VZCZCXYZ0007
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSO #0229 1101253
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 201253Z APR 09
FM AMCONSUL SAO PAULO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9116
INFO RHEHNSC/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 0263
RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO PRIORITY 9117

UNCLAS SAO PAULO 000229 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE INR/R/MR; IIP/R/MR; WHA/PD 
 
DEPT PASS USTR 
 
USDOC 4322/MAC/OLAC/JAFEE 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR OPRC OIIP XM XR XF BR
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION SAO PAULO: North Korea, Cuba and Iran 
04-16-2009 
 
Media Reaction - East Asia and Pacific: planned missile launch, 
nuclear program; South and Central Asia: Afghanistan, Iran, regional 
and global influence; Western Hemisphere: Cuba, governance; Sao 
Paulo 
 
Thursday, April 16,  2009 
 
Title- Provocation diplomacy 
 
Editorial in liberal Folha de S. Paulo (4-16) states: "The launch of 
a rocket by North Korea, on the fifth, revived regional tensions and 
generated the country's [North Korea] condemnation by the U.N.'s 
Security Council.  Nonetheless, it will probably not change the game 
of provocation and restraint that marks the country's relation with 
the international community....Despite international progress in the 
nuclear program and in the new hostile gesture against the 
international community, the miserable North Koreans keeps being 
susceptible to negotiations that offer economic help in exchange for 
the bomb's renunciation.  Global diplomacy should continue to bet 
all its cards on this route." 
 
Title- Cuba 
 
Op-ed in liberal Folha de S. Paulo (4-16) by Kenneth Maxwell says: 
"Obama is walking on a razor's edge.  He chose Dan Restrepo....to 
announce the changes [in restrictions to Cuba].  But the announced 
measures reflect a real change in the U.S. attitude with 
Havana....Fidel Castro wrote that the policy was 'positive but 
minimal'.  In other words: steps in the right direction." 
 
Title- Route to Teheran 
 
Op-ed in center-right O Estado de S. Paulo (4-16) by sociologist 
Demtrio Magnoli notes: "Today Washington needs Teheran to avoid a 
disaster in Afghanistan and hinder Iraq's destabilization....But 
Iran will not lower its flag in exchange of nothing.....The 
reconstruction of a peace process between Israel, the Palestinians 
and Syria is a minimum effort that Teheran expects Washington to 
make.  Obama will fail if he does not confront Israel's new 
government, which rejects the commitment to a two state principle 
with Palestine..." 
WHITE