MEDIA REACTION: PRESIDENT OBAMA'S NOWRUZ MESSAGE TO IRAN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 000303

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/PB
STATE FOR SCA/PPD, PA/RRU
STATE FOR INR/OPN/MR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL BG IR
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: PRESIDENT OBAMA'S NOWRUZ MESSAGE TO IRAN


1. Summary: President Obama's Nowruz message to Iran received
extensive coverage in the local media, both English and vernacular.
Newspaper editorials across the political spectrum praised the
President's message and called on Iran to accept the U.S. offer of
dialogue. President Obama's messages of dialogue and reconciliation
with the Muslim world resonate extremely well in this moderate
Muslim-majority nation of 150 million people. We will continue to
leverage the President's popularity in Bangladesh to advance key
bilateral and multilateral goals in Bangladesh. End summary.


2. A selection of media reaction follows:


A. "U.S. OLIVE BRANCH TO IRAN; AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A BETTER
RELATIONSHIP," an editorial in the March 22 generally neutral
English newspaper THE DAILY STAR:

"The U.S. President's overture to Iran on the eve of the Persian New
Year Nowruz is a significant departure from his predecessor's policy
that never lost a chance to refer to Iran as a part of the axis of
evil. We welcome the change of attitude of an establishment that
had looked at Iran, and indeed much of the Middle East and the
Muslin world, with a blinkered vision (sic). Mr. Obama should be
congratulated for taking the first step, as he had promised in his
campaign he would, seeking engagement with Iran that was 'honest and
based on mutual respect....' To build on the offer we feel that the
first step for both the countries should be to create an environment
of trust by appreciating and acknowledging the real compulsions of
each other."


B. "OBAMA'S PROPOSAL FOR DISCUSSIONS WITH IRAN," an editorial in the
March 22 generally anti-West Bangla vernacular daily INQILAB:

"President Obama, within the first two months of his presidency,
proposed an end to the long period of distrust and enmity between
Iran and the U.S. His desire for developing relations between the
two countries is a significant U.S. foreign policy indicator. This
proposal can be considered as a new initiative to rebuild a
relationship that has been without formal diplomatic ties since

1980. President Obama pledged during his election campaign that he
would develop a relationship between the two countries. We thank
President Obama for his good wishes and intent to start a dialogue,
ignoring the path of conflict, with Iran. Iran should respond to
President Obama's proposal with cooperation and understanding."


C. "IRAN SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER PRESIDENT OBAMA'S PROPOSAL," an
editorial in the March 22 pro-U.S. vernacular daily Ittefaq:

"Nothing can be achieved by terrorism or by weapons. Rather,
peaceful activities are required to develop people and
civilizations. The Iranian government and the international
community, including the European Union (EU),welcomed President
Obama's desire for peace. The Obama administration wants to reduce
its differences with the Muslim world, created by former President
Bush. Many could see President Obama's desire for peace with the
Muslim world as a key part of U.S. foreign policy when President
Obama stated shortly after his inauguration that he intended to
visit a Muslim country soon."


D. "IRAN SHOULD ACCEPT OBAMA'S PROPOSAL FOR DIRECT TALKS," an
editorial in the March 23 Jamaat- and BNP-leaning vernacular daily
NAYA DIGANTA:

"U.S. President Barak Obama recently urged the resumption of
diplomatic discussions with Iran. He diverted from decades of U.S.
foreign policy in making this overture... In a recorded video,
President Obama said his administration was committed to diplomacy.
President Obama also pledged a new start, setting aside the
bilateral jabs of the past. The international community welcomed
President Obama's decision. At this point, we also welcome
President's Obama's push for dialog in favor of the peace loving
people of the world.


E. "IRAN SHOULD SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY, TAKE OBAMA'S DIALOGUE OFFER,"
an editorial in the March 22 BNP-leaning English daily NEW NATION:

"Barack Obama on Friday released a video message with FARSI
subtitles that urged the two countries to resolve their
long-standing differences.... The gesture of goodwill from
President Obama is something that Iran did not consider since the
fall of King Reza Shah and the birth of the Islamic revolution that
made Iran an Islamic Republic three decades ago. The response from
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sounds pragmatic. In fact,

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Iran should seize the opportunity to end the mistrust that developed
between the two nations over the decades. Obama promised this
before his election, and it would be wise to give the U.S. President
a chance to try to change the world through dialogue and
understanding.... Since Barack Obama has signaled for fruitful
dialogue, Iranian leaders should use all avenues to help make the
initiative successful. After all, peaceful relations between the
Muslims and the U.S. would end the principal cause of tension in
current international relations and, hopefully, also help stop the
wars."

PASI