SPECIAL REPORT: MEDIA COVERAGE OF SECRETARY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 NEW DELHI 001514 SIPDIS STATE FOR NP, AC, PM STATE FOR INR/MR STATE FOR SCA/INS, PM/CBM, PM/PRO STATE FOR SCA/PPD, PA/RRU STATE FOR AID/APRE-A USDOC FOR 4530/IEP/ANESA/OSA FOR BILL MURPHY E.O. 12958:N/A TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL IN SUBJECT: SPECIAL REPORT: MEDIA COVERAGE OF SECRETARY CLINTON'S VISIT SUMMARY: Secretary Clinton left behind an astounding body of positive media coverage as she departed India today after a successful four-day visit. The national media highlighted the final outcomes of the visit - the announcement of the "end-use monitoring" and "technology safeguards" pacts; New Delhi's approving two sites for U.S. companies to build nuclear power plants; and the invitation extended to PM Singh for a state visit to Washington November 24. Media reports said an emotionally-inclined India applauded the Secretary's personal "prose and poetry" touch in her interactions with the country's students and civil society. Some analysts said the visit dispelled any remaining fears that the Obama administration would neglect India as it focused ON getting Pakistan's help against insurgents ON the Afghan border. Editorials welcomed the Secretary's decision to drop the customary stop in Pakistan, saying that the U.S. had finally come to accept India ON its own terms. A leading business daily said Obama Administration has decided to continue the Bush Administration's "royal treatment" of India. A widely-respected commentator said that the Secretary left behind the lasting image that the United States wants to see India emerge as a player ON the global stage. Barring some skepticism editorial reaction was positive. Commentary from India's leading English and language newspapers follows. End summary. -------------- NEWS SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. The Secretary's press conference with External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna generated lead stories today. Reports said U.S. and India announced they had agreed ON an "end-use monitoring" pact that takes a major step toward allowing the sale of sophisticated U.S. arms to India. ¶2. Secretary Clinton said New Delhi had approved two sites for U.S. companies to build nuclear power plants. Secretary Clinton said that PM Manmohan Singh had accepted an invitation to make a state visit to Washington ON November 24 in what would be the first such visit by a foreign leader under President Obama. As part their efforts to strengthen ties, the two countries reportedly agreed to form a "strategic dialogue" led by Secretary Clinton and Minister Krishna who will meet annually. -------------- G-8 N-STATEMENT NOT MEANT FOR INDIA: US -------------- ¶3. Commenting ON the Secretary Clinton's clarification that the G-8 declaration ON curbing transfer of enrichment and reprocessing technology would not apply to India, India's revered business daily said the Secretary had put "Obama's stamp ON India's unique NEW DELHI 00001514 002 OF 005 status in the world's civilian nuclear hierarchy." By doing so, the Secretary had made a clear distinction between India and rogue countries that attempt to get such technologies and items through inappropriate means, the paper said. -------------- -- NOTED FOREIGN EDITORS AND THEIR INTERPRETATIONS -------------- -- ¶4. In their first reactions, top foreign affairs journalists had different interpretations to offer ON the visit. "This is clearly a response from Washington to the perception in Delhi that the U.S. had forgotten India," Siddharth Varadarajan, strategic affairs editor of THE HINDU said. ¶5. "Soothing ruffled feathers in India about a perceived lack of interest by the Obama administration after the golden Bush years, Secretary Clinton talked about democracy being 'a stronger base for relationships than any other in the world.' Through her visit, Secretary Clinton successfully pressed the right buttons in India," wrote Indrani Bagchi, Foreign Editor, THE TIMES OF INDIA. ¶6. "The real desire of the Obama administration is to make India think big picture," wrote Pramitpal Chowdhury, Foreign Editor, THE HINDUSTAN TIMES. "The conclusion of an end-use-monitoring agreement is a major breakthrough as this opens the door for Indian purchases of high-technology weapons systems from the U.S. While this is lucrative for the US, these systems are necessary for "hardening" India's perimeter against terrorist attacks." -------------- EDITORIALS IN INDIA'S LEADING ENGLISH DAILIES -------------- ¶7. "FRANK AND FAIR," editorial in July 21 centrist, independent national English daily THE TIMES OF INDIA: "Hillary Clinton's visit to India has so far been according to script. She has made encouraging statements ON security issues, acknowledging that Pakistan hosts a syndicate of terror, though she has not been forthright in addressing India's concerns about the free run that the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish- e-Mohammed continue to enjoy in Pakistan. ¶8. "Clinton, who began her trip in Mumbai, is addressing a broad range of issues ON her maiden visit as secretary of state. This bodes well for bilateral ties between the two countries.... The canvas of Indo-US ties should however go beyond the terrorism motif. Clinton's expansive agenda ON her trip here is promising. Both sides have agreed to undertake more collaborative projects across a variety of fields, including energy and trade." ¶9. "THE SOFT TOUCH," editorial in July 20 centrist NEW DELHI 00001514 003 OF 005 English daily, DAILY NEWS & ANALYSIS: "US secretaries of state are hard-nosed realists, whose job is to travel the world and relentlessly pursue American interests.... Clinton is as hard-nosed as they come, but apart from discussing terrorism and climate change, why this warm and fuzzy side to her itinerary? First, Clinton is a woman of many parts and has even earlier shown a tendency towards education and social issues.... Let it also not be forgotten than Clinton is above all a politician. The earlier women secretaries of state, Madeleine Albright and Condoleezza Rice were basically international relations experts and policy wonks.... Clinton was never a folksy person like her husband, but she has schooled herself to meet with people from all walks of life and connect with them -- the true business of a politician.... Hillary Clinton's tour program therefore was no accident; it meets her as well as her government's objectives well." ¶10. "A DECENT PROPOSAL," editorial in July 21 pro- Congress Party, centrist English daily, THE HINDUSTAN TIMES: "Hillary Clinton's visit kicks off the India policy of the administration of Barack Obama. The United States Secretary of State has not arrived with a bushel of ready-to-sign agreements or offered a big ticket boost for bilateral relations.... This is the India-US V 3.0 that the Obama administration espouses: exploring how far India is prepared to sign up for long-term strategic solutions even when they have short-term domestic costs. The stuff, in other words, of what great powers are made of.... Ms Clinton, in effect, has invited India to partner the US as the world begins what may be the largest rewriting of the law of nations since the end of the Cold War. India cannot afford to ignore this offer..." -------------- "MAKE U.S. PICK UP ITS TAB" -------------- ¶11. In a not-so-unexpected display of skepticism, the pro-BJP English daily PIONEER editorialized that India can't toe the American line ON climate change. The paper said: "There is an imperious assumption among policy-makers in the US...that it is for Washington to command and the capitals of the developing world to supinely do America's bidding.... Having contributed the most to environmental degradation and climate change, the US and its Western allies now want the developing countries to pick up the tab for the damage.... Union Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh deserves to be applauded for forcefully presenting India's case before US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who, and understandably so, has used her visit to push the American line." ¶12. THE TELEGRAPH English daily, in the meanwhile, said: "If indeed India has agreed in principle to such verification, it is not the first time New Delhi has signaled its willingness to allow intrusive inspections of US-origin equipment in its arsenal." NEW DELHI 00001514 004 OF 005 -------------- COMMENTARY IN THE LANGUAGE PRESS -------------- ¶13. "HILLARY'S GESTURE OF GOODWILL," editorial in July 21 centrist Hindi daily, DAINIK BHASKAR: "Being her first trip to India after being appointed the Secretary of State, Hillary's first mandate was to establish a climate of goodwill. And that she did. Her gestures of goodwill were evident in her actions - staying at the Taj, meeting with its employees and signing the register with remarks of solidarity. Her gestures demonstrated that the U.S. understands India's pain of terrorism.... Hillary gave positive signs that the U.S. will keep up the heat ON Pakistan. Hopefully Pakistan will act against the Lashkar and Al Qaeda. In goading Pakistan to do so, America has an important role." ¶14. "MESSAGES IN HILLARY'S INDIA TRIP," editorial in July 21 nationalist Hindi daily, RASHTRIYA SAHARA: "Perhaps the most significant thing in Hillary Clinton's visit was not including Pakistan in the itinerary. That is a good sign. It shows that the U.S. is finally moving away from hyphenating India and Pakistan!" ¶15. "HILLARY CLINTON'S VISIT TO INDIA", editorial in July 20 right-of-center Urdu daily, HAMARA SAMAJ: "The warmth of mutual close relationship, expressed by the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton should be welcomed because it is natural. Its importance increases manifolds when a country is in the process of development. She expressed her views ON terrorism, global economy, climate change, non-proliferation treaty, etc. Some of them deserve our serious deliberations. Relations with the US are indeed a good initiative, but if the cost of friendship is high, we need to tread cautiously." ¶16. "HILLARY'S HOPE-GIVING VISIT," editorial in July 21 left-of-center Marathi daily, MAHARASHTRA TIMES: "Ever since the Obama administration took over, India wasn't sure of the course that U.S.-India bilateral relations would take henceforth. India was doubtful of the U.S. willingness to cooperate at various levels. But U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's India visit has served a definite positive purpose in this context. She has spelled out the U.S.' readiness to work together, especially in countering terrorism. Unlike the earlier whirlwind tours of high-level U.S. dignitaries, which were hurried affairs, Hillary Clinton's five-day interaction was welcome. More welcome is the fact that she started her tour with Mumbai and stayed at the Taj hotel, a one-time target of Pakistani terrorism. Even more commendable was her public appearances at St. Xavier's College and the SEWA women's store - a clear- cut effort to reach out to the common people of Mumbai, along with industrialists and economic experts." -------------- NEW DELHI 00001514 005 OF 005 NEGATIVE COMMENTARY -------------- ¶17. A section of the language press was not convinced about the U.S. intentions, or the fruitfulness of the Secretary's visit. Some editorial excerpts follow: ¶18. "MOOD OF CLINTON VISIT," editorial in July 21 independent Kannada daily, VIJAY KARNATAKA: "What was the purpose of Clinton's visit? India has not accepted the U.S. argument with regard to climate change. India is opposing CTBT from the beginning. Hillary has not even uttered a single harsh word against Pakistan about terror emanating from its soil." ¶19. "US SECRETARY OF STATE VISITS INDIA," editorial in July 20 right-of-center Urdu daily, RASHTRIYA SAHARA: "While some people of India are holding out their hands to Secretary Hillary Clinton, others are furious about her compliments to Pakistani politicians. Such attitude shows that America shall never seclude Pakistan, despite our close relations with the former." ¶20. "INDO-US RELATIONS," editorial in July 21 right-of- center Urdu daily, RASHTIYA SAHARA: "When American diplomats visit India, they say things India loves to hear. In Pakistan, they speak in a changed language and voice. It may not be the case with Hillary Clinton, but the U.S. approach toward India and Pakistan has always been two-faced.... How far will Hillary's assurances to India ON issues like terrorism stand true? Difficult to say!" ¶21. "CUNNING AMERICA," editorial in July 21 right-of- center Gujarati daily, GUJARAT SAMACHAR: "Be it President Bush or President Obama, be it Condoleezza Rice or Hillary Clinton, all are sides of the same coin. They have only one agenda and that is to pressure India. It is precisely with this agenda in mind that U.S. Secretary of State Clinton is in India to pressure India to sign the NPT and START a dialogue with Pakistan among other things... Despite Pakistan's complicity in the Mumbai terror attacks being proved beyond doubt, America provided Pakistan with millions of dollars in aid. If India wants to emerge as a global power, she needs to fully understand America's cunning nature." ROEMER