Cablegate: Media Reaction Report - P5 + 1 Meeting in Paris

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Lucia A Keegan 07/13/2006 05:05:47 PM From DB/Inbox: Lucia A Keegan

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SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION REPORT - P5 + 1 Meeting in Paris
Middle East
PARIS - Thursday, July 13, 2006

(A) SUBJECTS COVERED IN TODAY'S REPORT:

P5 + 1 Meeting in Paris
Middle East

(B) SUMMARY OF COVERAGE:

The participants in the discussions concerning Iran are "speaking at
cross purposes" according to left-of-center Le Monde. The daily says
that Javier Solana's entourage expressed frustration and
disappointment following the meeting between the EU Foreign Minister
and the Iranian negotiator in Brussels.

In right-of-center Le Figaro, the report notes that the West is
"already extremely concerned by the Iranian issue and this concern
is compounded by the North Korean missile tests." Le Figaro
announces that "Tensions are mounting with the threat of sanctions
on Teheran," noting that yesterday's meeting of the UN Security
Council and Germany "opened the path towards economic and diplomatic
sanctions." The paper also noted that faced with Iran's
procrastination, Russia and China - who formerly took a more
'conciliatory' tone towards Tehran-have signed on to the harder line
advocated by the Americans and Europeans. The paper highlights the
fact that the meeting's participants were united in their "profound
disappointment" over Iran's failure to accept the offer of an
incentives package, but that they had also agreed to "give Iran a
way out" by offering to forego sanctions and return to the
negotiating table should Iran comply with the regulations. (See Part
C)

Le Figaro's front page (headline: "Brutal Escalation in the Middle
East") reports that the kidnapping of the two Israeli soldiers has
been condemned by the White House, the Elysee and the Kremlin. An
inside report notes that Hamas wants to negotiate with Israel. The
editorial by Pierre Rousselin warns of the "Spiral of Crises."
Catholic La Croix's headline: "Israel Opens A New Front" and
editorial underscore the relative indifference of the international
community with regard to the situation in the Middle East until now.
(See Part C)

Popular right-of-center Le Parisien carries an interview of Pascal
Boniface, Director of IRIS (the French Institute for Strategic and
International Relations). Boniface remarks that the "military and
geographic spread of the conflict" in the Middle East is what is the
most alarming aspect of the current situation. Boniface highlights
that "the international community's apathy has provoked frustration
and anger in Arab public opinion... and Hezbollah has seized on the
opportunity to appear as the last bastion against Israel...
Hezbollah is united in its cause with Hamas." Finally Boniface notes
that because of the situation in Iraq and the danger emanating from
Iran, an Israeli limitary intervention in Lebanon would open a
Pandora's box... France, for its part appears to be completely
withdrawn. It is common for Europe to show discretion with regard to
the Middle East, but not France."

Left-of-center Liberation reports that the North Korean missile test
issue has "deeply divided" the UN and its neighbors. "Christopher
Hill's initial optimism... was short lived... And Kim Jong Il is no
doubt savoring the absence of consensus. Especially given that the
U.S.'s strongest allies in the region: South Korea and Japan, have
adopted positions that are diametrically opposed."

Left-of-center Le Monde reports that before the G8 "George Bush is
"sealing the reunion between Washington and Germany." For Liberation
President Bush is "Flaunting his Love Affair With Merkel."
Liberation says that "aside from an affection, that appears sincere,
on the part of the American President for the German Chancellor, he
really does not have a choice. Within 'Old Europe' Blair and Chirac
are nearing the end of their terms in office and are politically
weakened. By comparison, Angela Merkel is at the head of the leading
European economic power. From Washington's point of view, Germany is
an essential player especially as it will soon take on the
presidency of the EU and the G8, in swaying Russia and China to
agree to sanctions against Iran and North Korea."
In an op-ed in right-of-center economic Les Echos, French President
Chirac outlines France's view on the G8 Summit. "I will attend the
G8 Summit... with four objectives in mind: mobilize anew the
developed and developing countries to address the issues of climate
change, poverty and disease; to help Africa at a time when it is
beginning to emerge; to put an end to terrorism and the
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction - especially with
regard to Iran and North Korea. I am convinced that we can use
globalization and international growth as a chance to change the
course of humanity while repairing unacceptable social and
ecological excesses... Energy should not become a political tool...
We must work together to promote renewable and alternative fuel,
including nuclear energy... To global threats, we need to be able to
have a global response... We will get nowhere in the fight against
global warming by relying on unilateral or partial declarations...
The seven countries of the G8 that have ratified the Kyoto Protocol
have a singular responsibility. They must set the example by
upholding their commitments... They must show the way forward for
after 2012. We need an ambitious accord... that will involve all of
the countries, including the United States and the developing
nations."

(C) SUPPORTING TEXT/BLOCK QUOTES:

P5 + 1 Meeting in Paris

"Imminent Sanctions"
Regional Ouest France's editorial by Joseph Limagne (07/13): "The
time to choose between negotiations and sanctions appears imminent.
Americans, Europeans, Russians and Chinese decided in Paris
yesterday to bring the Iranian issue before the UNSC. With the
kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah and Tsahal's riposte
in Lebanon the situation in the Middle East has reached a critical
point. The danger that violence will erupt in the region increases
with Damascus' and Teheran's support for the Lebanese Shiites and
Hamas' Islamist Palestinians.... In India the two attacks have
bloodied Bombay, like last year in London or the year before in
Madrid. Whatever the origins are, terrorism remains the principal
blight of our time."

Middle East

"Failed Withdrawal"
Guillaume Goubert in Catholic La Croix (07/13): "There was a time,
not so long ago when one could still talk about a peace process in
the Middle East... but since then this process has been going
backward and one wonders if we will not have to rename it "war
process" soon... It has been six years since Israel was compelled to
carry out operations in neighboring states. The conflict was
limited, so to speak, to the confrontation with the Palestinians.
The addition of Hezbollah to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East,
could have possible implications for Israel's relations with at
least three states: Lebanon, but also Syria and Iran by more
indirect political and religious channels... One hopes for an
effective mobilization of diplomatic efforts... because the
conflict, up until now, appears to leave the international community
remarkably indifferent."
"Stakes"
The editorial by Gerard Dupuy in left-of-center Liberation (07/13):
"By cautioning against an 'acceleration of the spiral of violence'
the head of the Palestinian Authority may not have shone by virtue
of his talents as a poet but he aptly summed up the impression that
anything, even the very worst, could happen in the Middle East
now... At what point does an act of war become a war outright?... As
always in the Middle East, what goes on front stage is determined by
what is being decided in the shadows backstage. In this case
Hezbollah and Hamas are under foreign influence from Damascus and
Teheran... Two key areas that Israel could not think of attacking...
without the help of its American ally which, until further notice,
is not inclined to give the green light."

"The Spiral of Crises"
Pierre Rousselin in right-of-center Le Figaro notes (07/13): "If the
Middle East has become more dangerous than ever it is because there
are several crises going on there at once and that each of these
crises - the Israeli Palestinian conflict, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran - are
escalating in the level of violence... The destabilization of
Lebanon could serve the interests of Syria and Iran, Damascus'
principal concern being to divert international attention away from
the UN investigation into the assassination of former Prime Minister
Rafic Hariri... Teheran for its part continues to reject the
generous offer made by the great powers."

"Military Might Does Not Guarantee Security"
Dominique Garraud writes in the editorial in regional daily La
Charente Libre (07/13): "The temptation is strong for Israel now to
show once again its military supremacy, no matter the cost to Arab
and Israeli civilians. The obligation of Israel's allies, starting
with the U.S., is to urge it to show restraint and to remind it that
none of its previous military victories have contributed anything to
ensuring its security... to the contrary."

"The Fuse is Lit"
For Jean-Claude Kiefer in regional Les Dernieres Nouvelles d'Alsace
(07/13): "The international environment has changed. Teheran, with
Damascus in its wake, is now openly defying the U.S. that is bogged
down in Iraq. Iranian aid to Palestinian activists via Syria and
Lebanon has taken on unprecedented proportions and the calls by the
Iranian president for the destruction of Israel enflames the
extremists. The fuse is lit and the fire could soon spread to
Lebanon."
STAPLETON

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