MEDIA REACTION: PRESIDENT OBAMA IN RUSSIA, ITALY, AND

UNCLAS SAO PAULO 000408 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 OBAMA IN RUSSIA, ITALY, AND GHANA; WESTERN HEMISPHERE: HONDURAS, COUP; SCO PAULO July 8, 2009 Title- Honduran Impasse Editorial in liberal Folha de S.Paulo (7-8) says: "After the unanimous international condemnation to the coup in Honduras, the first glance of hope for an end to the impasse arises........It seems obvious that Zelaya should make a commitment to abandon the Chavista route, by which he was trying to extend his mandate in Honduras, whose laws do not allow for reelection. But that's an issue to be solved by the Hondurans. The regional and international community has gone as far as it can in this case - and instituted a benchmark for the defense of democracy on the continent." Title- The start of a new beginning Editorial in center-right O Estado de S.Paulo (7-8) states: "...The two-day-visit....was the first step of translating in facts of the White House initiative to engage the Kremlin in resuming relations between the two countries.....Breaking the inertia that dated back to Clinton times and was followed by a complete lack of action in the Bush era, he [Obama] focused on the issue of bilateral agreements about the control of nuclear arsenals. The importance of such a policy is doubled. For the world, it signals a live commitment to non-proliferation.....For the signatories, it means that the joint control is an incentive to rapprochement, mutual confidence and understanding in a series of areas, for the simple fact that it works through cooperative programs....With his move in this direction, Obama has indicated to Moscow that.....its remains a major atomic power......this is a good deal for both sides in times of crisis, just for the costs that its maintenance generates. Another success for Obama was the Kremlin's decision to allow 4,500 U.S. flights per year through Russian territory with armaments for military operations in Afghanistan...." Title- The festival of meetings in Aquila Editorial in center-right O Estado de S.Paulo (7-8) notes: "Leaders of the world major developed and developing economies meeting in L'Aquila will produce in three days much more political statements than practical decisions for immediate application.....The balance will be positive if there are practical decisions concerning the most dramatic issue at this moment: the food crisis in poor countries...." POPP