Viewing cable 08ATHENS1396, U.S.

MESSAGE CLEAR AS GREECE'S ANSWER TO "60 MINUTES"

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Reference ID
08ATHENS1396

Created
2008-10-02 14:08

Released
2011-08-30 01:44

Classification
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

Origin
Embassy Athens

Currently released so far... 251287 / 251,287

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VZCZCXRO7079 OO RUEHIK RUEHLN RUEHPOD RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHTH #1396 2761408 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 021408Z OCT 08 FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2592 INFO RUEHXD/MOSCOW POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE UNCLAS ATHENS 001396 SIPDIS SENSITIVE EUR FOR GRAFFY, BRYZA; EUR/PPD FOR PEREZ, TONER; EUR/SE FOR FITZPATRICK E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KPAO SOCI MOPS GR RU GE SUBJECT: U.S. MESSAGE CLEAR AS GREECE'S ANSWER TO "60 MINUTES" INVESTIGATES THE GEORGIA-RUSSIA CRISIS

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REF: http://folders.skai.gr/default 1. (U) Summary and Introduction: Greece's elite, progressive SKAI TV devoted the September 29 season premiere of its popular "60 Minutes"-style investigative show "Neoi Fakkeloi" (The New Files, or Folders) to the Georgia-Russia crisis, featuring an interview conducted on location in Tbilisi with EUR DAS Matt Bryza. With its well-chosen presentation of key U.S. positions, the station achieved very high journalistic standards in this broadcast, also available in streaming video and in transcript form on its website (REF), as well as on YouTube. Next Monday night, October 6, the series continues with "Gazprom's Global Project." End Summary and Introduction. 2. (U) After a straightforward presentation of the events of "Three Days in August," Bryza appears in the second of the show's four segments. This part focuses on U.S., Georgian, and Russian diplomacy and is entitled "The 'Secret' War." It explores "how close we came to a new Cold War," says Alexis Papahelas, probably the best-known journalist in Greece, in his introduction. Bryza is credited as "the one who spoke to the Georgians that night," and is shown making three key points: that the U.S. discouraged any Georgian military response; that Russian provocations preceded it; and that Russia failed to achieve anything. 3. (U) Speaking for their governments along by now established lines, Georgia's Minister for Reintegration Temuri Yakobashvili and Russian Federation Council Deputy Vasili Likhatchev (Vice President of the International Relations Committee) also appear in this segment. In addition, Moscow-based journalist Peter Lavelle, "an American who is also the main anchor for Russia Today," at one point exclaims that "it's absolute lunacy!" to believe that Russia is to blame. An interview with "Saakashvili on the New Files" follows, and the show concludes with "The Last Greeks of the Caucasus," which focuses on the plight of the ethnic Greek diaspora in Georgia. 4. (SBU) Comment: One of the show's three co-anchors told us that the Russian government was slow to respond to the station's invitation, and that the Federation Council deputy was uncomfortable, beginning most of his answers with "The official line is..." This preface apparently hit the cutting room floor during the editing process, while
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the cutting room floor during the editing process, while the Russia Today journalist's wild gesticulations were kept in because they make for "good television (imagery)," we were told. Still, overall, the show was balanced and made an important contribution to getting the U.S. message out in Greece. Post wishes to thank Embassy Tbilisi for its assistance with this project. SPECKHARD

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