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R 120533Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY MAPUTO
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INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY

UNCLAS MAPUTO 000657 
 
AF/S FOR SHAILAJA BISTA 
AF/PD FOR DTITUS, RBROOKS AND LALLISON 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO KDEM PREL PHUM PGOV MZ
SUBJECT: MOZAMBIQUE MEDIA REACTION TO POTUS CAIRO SPEECH 
 
REF: Maputo 00636 
 
¶1.  One week after the President's "A New Beginning" speech to the 
Muslim world from Cairo, Mozambican press is still digesting his 
words and the implications for Muslims and U.S. policy.  While all 
coverage has been positive, praising the President for his boldness, 
his eloquence and his depth of knowledge and understanding about 
Islam, some have questioned if those views embody popular sentiment 
among Americans, and many have urged that the words must be turned 
into tangible action to really make a difference. "The situation for 
the Palestinian people is intolerable" was the most oft-repeated and 
analyzed line, with new expectations here that the President may be 
able to bring a lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian 
conflict. 
 
¶2.  The following summarizes significant press reports in the 
Mozambican media over the past week (See reftel for post's 6/4 
event, Pol Officer's participation on "TIM" TV and initial reactions 
from Mozambicans.): 
 
 
--"The Speech of Barack Hussein Obama" editorial 
Independent weekly Zambeze, distribution 20,000, ran a 6/11 
editorial by National Islamic Council head Sheikh Aminnudin Mohamad. 
 Mohamad lauded the President's speech as truly a new beginning -- 
the first time a U.S. President has publicly opened up to the Muslim 
world.  He praised the illuminating line, "It was Islam...paving the 
way for Europe's Renaissance" but warned that the U.S. must turn the 
speech into action or the speech will end up "like a tree that bears 
no fruit."  Mohamad also pleaded for U.S. help to create lasting 
peace between Israelis and Palestinians. 
 
--"An Important Signal In the Construction of a New World Order" 
editorial 
Near-national daily independent "O Pais", distribution 15,000, ran a 
6/10 editorial by senior Mozambican professor Carlos Serra calling 
on readers to fight for a new world order as per what President 
Obama outlined in his speech.  Serra appreciated the President's 
modesty and admission of past wrongdoings in relations with the 
Muslim world and with Iran.  Serra also deliberated heavily on what 
the speech will mean for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 
 
--Leading independent TV station "STV" (viewers up to 1 million) 
dedicated a part of its popular weekly Sunday evening talk show 
"Points of View" on 6/7 to the speech.  The panelists, 
representatives from Mozambique's political parties, urged that 
"everybody now needs to practice what Obama preaches" and discussed 
the President's call for democracy in the Middle East. 
 
--"Obama Reinforces Support for a Palestinian State" headline 
National daily state newspaper "Noticias", distribution 20,000, ran 
6/5 story quoting the President on "The current situation of 
Palestinians is intolerable"; also reported with admiration that 
"President Obama called for the end of Israeli settlements." 
 
--"Obama Makes a Surprising Speech" headline 
"O Pais" ran front-page story and two notable editorials on 6/5: 
"The Remarkable Speech of Barack Obama" editorial by respected 
editor (and former IV) Jeremias Langa stated that "President Obama 
showed remarkable courage to deliver this speech that broke the ice; 
and he proved irrefutably that he is truly a different kind of 
leader." 
 
"The West and Islam: From Conflict to Reconciliation - the Important 
Role of Barack Obama" 
Leading Islamic and often anti-USG scholar Abdula Manafi Mutualo 
praised the President's speech and opined: "The fact that President 
Obama did not visit Israel on this trip shows that Obama is turning 
around the negotiating tables." 
 
--"STV" aired excerpts from the speech on its 6/4 evening prime time 
news with an invited panelist to comment.  Dr. Aly Jamal, 
international relations professor, well-known public commentator, 
and former Fulbrighter, stated, "Never in the 61 years since Israel 
was created as a state, has a U.S. President or any leader spoken in 
such a clear manner and laid out to both sides what is expected from 
them for lasting peace; the speech was a landmark." 
 
¶3.  Comment:  Even with a significant (20 - 40 percent) Muslim 
population in Mozambique, Muslim issues are not often well 
represented in the press.  Nevertheless, the President's Cairo 
speech garnered wide and important analytical attention in the 
Mozambican media - not just because of the President's popularity 
but also because of prevailing interest in Middle East issues. 
Mozambicans tend to view the Israel-Palestine conflict not as a 
religious question but rather one of human rights and justice, 
issues that resonate deeply with Mozambicans. 
 
CHAPMAN