Cablegate: Media Reaction Report - G-8: Climate Change - Africa

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 004699

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 - G-8: CLIMATE CHANGE - AFRICA
CENTRAL ASIA: SUMMIT IN KAZAKSTAN
PARIS - WEDNESDAY, JULY 06, 2005

(A) SUBJECTS COVERED IN TODAY'S REPORT:

1. G-8: CLIMATE CHANGE - AFRICA
2. CENTRAL ASIA: SUMMIT IN KAZAKSTAN

B) SUMMARY OF COVERAGE:

EXCEPT FOR THE FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC PRESS, EVERY OTHER
OUTLET DEVOTES ITS FRONT-PAGE TO THE 2012 OLYMPICS AS "FRANCE
HOLDS ITS BREATH" (LE PARISIEN) AND WAITS FOR THIS MORNING'S
VOTE IN SINGAPORE. CATHOLIC LA CROIX'S LITERARY WINK HEADLINE
READS: "IS PARIS WINNING?" FOR LE FIGARO IT IS "THE HOUR OF
TRUTH FOR PARIS," WHILE LIBERATION HEADLINES: "PARIS HOLDING
TO THE (OLYMPIC) RINGS." MANY EDITORIALS ARE DEVOTED TO
FRANCE'S CANDIDACY AND ALL IT HAS RIDING ON THE FINAL CHOICE.
FOR JEAN-MICHEL THENARD OF LIBERATION, THE QUESTION IS: "AFTER
TEN YEARS OF `CHIRACDOM,' WHY DOES FRANCE HAVE SO LITTLE
CONFIDENCE IN ITSELF THAT IT NEEDS THE OLYMPIC MIRROR TO
ADMIRE ITSELF?" THE CHIRAC-BLAIR CONFRONTATION OVER THE GAMES
CARRIES OVER INTO THE SECOND MAJOR STORY OF TODAY, THE G-8.

RIGHT-OF-CENTER LE FIGARO TITLES: "G-8: TONY BLAIR IMPOSES HIS
PRIORITIES," WHILE LEFT-OF-CENTER LIBERATION TITLES ON A FRONT-
PAGE SIDE COLUMN: "AFRICA, A SPECIAL GUEST OF THE G-8."
ECONOMIC LES ECHOS CARRIES A FRONT-PAGE PHOTO OF WORLD BANK
PRESIDENT PAUL WOLFOWITZ AND TITLES: "HELPING AFRICA AND
CLIMATE CHANGE ON THE G-8 MENU." INSIDE, A ONE-PAGE REPORT
INCLUDES A STORY ON "LONDON'S ATTEMPTS TO LOWER EXPECTATIONS
ON A MAJOR AGREEMENT." IN A SEPARATE ARTICLE, NICOLAS
MADELAINE, THE WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT, QUOTES WORLD BANK
PRESIDENT PAUL WOLFOWITZ: " LIBERALIZING TRADE MUST BE PUT AT
THE TOP OF THE LIST OF PRIORITIES. THE PEOPLE OF AFRICA MUST
BE ABLE TO EXPORT THE PRODUCTS OF THEIR LABOR, IN PARTICULAR
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS. DEVELOPMENT MUST BE CONCEIVED IN THE
WIDE SENSE. AID IS NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT, GOOD GOVERNANCE
MUST BE ENCOURAGED. SO THAT THE LOCAL CLIMATE IS FAVORABLE TO
PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENTS." REPORTS EMPHASIZE BLAIR'S
POSITION OF STRENGTH GOING IN THE G-8, CHIRAC'S WEAKENED
POSITION AFTER THE EU REFERENDUM AND THE FACT THAT HE
CONTINUES TO OPPOSE PRESIDENT BUSH ON KYOTO. POPULAR RIGHT-OF-
CENTER FRANCE SOIR TITLES "THE G-8 DEVOTED TO CLIMATE CHANGE"
AND OPTS FOR A TWO-PAGE REPORT ON THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT ON
FRANCE IN THE COMING YEARS. (SEE PART C)

LE FIGARO CARRIES A REPORT ON THE SUMMIT ON CENTRAL ASIA IN
ASTANA, KAZAKSTAN, (SEE PART C)

LE FIGARO CARRIES AN OP-ED PENNED BY KOFI ANNAN TITLED "RE-
ENFORCING THE UN." ON THE OPPOSITE PAGE, WELL KNOWN WRITER GUY
SORMAN WRITES AN OP-ED TITLED: "THE GAMES BETTER THAN THE UN."

(C) SUPPORTING TEXT/BLOCK QUOTES:

G-8: CLIMATE CHANGE - AFRICA

"BLAIR IMPOSES HIS PRIORITIES"
ALAIN BARLUET IN RIGHT-OF-CENTER LE FIGARO (07/06): "AS THE
PRESIDENT OF A WEAKENED EUROPE, BLAIR EXPECTS A DIPLOMATIC
CONSECRATION FROM THE G-8 SUMMIT. THE SUMMIT IS EXPECTED TO BE
DOMINATED BY SERIOUS DIVERGING FRANCO-AMERICAN VIEWS AND TO A
LESSER EXTENT DIVERGING FRANCO-BRITISH VIEWS. ON THE EVE OF
THE SUMMIT, PRESIDENT BUSH'S REMARK THAT THE U.S. WAS
`ABSOLUTELY' READY TO CANCEL AGRICULTURAL SUBSIDIES IF THE EU
DID THE SAME WAS CLEARLY UPSETTING FOR CHIRAC. SIMILARLY, THE
U.S. PRESIDENT REMAINED HOSTILE TO AN AGREEMENT ON THE CLIMATE
IF `IT LOOKED LIKE THE KYOTO PROTOCOL.' THIS IS THE ISSUE OVER
WHICH IT WILL BE THE HARDEST TO REACH A CONSENSUS."

"CONSENSUS"
ANTOINE DE GAUDEMAR IN LEFT-OF-CENTER LIBERATION (07/06):
"SUDDENLY EVERYONE SEEMS READY TO JUMP FOR AFRICA. WHY SUCH
EAGERNESS? BECAUSE THE OTHER ISSUES ON THE MENU ARE LESS
PALATABLE, LIKE CLIMATE CHANGE, WHICH WILL REMAIN A BONE OF
CONTENTION BECAUSE OF AMERICA'S INTRANSIGENCE? BECAUSE THE
SUBJECT IS MORE CONSENSUAL? EVERYONE AGREES THAT AFRICA NEEDS
HELP. A CONTINENT OVERWHELMED BY DESPAIR AND MISERY. IS A TIME
BOMB. HENCE THE FIRST STEP AND THE CANCELLATION OF THE AFRICAN
DEBT. ALTHOUGH SPECTACULAR IN APPEARANCE, THE CANCELLATION OF
THE AFRICAN DEBT REMAINS AN INJUSTICE. THE POLITICAL
DETERMINATION OF THE G-8 REGARDING AFRICA HAS EVERY CHANCE OF
BEING LONG LASTING, BECAUSE IT IS BASED ON WELL-UNDERSTOOD
INTERESTS. FOR THE AMERICANS, IT IS OIL, FOR THE FRENCH IT IS
LEADERSHIP, AND FOR EVERYONE, THE FEAR OF SEEING NEW
COMPETITORS LANDING, SUCH AS CHINA. PHILANTHROPY IS NOT
NECESSARILY CYNICAL, BUT IT IS RARELY GRATUITOUS."

"AFRICA BACK IN EVERYONE'S GOOD GRACES"
CHRISTOPHE AYAD IN LEFT-OF-CENTER LIBERATION (07/06): "THE
REASONS FOR THIS NEW INFATUATION WITH AFRICA ARE MANY. CHIRAC
AND BLAIR NEVER MISS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW THEMSELVES AS
IMPASSIONED ADVOCATES FOR AFRICA. CHIRAC DEFENDS AFRICA'S
INTERESTS AS MUCH AS HE DEFENDS FRANCE'S INTERESTS IN THE LAST
OF ITS PRIVATE HUNTING GROUNDS: AFRICA IS THE LAST PLACE IN
THE WORLD WHERE FRANCE'S VOICE COUNTS FOR SOMETHING, THUS
ALLOWING IT TO PRESERVE ITS INFLUENCE IN THE INTERNATIONAL
ARENA. IN AFRICA, BLAIR IS TRYING TO CHANGE HIS IMAGE OF
WARMONGER, WHICH RESULTED FROM HIS INVOLVEMENT IN THE WAR IN
IRAQ, ALL THE WHILE HONORING HIS COMMITMENT TO `MORAL
DIPLOMACY.' THE 9/11 ATTACKS HAVE AWAKENED AMERICA'S INTEREST
FOR AFRICA. WHERE ARMS PROLIFERATION AND DRUGS ARE A SOURCE OF
REAL CONCERN FOR THE WEST. BUT WASHINGTON ALSO WANTS TO
DIVERSIFY ITS SOURCES OF ENERGY."

"LONDON WANTS TO LOWER EXPECTATIONS ON FINAL AGREEMENT"
LAURENCE TOVI IN RIGHT-OF-CENTER LES ECHOS (07/06): "THE
SUMMIT WILL PROBABLY SATISFY NEITHER THE PROPONENTS OF THE
FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY NOR THE AFRICAN COUNTRIES. THE BRITISH
AMBASSADOR TO FRANCE STATED: `THOSE WHO EXPECT THE ERADICATION
OF POVERTY FROM THIS SUMMIT WILL BE DISAPPOINTED.' ON THE
SECOND MAJOR TOPIC OF THE SUMMIT, CLIMATE CHANGE, PROGRESS
WILL ALSO NOT BE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGH EXPECTATIONS. WHILE
NO ONE ANY LONGER EXPECTS THE U.S. TO RATIFY THE KYOTO
PROTOCOL, CONSIDERED TO BE `A ROTTEN AGREEMENT FOR THE U.S.
ECONOMY' BY THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT, WASHINGTON HAS
NEVERTHELESS SOFTENED ITS APPROACH. WHILE THE PREAMBLE ON
RECOGNIZING HUMAN RESPONSIBILITY IN CLIMATE CHANGE NEEDS TO BE
NEGOTIATED, THE PRINCIPLE OF A PLAN OF ACTION APPEARS TO HAVE
BEEN ACCEPTED."

"WILL BUSH GIVE IN ON CLIMATE CHANGE?"
FREDERIC GERSHEL IN RIGHT-OF-CENTER LE PARISIEN (07/06):
"PRESIDENT BUSH INTIMATED HE DID NOT WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THE
KYOTO PROTOCOL. BUT CHIRAC WARNED THAT THERE WILL BE NO
AGREEMENT ON THE CLIMATE IF THE U.S., THE WORLD'S NUMBER ONE
POLLUTER, DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THAT THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT IS A
REALITY TIED TO HUMAN ACTIVITY. HE WANTS THE KYOTO PROTOCOL
EXPLICITLY MENTIONED IN THE FINAL DOCUMENT. LAST NIGHT, WHITE
HOUSE ADVISOR STEVE HADLEY SAID: `WE CAN ACCEPT LANGUAGE GOING
IN THAT DIRECTION.' A FIRST STEP?"

CENTRAL ASIA: SUMMIT IN KAZAKSTAN

"BEIJING AND MOSCOW WANT U.S. TO WITHDRAW FROM CENTRAL ASIA"
JEAN-JACQUES MEVEL IN RIGHT-OF-CENTER LE FIGARO (07/06):
"CHINA AND RUSSIA YESTERDAY MOVED THEIR PAWNS IN A VERY
INFLUENTIAL REGION OF THE WORLD. THEY CONVINCED FOUR CENTRAL
ASIAN STATES TO PUT A STOP TO AMERICAN MILITARY AMBITIONS AND
POLITICAL INTERVENTIONS IN THE REGION. THE CONCERN OF
AUTHORITARIAN REGIMES IN THE FACE OF ADVANCING DEMOCRATIZATION
EXPLAIN THEIR RALLYING TO BEIJING AND MOSCOW. TO THEM, CHINA'S
DICTATORSHIP AND RUSSIA'S AUTHORITARIAN DEMOCRACY LOOK MORE
REASSURING THAN THE POLITICAL OPENNESS CALLED FOR BY THE WEST.
THE FINAL COMMUNIQU OF THE SUMMIT ILLUSTRATES THE STRATEGIC,
POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC RISE OF CHINA IN A REGION WHERE THE
U.S. IS TRYING TO ESTABLISH ITSELF LASTINGLY. THE SUMMIT COULD
OPEN A NEW CHAPTER IN WHICH CHINA AND RUSSIA WILL FEEL
SUFFICIENTLY STRONG TO BACK EACH OTHER AND DEMAND THAT THE
U.S. BEGIN ITS RETREAT FROM CENTRAL ASIA. THIS QUESTION WILL
BE RAISED DURING SECRETARY RICE'S TRIP TO BEIJING AT THE END
OF THIS WEEK. THE FACT THAT IRAN WAS AN OBSERVER AT THE SUMMIT
IN ASTANA CAN ONLY RE-ENFORCE AMERICA'S CONCERNS." STAPLETON

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