIPDIS STATE INR/R/MR; IIP/R/MR; WHA/PD DEPT PASS USTR USDOC 4322/MAC/OLAC/JAFEE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR OPRC OIIP XM XR XF BR SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION - GLOBAL ECONOMY: FINANCIAL MARKET CRISIS; WESTERN HEMISPHERE: CUBA, GOVERNANCE; SCO PAULO Cuba, Again Op-Ed in liberal Folha de S. Paulo (3-12) by Kenneth Maxwell states: "...What is actually happening in Cuba? There are three developments worthy of note. The first is that Raul [Castro] is consolidating his power...The second one is the need of reforms. Venezuela's benevolence proved itself crucial for Cuba but it might not last.....The third one is the potential for progress in the long cold war between the U.S. and Cuba ...But although there are changes underway in Cuba, and despite the fact that many Americans are tired of the impasse, in the U.S. a new indication of how much Washington's policy towards Cuba remains captive to worries about internal policies- these have resurfaced." Crisis, trade and emerging countries guilt Op-Ed in business oriented Valor Econtmico (3-12) by journalist Maria Clara do Prado says: "....The crisis took away with it a series of financial assets derived from the developed world's cheap liquidity, fed in great part by resources generated in emerging country economies.....with this process' meltdown, the entire world got poorer and the less wealthy countries such as Brazil got back to their real dimensions.....If the U.S. does not start to buy - there is a fear that the money released by [President Barack] Obama will go to savings and not to consumption - and if Europe continues to be immersed in apathy (with increasing problems in the Eastern economies),the world's trade will remain trapped." WHITE