Cablegate: Media Reaction Report - Iraqi Constitution
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 007085
SIPDIS
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TAGS: OPRC KMDR FR
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION REPORT - Iraqi Constitution
Secretary Rice - Iran UNESCO - Cultural Diversity
SIPDIS
PARIS - Monday, October 17, 2005
(A) SUBJECTS COVERED IN TODAY'S REPORT:
Iraqi Constitution
Secretary Rice - Iran
SIPDIS
UNESCO - Cultural Diversity
B) SUMMARY OF COVERAGE:
The threat of an avian flu epidemic and how the government is
both preparing and informing the public is one of today's
major front page and editorial stories. As the EU-25 Foreign
Affairs Ministers meet in Brussels for their first joint
session on the issue, Le Figaro headlines: "Europe Facing the
Avian Flu." La Croix devotes its lead to "All That Still
Remains Unknown" and in her editorial Dominique Quinio
emphasizes that a "margin of uncertainties" remains. Financial
La Tribune also devotes its editorial to "a propagation that
has Europe worried." Pascal Aubert, like Quinio in La Croix
analyzes the government's use of "the principle of precaution"
which should be "used but not abused."
Iraq and the vote on the Constitution are today's major
international story, sharing top billing on front pages with
the avian flu. "Iraq Takes One More Step Towards Democracy" is
Le Figaro's second front-page headline. In his editorial
Pierre Rousselin warns about "the Lebanisation" of Iraq but is
also hopeful for Iraq's future. In regional La Republic du
Centre Jacques Camus warns: "The Americans would be mistaken
to take their desires for fact. A `yes' victory carries its
own risks." (See Part C)
Popular right-of-center Le Parisien interviews Pascal Boniface
of IRIS: "The high voter turnout means the Iraqis want to take
their future in hand. But we must not be lulled into feeling
that this vote will resolve every problem. As long as foreign
troops remain in Iraq there cannot be peace. The big winners
are the Kurds and the Shiites. The Sunnis are left in the
middle with nothing." Boniface also comments on the imminent
trial of Saddam Hussein: "It would have been better if the
trial took place before an international court. No one must
`forget' that for a while, the West gave its support to
Saddam. This could open the floodgates of certain
revelations."
Secretary Rice's visit to Paris is prominently reported, with
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emphasis on the shared determination adopted by France and the
U.S. towards Iran. (See Part C)
Left-of-center Liberation reports on today's vote at UNESCO
where "Cultural Ministers will vote to adopt an international
convention on art and culture. which will thus be excluded
from trade negotiations. Hence America's ire." (See Part C)
Culture Minister Donnadieu de Vabres is interviewed: "The
truth is that there is the threat of (a U.S.) domination and
uniformization. France is no longer alone. The EU-25 is
united. The Americans did not realize the extent of the
international mobilization. I am surprised by the stance of
the U.S., by its stern attitude. It is probably triggered by
the success of the convention. This is not a judicious
attitude. The U.S. should promote cultural diversity rather
than harp on the fact that they are misunderstood."
(C) SUPPORTING TEXT/BLOCK QUOTES:
Iraqi Constitution
"Iraqi Hopes"
Pierre Rousselin in right-of-center Le Figaro (10/17): "The
Iraqis voted on a text which remains vague and does not settle
the country's growing divisions. The Constitution's only hope
of being adopted in certain Sunni provinces lies in a last-
minute loophole, which opens the door to amendments after its
adoption. But the constitutional exercise in Iraq is akin to
fitting a round peg into a square hole. The Sunnis have every
reason to fear they might be the big losers. The Constitution
opens the door to the country's break up with the appearance
of two entities in oil-rich regions: the Shiites and the
Kurds. But in Iraq chaos has reached such proportions that the
stakes lie elsewhere: even if the Constitution is not perfect,
what must be remembered is that the Iraqis, Sunni included,
voted, in spite of the continuing degradation of the security
situation. It is to be hoped that one day, the political
process will overcome violence. It is essential that we stop
the process of `lebanization' in Iraq, which lurks behind the
constitutional faade of unity. This is the challenge facing
the Iraqis, all Iraqis. And the requirement for the
coalition's withdrawal."
"The Risks"
Jacques Camus in regional La Republique du Centre (10/17): "On
Sunday, unverifiable information circulated as to the victory
of the `yes.' But America would be wrong to prematurely take
its desires for fact. Even a victory of the `yes' would carry
risks. The offer made to the Iraqis could lead to the
country's break up and regional `separatism.' Will Iraq make
peace with its painful past, with the Shiites and the Kurds
cultivating their separateness to the detriment of the Sunnis?
It is a mistake to ignore the fact that results will be known
on Thursday, the day after the start of Saddam Hussein's
trial. More than the Constitution, the trial will stand as a
test of Iraq's political and democratic maturity."
Secretary Rice - Iran
SIPDIS
"The U.S. and France Share Determination Against Iran"
Natalie Nougayrede in left-of-center Le Monde (10/17): "On her
previous visit to France Secretary Rice remained very discreet
on the subject of Iran. But last Friday Iran occupied a
position of choice in her meetings with President Chirac and
FM Douste Blazy. Intense consultations are on about Iran but
also about Syria. America and France's diplomacy have together
warned Iran and asked for a resumption of negotiations with
the EU-3. Rice's impromptu visit to Moscow proves that the
U.S. wants to find a common ground with Russia in how to deal
with Iran. Separately, the French and the Americans advertised
their shared views on Syria and Lebanon. According to a Times
of London report, the Americans have offered a deal to Syria
in exchange for cooperation in the Hariri assassination."
"Washington Increases Its Pressure on Iran"
Arnaud de La Grange in right-of-center Le Figaro (10/17): "One
thing is certain: American diplomacy is on the offensive.
Secretary Rice has just made the rounds in order to drum up
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support in favor of the threat of sanctions to counter Iran's
obstinacy. London and Washington, not surprisingly, exhibited
their shared views on the issue. But Secretary Rice was also
pleased with the warm support given by Paris: `The British,
the French - yes you heard me, the French - the EU-3, they
have all been very clear.' Secretary Rice also warned Iran
against aiding Iraq's insurgents. A link between WMD and
terrorism which brings another similar link to mind."
UNESCO - Cultural Diversity
"Cultural Diversity Comes to UNESCO"
Vincent Noce in left-of-center Liberation (10/17): "The U.S.
did all it could to keep UNESCO from adopting a convention
which grants cultural diversity its own status, setting it
outside trade negotiations. Hence America's ire. But the U.S.
found itself alone in the fight, abandoned not only by the
Australians and Japan, but also by Great Britain, which has
been playing up its European role. The Americans are all the
more unhappy because this will set a precedent: This is the
first time that the EU has given the European Commission a
mandate to negotiate in this type of debate. A few days ago
Secretary Rice sent a letter to her counterparts asking for
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the vote to be postponed and threatening a break within
UNESCO. Rice claims that the convention legitimizes `human
rights violations' under the guise of cultural linguistic
policies. But more seriously, the U.S. Secretary of State is
denouncing a `protectionist' policy. The Canadian Minister
symbolizes the general feeling when she `deplored Rice's
aggressive and violent terms.' If the U.S. is dropped by Anglo-
Saxon countries who are close allies, it may be because they
themselves feel threatened." STAPLETON