PRESIDENT'S INTERVIEW WITH AL-ARABIYA RECEIVES

UNCLAS STOCKHOLM 000081 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPAO PREL SUBJECT: PRESIDENT'S INTERVIEW WITH AL-ARABIYA RECEIVES GOOD COVERAGE IN SWEDEN REF: STATE 7500 ¶1. Swedish media gave broad and factual coverage to the President's interview with Al-Arabiya. Number two national daily Svenska Dagbaldet provided a full page, with a screen shot of the interview. Selected quotes focused on the President's expression of respect for the Muslim world. A side-bar contrasted Al-Arabiya and Al-Jazeera. Paper of record Dagens Nyheter gave limited coverage, on the paper's website. Swedish Television also provided a short report on its website. All three news items noted the appointment of Special Envoy Mitchell. ¶2. Embassy PAO used the opportunity of a PAS-hosted reception with Swedish journalists to call attention to the interview, highlighting the fact that President chose a Middle Eastern network for his first on-the-record foreign interview. The journalists noted the significance of the venue and believed that the choice conveyed an important signal about the President's priorities and intentions. SILVERMAN