AMBASSADOR AMPLIFIES VP'S MESSAGES IN IRAQI MEDIA INTERVIEWS

UNCLAS BAGHDAD 000216 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/PPD AND NEA/I E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PRELKPAOIZ SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR AMPLIFIES VP'S MESSAGES IN IRAQI MEDIA INTERVIEWS ¶1. Summary: Reinforcing the messages delivered by Vice President Biden during his recent visit to Iraq, Ambassador Hill hosted a January 24 round table discussion with eight local Arabic media outlets, followed by interviews with two major Iraqi TV channels. The back-to-back media engagements at the Embassy helped quash negative local speculation about the reasons and timing of the VP's visit, and amplified our message that Iraq remains a top priority for the United States. End Summary. ¶2. The Ambassador's 90-minute round table with local Arabic print, radio and newswire journalists was arranged by the Public Affairs section and resulted in saturation coverage in the next day's news cycle. Headlines and articles on January 25 focused on the Ambassador's rejection of earlier media speculation that VP Biden had come to Iraq solely to propose a solution to the controversy surrounding the disqualification of more than 500 electoral candidates. Resulting headlines in national papers featured Ambassador Hill's explanation that Washington had not interfered in the issue, and that VP Biden had already planned to come to Iraq long before the disqualification imbroglio erupted. The popular independent daily Azzaman ran a front-page story with a photo, quoting the Ambassador that the VP had come "to listen to Iraqi leaders in a supporting role." ¶3. The roundtable discussion and TV interviews with Al Hurra and Al Sumariya served to drive home the message that while the U.S. did not object to applying a constitutional ban on Baathist candidates, the process by which they are excluded had to be transparent, fair and credible in order for the elections themselves to appear likewise. The Ambassador echoed the Vice President's theme that we are confident Iraqi leaders understand the problem and are working hard to resolve it. ¶4. The question of whether or not the U.S. agreed with the reinstatement of alleged Baathist candidates dominated the discussions with the media. The Ambassador reiterated the point that the United States condemns the crimes of the previous regime and would never support a return to power of the Baathists. This firm statement was widely re-played in the media. ¶5. All major outlets also reported on the Ambassador's response to tough questions on the delay in removing Iraq from Chapter VII sanctions. The media afforded favorable coverage to the Ambassador's replies that we needed to speed up the process and that A/S Feltman was remaining in Iraq specifically to discuss this issue with the GOI. Finally, the Ambassador's iteration of the VP's announcement regarding the Blackwater appeal was carried in several print outlets. ¶6. We will continue to monitor coverage of the Ambassador's public messaging and report back as warranted. HILL