Cablegate: Media Reaction Report - Iraq - Saddam Trial Unesco -
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 007146
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 - Iraq - Saddam Trial UNESCO -
Cultural Diversity Transatlantic Relations
PARIS - Wednesday, October 19, 2005
(A) SUBJECTS COVERED IN TODAY'S REPORT:
Iraq - Saddam Trial
UNESCO - Cultural Diversity
Transatlantic Relations
B) SUMMARY OF COVERAGE:
The trial of Saddam Hussein which opens today is the lead
front-page and editorial story. Some commentators agree that
"a hastily put together trial is better than none" while
others emphasize that "America's fingerprints are all over
this trial." Still others note that "how the trial is
conducted will determine Iraq's fate." (See Part C)
Le Monde devotes its lead to a poll by the Human Security
Center of the University of Vancouver which concludes that
conflicts have been reduced by 40 percent since 1992. The
editorial comments: "While Cold War diplomacy was a source of
conflicts, diplomacy since 1990 has constantly tried to be a
generator of peace. Remaining threats are nuclear
proliferation, terrorism, and the fact that the world's number
one power continues to question today's international order,
including the UN which has considerably helped the world to
put out some of its fires." Le Monde interviews Gareth Evans
of the International Crisis Group: "The fact that the U.S. has
authorized the resolution on Darfur and on the ICC marks a
great change in Washington's attitude, which has come about
since Secretary Rice's arrival at the State Department."
Le Monde also carries on its front page an article entitled:
"The U.S. Isolated at UNESCO." The convention on cultural
diversity adopted at UNESCO elicits several articles and
commentaries, which all point to America's thwarted efforts.
(See Part C) Le Monde carries an op-ed by Culture Minister
Donnedieu de Vabre titled "Cultural Diversity Is Not
Arrogance." "UNESCO, which was created after the war aimed to
serve world unity. It now must serve plurality. And this is
not only a cultural project. It is also political in the
widest sense of the word, because it is the foundation of
peace. Cultural diversity is not arrogance. It is not a reflex
of survival. It is an emergency in order to stop the spiral of
integrism and trigger the spiral of peace and humanism."
In right-of-center Les Echos analyst Jacques Hubert-Rodier
writes a commentary titled "The Franco-American Quarrel Is
Symbolically Over." (See Part C)
The economic papers report that "France is isolated in its
attempts to control European Commissioner Mandelson's freedom
in international negotiations, and specifically in the
negotiations on agricultural subsidies."
(C) SUPPORTING TEXT/BLOCK QUOTES:
Iraq - Saddam Trial
"Let's Let the Iraqis Do Their Job"
Pierre Rousselin in right-of-center Le Figaro (10/19): "No
matter what the situation on the ground, the Iraqis deserve to
know the magnitude of what they have endured. The defense will
harp on the conditions of the trial. But if Saddam is being
tried at all it is thanks to the U.S. Army. Other dictators
summarily executed were not so lucky. The Tribunal must avoid
serving as a sound box for the Sunni insurrection. It must
also keep from turning into a sideshow once the accused begins
to tell his stories of past complicity with France and the
U.S. For Iraq to emerge as a nation that respects the right of
law, the trial must be irreproachable. Only then will we be
able to say that a war that was waged under false pretexts has
had a positive effect. Let's give the Iraqis a chance to do
their job, remembering that the people of the Middle East are
watching."
"Imperfect"
Patrick Sabatier in left-of-center Liberation (10/19):
"Saddam's trial will be no exception to the rule of an
imperfect justice. But it is better than no justice at all.
Having said this, it is also true that it will be difficult
not to see the trial as a travesty of justice. America's
attempts to not appear as being both judge and jury are not
convincing. The former dictator will be judged by his enemies,
Shiites and Kurds, and by the Americans. An international
court would have been more convincing. This trial cannot serve
as a foundation for the right of law in Iraq: it will
exacerbate Sunni bitterness. Its only merit is that it will
serve as a teaching tool and remind everyone of what it was to
live under Saddam."
"Justice First and Foremost"
Bruno Frappat in Catholic La Croix (10/19): "Neither hate nor
vengeance must guide this trial. And those who will treat
Saddam as he never treated his opponents must be honored. Yet
this trial should never serve as a case study in law schools.
It was put together by Paul Bremer under conditions which do
not grant it legitimacy. But the need for this trial goes
beyond justice; there is a political stake: while Iraq has not
yet found the peace and stability promised by the Bush
administration, how the trial is conducted will determine the
future of Iraq. A wise and non-hysterical trial will
demonstrate maturity. A hasty one will be a missed
opportunity."
UNESCO - Cultural Diversity
"A Strong Sign"
Jean-Claude Raspiengeas in Catholic La Croix (10/19): "The
U.S., dead-set against the UNESCO convention, proposed a
number of amendments and increased its pressure to minimize
the import of the text. In the end, 151 nations made a strong
gesture to say that activities of the mind could not be
reduced to trade goods. This diplomatic breakthrough is to be
noted. A diplomatic treaty is always indicative of a temporary
power struggle. The U.S. cannot accept the idea that one of
its principal and most influential export sectors could be
contained. Having returned to UNESCO in order to fight this
battle, the U.S. put all of its efforts to avoid this outcome.
So much so that it upset its allies. Europe, urged by France
and joined by Canada, put aside its differences in order to
speak with one voice. Next comes the battle for the
ratification."
"A Diplomatic Battle And America's Obstruction Efforts
Amplified the Convention's Import"
Natalie Nougayrede in left-of-center Le Monde (10/19): "Until
the end, France's idea of `cultural exception,' recently
renamed `cultural diversity,' elicited the opposition of the
U.S. which feels that UNESCO's role is not to serve as an
arena to resolve international trade issues. French diplomacy,
strongly assisted by Canada, managed to raise support for a
text that has become emblematic in the battle against
globalization. French diplomatic circles could barely hide
their glee as the U.S. found itself isolated. A diplomatic
source added that this was all the more ironic that
paradoxically, it was the U.S. obstruction efforts which gave
the text such import."
Transatlantic Relations
"The Franco-American Quarrel Is Symbolically Over"
Jacques Hubert-Rodier in right-of-center Les Echos (10/19):
"France and the U.S. have operated a spectacular
rapprochement. Secretary Rice's visit to Paris served to
illustrate the joint determination in keeping Iran from
acquiring nuclear weapons. Bilateral military relations have
also improved, as indicated recently by General Bentegeat who
was awarded a medal in the U.S.: in short, the Atlantic
alliance has not exploded. The Americans themselves recognize
the `spectacular contribution' made by France to NATO. The
differences that remain are greatly minimized. including about
Iraq. The hatchet between Paris and Washington has been
buried. The reconciliation is real, even if it is due in part
to lower opinion ratings for both national leaders." STAPLETON