MEDIA REACTION - PRESIDENT'S JUNE 4 SPEECH IN CAIRO: A NEW

UNCLAS SAO PAULO 000343

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 - PRESIDENT'S JUNE 4 SPEECH IN CAIRO: A NEW
BEGINNING; GLOBAL ECONOMY: FINANCIAL MARKET CRISIS; CLIMATE CHANGE
AND ENVIRONMENT; SAO PAULO

"Islam and the Obama mission"

Op-ed in liberal Folha de S.Paulo (6-7) by Clovis Rossi states:
"President Obama's speech in Cairo seemed like the launching of a
mission to change the collision of civilizations by their
confluence. It is clear....that a speech although brilliant...does
not change everything overnight. Now what is left... is to translate
into practical actions the uncommon acknowledgment by an U.S.
president that Palestinians suffer 'daily humiliations'...Or that
there is a 'continuous humanitarian crisis in Gaza'. The whole world
has a lot to gain if the confluence of civilizations is successful.
"

"The doubt after the Speech"

Editorial in center-right O Estado de S. Paulo (6-6) notes:
"President Obama's credibility and the new view that he wants the
world to have about the U.S. in the Middle East will depend on the
pressure that he will be, or not, able to put on an Israeli
government that opposes to the end of land settlements in occupied
territories and to a Palestinian State.....Because in what regards
to words, there is not much more Obama can do."

"Climate Change, a decision to be made now!"

Op-Ed in center-right O Estado de S. Paulo (6-7) by former President
Fernando Henrique Cardoso, says: ".....Measures taken to hold the
global warming are still timid, be it abroad or in
Brazil....Brazil's contribution to the increase of greenhouse
emissions derives mainly from burning forests down...this way, why
Brazil does not take a more bold stance and accept to take part in
the vigorous reduction of greenhouse emissions.....?The theme is one
of political will....with a more radical approach from Brazil as
regards to this issue, and if China and India were to follow us, we
would have enough power for, along with Europe, force the U.S. to
make larger commitments.....We should adopt an apparently radical,
but redeemer, stance of a zero deforestation target....The time for
decisions is now, in Copenhagen."
WHITE