Cablegate: Media Reaction Report - European Issues - Turkey

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

041034Z Oct 05

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 006807

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 - European Issues - Turkey
PARIS - Tuesday, October 04, 2005

(A) SUBJECTS COVERED IN TODAY'S REPORT:

European Issues - Turkey

B) SUMMARY OF COVERAGE:

Because of today's widely followed social protest movement
most national dailies were either not published or not
distributed. Stories and commentaries available on the
Internet serve as the basis for this report. As expected, many
editorials and lead stories are devoted to PM Villepin's first
social test. Left-of-center Le Monde, which came out last
evening, headlines: "Jobs and Consumer Power: Villepin Faces
the Unions." Economic Les Echos carries its first monthly poll
on France's economic barometer: "The French are very critical
of the government's economic policies. They are showing much
impatience, which is symptomatic of a lasting social malaise."
The poll indicates that 62 percent of respondents consider the
government's economic policies to be "poor." But
"surprisingly," says Les Echos, Villepin still enjoys a high
personal rating of good opinions: 49 percent "trust him to
deal with France's social problems." Seventy-two percent of
respondents support today's strikes. Popular right-of-center
Le Parisien, today's only paper edition, headlines: "But Where
Is Chirac?" Le Parisien speculates about the President's lack
of official declarations about France's social unrest: "His
spectacular discretion since his cardiovascular incident is
feeding the rumor mill."

Europe and Turkey are today's major international stories, as
negotiations got underway last evening after much speculation
and bartering. Reports focus on Austria having "caved in"
after obtaining a go-ahead for negotiations with Croatia, and
on France's support in spite of the EU referendum on the
Constitution in May, where Turkey's membership played a
decisive role. (See Part C) Several reports note a telephone
conversation between Secretary Rice and Erdogan. Liberation
writes: "Erdogan called Condoleezza Rice who called Jack
Straw, whose country presides the EU." But Le Figaro reports:
"To reassure Turkey's military, who fear Cyprus's NATO
membership, Condoleezza Rice had to make a very firm call to
Erdogan." Secretray Rice is quoted: "Negotiations with the EU
do not interfere with NATO: the two issues are not related."
Le Monde carries a European poll indicating that the French,
the Germans and the Poles consider that being part of the EU
has not improved their lifestyle. Forty-one percent of the
French say that being part of the EU leaves them feeling their
living standards have gotten worse; sixty-eight percent of the
French say that to be more effective in foreign policy it is
better to follow European rather than national measures. But
when it comes to social protection 69 percent prefer to be
under a French rather than a European system. The poll serves
as the basis for Le Monde's editorial on France and its "euro-
phobia."

Le Figaro and Liberation note President Bush's nomination of
Harriet Miers to replace Sandra Day O'Connor. Le Figaro titles
its report: "Bush Names a Faithful Follower" while Liberation
titles its story: "Bush Names a `Pitt Bull' to the Supreme
Court."

Regional L'Alsace carried a story about Karen Hughes over the
weekend titled: "President Bush's `Lady Truth.'" "The
American President is sending a woman he trusts completely to
change America's image. A `daunting' job according to Hughes,
after her first visit abroad."

(C) SUPPORTING TEXT/BLOCK QUOTES:

European Issues - Turkey

"France's Euro-phobia"
Left-of-center Le Monde in its editorial (10/04): "France's
`no' vote to the EU constitution and the stalled EU expansion
are not an accident. The poll conducted in Europe shows that
except for Spain, the predominant feeling about Europe is one
of doubt. Europe is neither reassuring nor does it make anyone
dream. Worse even, it is a source of worry. This is
particularly true of France. which was one of the European
Community's founding nations: for the French, the bottom line
in the European adventure is mainly negative. This is not only
a major challenge for France, it is a challenge for Europe.
Our politicians have the difficult job of convincing the
French that Europe is a pre-condition for collective
prosperity."

"Europe, A Foundation for Peace"
Jean-Claude Arbona in regional La Nouvelle Republique du
Centre Ouest (10/04): "We must learn to reason in global terms
and on a wider scale. Closing the door to Turkey would mean
pushing Turkey away from Europe and towards Asia. Turkey might
have resented this and maybe made us pay for our gesture
sometime in the future. Europe/Asia, Christianity/Islam: the
EU is right to avoid a vain clash between civilizations. Peace
is the foundation of Europe's construction."

"Turkey and Popular Fears"
Franck de Bondt in regional Sud Ouest (10/04): "In an open
world, should not Europe's frontiers be recognizable by its
common values? Must we, in the name of popular fears, turn our
backs on Turkey and leave it to seek a relationship with
Russia or Muslim radicalism? The lack of satisfaction with
Europe expressed by the Germans and the French does not
justify our missing this historic opportunity." STAPLETON

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