MEDIA REACTION: INDIA-PAKISTAN RELATIONS,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 NEW DELHI 001583

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: MEDIA REACTION: INDIA-PAKISTAN RELATIONS,
NUCLEAR ISSUES, WTO DOHA, CLIMATE CHANGE; NEW DELHI.

This countrywide cable reports on relevant media
reaction/opinion from India's large non-English press.
The Mission reports on English-language media via email
through the daily "Early Edition" summary.

--------------
UNCLASSIFIED
PA:07/29/2009
PA:LSCHWARTZ/MMACY
PA:MMACY:AVAZ
PA:LSCHWARTZ
PAX

AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI
SECSTATE WASHDC

FOR JEAN VANDER WOUDE TRAINING COORDINATOR; KERRY MOLINELLI PROGRAM
COORDINATOR; BRUCE HAMILTON PROGRAM ASSISTANT

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL IN
SUBJECT: FSI Call for Nominations for FY-10 Public Diplomacy Locally
Employed Staff Training - July 31 Deadline

REF: STATE 00060163

1.(U) Below is a list of Mission nominations for FSI FY-10 Public
Diplomacy LES training courses.


A. Name of Nominee: Raja Bhattacharya

Course to attend: PY205 Advanced Training for Senior Seminar for PD
LES. This course is designed specifically for LES who have been in
their position for more than 10 years or who currently occupy a
senior position in the Public Affairs Section and Raja is an ideal
candidate on both counts.

Length of Service: 15 years.

Previous FSI course attended: None

Raja has been a key member of the New Delhi PA team for 15 years and
has held a succession of increasingly responsible positions in the
section, rising from LES 9 to his current position as an LES 11 and
backup to the LES 12 Country Media Advisor. He has never attended a
Washington-based FSI course and given the increased focus on special
media reporting keyed to White House initiatives - reporting which
Raja coordinates for all 5 of our posts countrywide and which is
being read at the NSC on a regular basis. The time is right for him
to get direct exposure to the U.S. His written reporting is superb,
going out from our Minister Counselor for Public Affairs with
virtually no editing, testament to Raja's superb and fluent
English.

As a senior LES in the press section, the Indian media often refers
to Raja for information and views on anything and everything
American. Without the opportunity to experience it for himself, he
sometimes finds himself less up-to-date about US life, society and
institutions than his Indian media colleagues. There is unlimited
interest in American and Americans in India, and the chance for Raja
to participate in FSI training at this point in his career would pay

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dividends many times over, for many years, in his daily interactions
with Indian print, TV and internet journalists. Raja's knowledge of
and exposure to the U.S. will be of particular importance as he
expands our outreach to the Urdu and Hindi media in North India,
where his understanding of US foreign policy, governance and society
is particularly relevant. North India's language press has
relatively low levels of exposure to the U.S. and apprehensions and
misperceptions abound. Raja's selection for training at FSI will be
critical in helping him dispel misconceptions about the U.S in this
key outreach audience.


B. Name of Nominee: Jyoti Chanana

Course to attend: PY Senior Seminar for PD LES Section 1 October 24
- November 7, 2009/ Section 2 April 17 - May 1, 2010.

Length of service: 17 years

Previous FSI course attended: None

Jyoti Chanana is a senior Reference Librarian at American Library,
New Delhi. She handles reference queries on U.S. government
processes, democracy and human rights, economic perspectives and
global issues from key audience and scholars from various
universities, think tanks and NGOs. Being the seat of the Indian
government, the Delhi library receives queries from
parliamentarians, senior government officials, lawyers, media and
academics as well as the youth audiences. She interacts directly
with key contacts, who are policy makers or who influence policy
making in the country. She is responsible for reaching out to key
audiences, the government, media, academia, professionals, and young
students, handles a variety of library programs and volunteers for
larger PA programs. She also conducts group activities and organizes
library professional group visits for orientation of library
services.

It would enhance Jyoti's understanding of the U.S. life and culture
and better equip her in promoting USG policy goals. She will also
have a better understanding of planning and executing programs,
integrating the library activities with post programming and enhance
her public diplomacy skills and public relations. She will also be
able to share her experience with the entire library team. Jyoti
has been working in the Library for 17 years and she has not yet
been sent for a Foreign Service National Employees Training Program.
She is a dedicated member of the Library and the larger CAO staff.


C. Name of nominee: Sanjay Bhagat

Course to attend: PY206 program (Foreign Service Nationals
Information Resource Center Programs)

Length of service: 5 years

Previous FSI course attended: None

Sanjay Bhagat's position serves as a bibliographer in an all India
American Library system, and is general editor for IRO's two
bimonthly bibliographic publications produced for countrywide
distribution -- Article & Web Alert: Digest of Journal Articles of
Significant Interest and Book Alert: American Libraries in India.
Based on MSP themes, researches, evaluates and selects materials.

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Writes the introductory editorial essay of the focus section of
Article & Web Alert. Writes annotations for books and journal
articles. Compiles the annual Union List of Serials and CD-ROMs.
The job involves serious reference research work including data
mining and filtering information from various Online and CD-ROM
based information products like ProQuest, EBSCOHOST, Gale
International, Project Muse, Lexis Nexis, Factiva etc., which call
for gaining effective edge in handling these sources of information
and be able to retrieve the best for the library patrons and other
subscribers of the publications. The position also needs to be
updated about various sources of information on U.S. government.
Further, PY206 training will enhance this position's insights into
the social fabrication of the United States and its contemporary
library practices and will facilitate better understanding of the
U.S. social and political values.


D. Name of Nominee: Nilanjan Hajra
Course to attend: PY 205; FSI; section two, April 17-May 1, 2010
Length of Service: 12 years

Previous FSI course attended: In 2000: Public Diplomacy FSN Training
Program: Information/Media program

Nilanjan Hajra: As an Information Specialist and the Audio-Visual
(AV) Section Chief in the press section at the U.S. Consulate in
Kolkata, India, Nilanjan is one of the senior members of the staff
(an FSN 10) responsible for advising the Consul General and the
Public Affairs Officer on all media-related issues. He is
specifically responsible for liaising with the top decision-makers
of all local TV channels, radio stations, and internet news portals
throughout the Kolkata Consular District, a region home to more than
300 million. This region of India has been dominated by nearly four
decades of rule by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI (M))
and our engagement with the electronic media here is crucial to
airing and advancing U.S. interests in the region. Considering the
rapid increase in the number of TV channels and radio stations
across eastern India, the responsibility of his position will
continue to increase.

Nilanjan's position is also involved in planning media strategies
for all major events held at the Consulate, including Public Affairs
programs, all press conferences, and the Consul General's public
appearances. Contributing to media-reaction reports is a further
responsibility. Nilanjan also organizes major film festivals,
including spearheading the Consulate's participation in the annual
Kolkata Film Festival. His office also oversees the many digital
video conferences that the consulate arranges each year.

Nilanjan's position demands an in-depth understanding of key U.S.
policies and an ability to incorporate these into the planning and
programming strategies of the Consulate. The PY 205 training will
provide him with the opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge
base required to perform his responsibilities with optimal success.
At FSI, he will interact with policy makers and analysts to develop
the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively promote U.S.
policy objectives through the local media and adjunct programs.
Given his more than 12 years of experience with the USG and his
media contacts, we expect that Nilanjan's training will have a
multiplier effect in the local community.


E. Name of Nominee: Nilopala Sen

NEW DELHI 00001583 004 OF 004


Course to attend: PY 206; FSI; June 6-22, 2010
Length of service: 22 years

Previous FSI course attended: None

Nilotpala Sen a key librarian at the American Library, also called
the Information Resource Center (IRC) in Kolkata, India, works in
both the reference and the circulation sections. She has worked at
the American Library in Kolkata for 22 years. Information Resource
Center Training (PY 206) will support Nilotpala's further
professional development as a reference librarian, enabling her to
advance U.S. interests in the region. Firsthand exposure to U.S.
society is necessary for her to be an effective and credible
advocate for the IRC and its programs. Her work demands familiarity
with the education, culture, politics, and geography of the U.S.A.
American interests face many challenges in the political environment
of eastern India, a region with more than three decades of communist
rule. Therefore, it is critical that the U.S. Government provide
the necessary training for employees to most effectively represent
its interests here.

Nilotpala will learn best practices and techniques to better manage
limited IRC resources. She will learn how to reach target audiences
and achieve important institutional goals such as fostering a better
understanding and appreciation of American society. Membership in
the IRC has increased from 1,900 members three years ago to nearly
5,000 members today. Nilotpala's training will enable her to better
address the needs of our members.


F. Name of nominee: Melina Gomes

Course to attend:PY207 Press/Media Tradecraft Training, March 12-27,
2010

Length of Service: complete 10 years August 29, 2009

Previous FSI course attended: Workshop for Senior NIV FSNs (PC121)
in February 2004, in Washington DC.
Workshop on FSN Supervisory Skills (PC248) in February 2007, in New
Delhi

Melina Gomes has extensive Consulate experience--having worked for
both USAID and the Consular Section in the past--but has a less
developed understanding of media and how a press officer operates.
Although she has been to the US before, her trip only took her to
Washington for very focused consular training. The Media Tradecraft
training, which is far broader and also encompasses areas outside
Washington DC, is essential for her to gain a better understanding
of how the USG, specifically the State Department, operates and for
her to also learn more about the tools and duties of a press
officer. In her first week, she successfully completed all the FSI
press office distance learning courses. From an early stage, it was
clear that she is a quick learner. She proved her potential during
the recent visit of Secretary Clinton, where she deftly coordinated
media invitations to the various events. Allowing her to go on the
FNEP as soon as possible will make her an even more valuable asset
to the team.
ROEMER