MEDIA REACTION: WESTERN HEMISPHERE: VENEZUELA; SOUTH AND

UNCLAS SAO PAULO 000266 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: WESTERN HEMISPHERE: VENEZUELA; SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA: IRAN; SAO PAULO Left high and dry Op-Ed in liberal Folha de S.Paulo (5-5) by Eliane Catanhede says: "[The decision] by Iranian President Ahmadinejad to not come to Brazil had a negative result on Brazil as the country made all the sacrifices in order to arrange the meeting between Lula and Ahmadinejad and ended up having no advantages. It lost a lot (in criticisms) and won nothing." Iran is not Ahmadinejad Op-Ed in liberal O Estado de S.Paulo (5-5) by diplomat and former Ambassador to the U.S. Roberto Abdenur notes: "The visit of the Iranian President to Brazil could not be more inappropriate....Bringing Ahmadinejad to Brazil a few weeks before the Iranian Presidential election clearly would not demonstrate wisdom in political terms. Seeking rapprochement with Iran in the person of Ahmadinejad brings us embarrassment and criticism....Brazilian diplomacy would have done well to realize that Iran is not necessarily Ahmadinejad." Mercosul Bolivarian Mercosul Editorial in liberal O Estado de S.Paulo (5-5) states: "Brazil won't gain anything if it lets Venezuela enter Mercosul now .....but it may lose a lot if it allows its trade diplomacy to depend on the humors and political interests of Alba's (Alternativa Bolivariana para as Americas) creator." WHITE