This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 PARIS 005084
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR INR/R/MR; IIP/RW; IIP/RNY; BBG/VOA; IIP/WEU; AF/PA;
EUR/WE /P/SP; D/C (MCCOO); EUR/PA; INR/P; INR/EUC; PM; OSC ISA
FOR ILN; NEA; WHITE HOUSE FOR NSC/WEUROPE; DOC FOR ITA/EUR/FR
AND PASS USTR/PA; USINCEUR FOR PAO; NATO/PA; MOSCOW/PA;
ROME/PA; USVIENNA FOR USDEL OSCE.
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR FR
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION REPORT - NEW WAVE OF ATTACKS IN LONDON
- SECRETARY RICE IN AFRICA AND ISRAEL - REVALUATION OF CHINESE
CURRENCY
PARIS - FRIDAY, JULY 22, 2005
(A) SUBJECTS COVERED IN TODAY'S REPORT:
1. NEW WAVE OF ATTACKS IN LONDON
2. SECRETARY RICE IN AFRICA AND ISRAEL
3. REVALUATION OF CHINESE CURRENCY
(B) SUMMARY OF COVERAGE:
HEADLINES ARE DOMINATED BY THE ATTEMPTED TERRORIST ATTACKS IN
LONDON YESTERDAY. "ANXIETY AFTER THE ATTACKS" LEADS RIGHT-OF-
CENTER LE FIGARO UNDERSCORING IN ITS REPORT THAT THE LATEST
ATTACKS "CONFIRM AL QAEDA'S AMBITIONS IN EUROPE. AND INTENTION
TO MAKE GOOD ON ITS THREATS." LEFT-OF-CENTER LIBERATION'S:
"LONDON: THE STRATEGY OF FEAR," RE-EXAMINES THE LINK BETWEEN
THE UK'S INVOLVEMENT IN IRAQ AND THE ATTACKS. POPULAR RIGHT-OF-
CENTER DAILY LE PARISIEN LEADS: "FOUR NEW ATTACKS: FEAR IN
LONDON," COMMUNIST L'HUMANITE AND CATHOLIC LA CROIX BOTH LEAD:
"LONDON: ONCE AGAIN A TARGET OF TERRORISM."
POPULAR RIGHT-OF-CENTER FRANCE SOIR NOTES THAT PARIS IS UNDER
PARTICULARLY CLOSE-WATCH THIS WEEKEND WITH THE TOUR DE FRANCE
THAT WILL SEE THOUSANDS OF ONLOOKERS GATHERED AT THE CHAMPS
ELYSEES TO WITNESS THE VICTORY OF LANCE ARMSTRONG.
LEFT-OF-CENTER LE MONDE'S OPINION PAGES FEATURE AN OP-ED BY
FRENCH DEFENSE MINISTER MICHELE ALLIOT-MARIE ON THE FRENCH
PRESENCE IN AFGHANISTAN. ALLIOT-MARIE EMPHASIZES THAT FRANCE
IS COMMITTED TO AFGHAN RECONSTRUCTION. TO THE FIGHT AGAINST
DRUG TRAFFICKING. AND TO THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM."
LE FIGARO CARRIES A FULL-PAGE INTERVIEW OF ISRAELI PRIME
MINISTER ARIEL SHARON IN WHICH HE CONFIRMS THE WITHDRAWAL FROM
GAZA ON AUGUST 15 AND ADDS THAT "THIS WITHDRAWAL WILL OPEN THE
WAY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ROAD MAP." SHARON ALSO
PRAISES FRANCE AS A MODEL IN "FIGHTING ANTI-SEMITISM" AND AS A
"PRIVILEGED TRADE PARTNER."
SEVERAL DAILIES REPORT THE KIDNAPPING OF TWO ALGERIAN
DIPLOMATS IN IRAQ. LEFT-OF-CENTER LIBERATION POINTS OUT THAT
LATELY "DIPLOMATS HAVE BECOME THE PREFERRED TARGETS OF THE
IRAQI REBELLION." LE FIGARO CARRIES A PARTICULARLY SCATHING
PIECE ENTITLED: "THE CIVILIAN VICTIMS OF AN ENDLESS WAR"
FEATURING CHARTS AND GRAPHS THAT GIVE A BREAKDOWN OF CIVILIAN
VICTIMS IN IRAQ BASED ON AGE, GENDER AND REGION. IN THE REPORT
DELPHINE MINOUI WRITES: "THE OCCUPATION FORCES ARE PRIMARILY
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATHS OF CIVILIANS. THE RECENT HARDENING
OF THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT HAVE LED TO A MULTITUDE OF
`BLUNDERS.'"
SECRETARY RICE'S VISIT TO DAKAR FOR THE 4TH AGOA FORUM IS
SIPDIS
REPORTED AT LENGTH IN CATHOLIC LA CROIX AND HER SURPRISE VISIT
TO ISRAEL IS MENTIONED IN L'HUMANITE. (SEE PART C)
THE MAIN ECONOMIC STORY TODAY IS THE REVALUATION OF THE
CHINESE CURRENCY WHICH IS REPORTED THROUGHOUT THE ELECTRONIC
AND PRINT MEDIA. CENTRIST BUSINESS-ORIENTED LA TRIBUNE SEES
THE REVALUATION OF THE YUAN AS "SYMBOLIC" BUT HAVING A VERY
POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE EUROPEAN MARKETS. ECONOMIC RIGHT-OF-
CENTER LES ECHOS CALLS THE REVALUATION "A SMALL GESTURE" AND
LEFT-OF-CENTER LIBERATION SAYS THAT IT IS INTENDED TO "CALM
WASHINGTON." (SEE PART C)
(C) SUPPORTING TEXT/BLOCK QUOTES:
NEW WAVE OF ATTACKS IN LONDON
"SOWERS OF FEAR"
THE EDITORIAL IN CATHOLIC LA CROIX BY DOMINIQUE GERBAUD
(07/22): "WITH THESE ATTACKS. THE TERRORISTS SEEM TO BE
SENDING OUT A THREE-FOLD MESSAGE TO SAY THAT THEY STILL EXIST,
THEY REMAIN ORGANIZED AND CAN STRIKE WHEN THEY WANT. IN SHORT
THEY WILL CONTINUE TO SOW FEAR. THE MESSAGE IS ALSO THAT
TERRORISM DOES NOT NESTLE EXCLUSIVELY IN THE MOUNTAINS OF
AFGHANISTAN, IT IS AT OUR DOORSTEP AND ENJOYS THE FREEDOM TO
MOVE AROUND AS IT PLEASES. THESE TERRORISTS ARE SPREADING
DOUBT AND FEAR IN OUR SOCIETY. AND IN RESPONSE THERE IS ONLY
ONE SOLUTION. THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MUST BE UNITED WITH
LONDON AND REFUSE TO GIVE IN TO THE SPIRAL OF FEAR,"
"CONFIRMATION OF AL QAEDA'S EUROPEAN AMBITION"
ARNAUD DE LA GRANGE IN RIGHT-OF-CENTER LE FIGARO (07/22):
"EVEN IF YESTERDAY'S ATTACKS WERE MINOR COMPARED TO THOSE OF
JULY 7, THEY PROVE THE NERVE OF THE ATTACKERS GIVEN THE
CURRENT POLITICAL CONTEXT. THEY ALSO SUBSTANTIATE THE FACT
THAT AL QAEDA SEEMS TO HAVE AN INFINITE SUPPLY OF HUMAN
RESOURCES ON BRITISH SOIL. TERRORISM IN EUROPE SEEMS TO BE
EVOLVING FASTER THAN ANTI-TERRORISM."
"REPEAT"
GERARD DUPUY COMMENTED IN LEFT-OF-CENTER LIBERATION (07/22):
"WAS THIS REPEAT ATTACK `INTENDED TO KILL' AS THE CHIEF OF
SCOTLAND YARD INDICATED? OR WAS IT DESIGNED ONLY TO DERIDE THE
PUBLIC AUTHORITIES' CAPACITY TO PROTECT ITS CITIZENS? AT THE
LEAST, THE INDIVIDUALS RESPONSIBLE FOR YESTERDAY'S ATTACKS HAD
IN MIND TO TWIST THE KNIFE IN THE WOUND AND THEY SUCCEEDED.
THE THEORY THAT THESE ATTACKS WERE IMPROVISED BY SYMPATHIZERS
OF THE JULY 7 SUICIDE BOMBERS IS NOT REASSURING AND DOES NOT
FIT WITH THE IMAGE OF AN ORGANIZATION LIKE AL QAEDA THAT IS
STRUCTURED AND POWERFUL."
"TO BE IN IRAQ OR NOT TO BE IN IRAQ: THAT IS THE QUESTION"
MARC SEMO IN LEFT-OF-CENTER LIBERATION (07/22): "THIS REPLICA
OF THE TREMOR THAT SHOOK LONDON A WEEK AGO POSES A POLITICAL
CHALLENGE TO THE LEADER OF THE LABOUR PARTY. TODAY, JUST AS
WAS THE CASE A WEEK AGO, BRITISH PUBLIC OPINION AND POLITICAL
LEADERS ARE UNITED. BUT IT WILL NOT TAKE LONG FOR THE DEBATE
ON THE UK'S MILITARY PRESENCE IN IRAQ ALONGSIDE THE U.S. TO
RESURFACE. AND THE ANTI-TERRORIST MEASURES THAT HAVE BEEN
IMPLEMENTED IN LONDON OF LATE, NAMELY THE EXPULSION OF RADICAL
IMAMS, WILL DO LITTLE TO CALM PUBLIC OPINION ON THE ISSUE OF
IRAQ."
"THE INFERNAL SPIRAL"
BERNARD DURAUD IN COMMUNIST L'HUMANITE (07/22): "EVERYDAY WE
HAVE PROOF THAT IN GREAT BRITAIN, IN EUROPE AND ELSEWHERE IN
THE WORLD TERRORISM CAN STRIKE BLINDLY AT ANY TIME AND
ANYWHERE. IS IT POSSIBLE TO BE PROTECTED FROM A STRATEGY OF
VIOLENCE THAT KNOWS NO LIMITS AND RESPECTS NO RULES?"
SECRETARY RICE IN AFRICA AND ISRAEL
SIPDIS
"CONDOLEEZZA RICE'S CHARM OFFENSIVE IN AFRICA"
CHRISTINE HOLZBAUER IN CATHOLIC LA CROIX (07/22): "EVERY
MINUTE OF THE VISIT WAS PLANNED IN DETAIL. AND IS PART OF THE
WHITE HOUSE'S NEW TACTIC TO WIN OVER THE AFRICAN CONTINENT.
UNTIL RECENTLY THE THREE TRADE HUBS WERE SITUATED IN
ANGLOPHONE AFRICA AND IT IS SIGNIFICANT THAT THE FOURTH HUB
WILL BE IN A FRANCOPHONE COUNTRY: SENEGAL."
"FOR THE SECOND TIME IN ONE MONTH CONDOLEEZZA RICE GOES TO THE
MIDDLE EAST"
CORINE LESNES IN LEFT-OF-CENTER LE MONDE (07/22): "DURING MR.
BUSH'S FIRST TERM IN OFFICE HIS SECRETARY OF STATE - COLIN
POWELL - WAS CRITICIZED FOR NOT TRAVELING ABROAD ENOUGH. BUT
LESS THAN SIX MONTHS AFTER TAKING UP THE OFFICE OF SECRETARY
OF STATE CONDOLEEZZA RICE HAS SHOWN THAT SHE DESERVES THE
MONIKER OF `GLOBETROTTER.' THE CURRENT SECRETARY OF STATE IS
SPARING NO EFFORT AND THIS IS ALREADY HER SECOND VISIT TO THE
MIDDLE EAST IN A MONTH. ON JUNE 20 SHE HAS CREATED A STIR IN
CAIRO WHEN SHE ACKNOWLEDGED THE MISTAKES THAT THE U.S. HAS
MADE IN DEALING WITH THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST. DURING
THESE VISITS, THE SECRETARY ALWAYS APPEARS TO BE VERY
COMFORTABLE AND IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT SHE WAS IN PART
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FOREIGN POLICY DECISIONS OF THE FIRST
ADMINISTRATION."
REVALUATION OF CHINESE CURRENCY
"A MONETARY REFORM TO CALM WASHINGTON"
PIERRE HASKI CORRESPONDENT FOR LEFT-OF-CENTER LIBERATION IN
BEIJING WRITES (07/22): "THE PURPOSE OF CHINA'S MONETARY
REFORM IS MORE POLITICAL THAN ECONOMIC IN ORDER TO DEFUSE
TENSIONS WITH WASHINGTON AND PAVE THE WAY FOR THE CHINESE
PRESIDENT'S UPCOMING TRIP TO THE U.S. CONSIDERING THE INITIAL
REACTIONS FROM WASHINGTON, THIS MANEUVER HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL.
ONLY 48 HOURS AGO PRESIDENT BUSH WAS STILL CALLING ON CHINA TO
`CHANGE THE WAY IT EVALUATES ITS CURRENCY.' THE EU HESITATED
TO FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF THE U.S. VIS-A-VIS CHINA AND FINALLY
FELL IN BEHIND. BUT WASHINGTON'S SATISFACTION WITH THE CHINESE
GOVERNMENT'S DECISION MAY BE SHORT LIVED."
"CODED MESSAGE"
PASCAL AUBERT EDITORIALIZED IN CENTRIST BUSINESS-ORIENTED LA
TRIBUNE (07/22): "THE MESSAGE IS CODED, AS ALWAYS WHEN IT
COMES FROM CHINA. BY OPTING TO REVALUE ITS CURRENCY WHEN IT
WAS THE LEAST EXPECTED, THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES HAVE SENT A
CLEAR MESSAGE TO THE REST OF THE WORLD THAT IT IS USELESS TO
TRY AND INFLUENCE OR INTIMIDATE CHINA. BEIJING WILL MAKE
DECISIONS IN SPITE OF INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE. BUT THE CAT AND
MOUSE GAME IS FAR FROM OVER." STAPLETON