SPECIAL MEDIA REPORT: INDIAN MEDIA COVERAGE OF

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 002242 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 MEDIA REPORT: INDIAN MEDIA COVERAGE OF SECSTATE REMARKS IN MOROCCO SUMMARY: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's address to the Forum for the Future in Morocco and her meetings with Arab foreign ministers received wide coverage in India's Urdu print and electronic media. PAS New Delhi placed the full text of the speech in several leading Urdu media outlets which reach millions of Muslims in India. Leading Urdu dailies highlighted the Secretary's message of goodwill toward Muslims, and noted the Secretary's reaffirmation of the U.S. commitment to broad engagement with Muslim communities around the world. However, the press voiced criticism over the view that Washington has not changed its stance on Israeli settlements in the West Bank, a cause of consternation among India's Muslims. In addition to these news reports, one op-ed criticized the U.S. for its support for Israel on the issue of settlements. Below are headlines from the Urdu media, including circulation estimates for the newspapers and television stations covering the address. END SUMMARY. -------------- COMMENTARY IN URDU PRESS -------------- ¶1. "PALESTINE-ISRAEL CONFLICT AND AMERICA," commentary in November 5 right-of-center Urdu daily, SIASAT: "U.S Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has been completely unsuccessful in convincing Arab leaders that the United States is adopting a serious attitude to stop construction of Jewish settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory in West Bank." -------------- NEWS REPORTS IN URDU PRESS -------------- ¶2. The following are news reports in leading Urdu language newspapers: -- "The U.S wants to have a close relationship with Muslim world; No shift in U.S policy on Jewish settlements" -- RASHTRIYA SAHARA (circulation 177,338) -- "Clinton offers to forge better relationship with Islamic world; Hillary Clinton withdraws from her previous stand on Middle East" -- SIASAT (circulation 40,742) -- "The U.S will forge a good relationship with Muslim World; Projects on educational, economic development to be offered; No change in U.S. policy on Jewish settlements; U.S firm on its stand to stop construction of Jewish settlements immediately: Clinton" -- AKHBAR- E-MASHRIQ (circulation 80,000) -- "Israel falls short of US expectations on construction of settlements: Clinton" -- SAHAFAT (circulation 60,850) -- "No change in US policy on Jewish settlements: Clinton" -- HINDUSTAN EXPRESS (circulation 48,000) NEW DELHI 00002242 002 OF 002 -- "The U.S is serious on relationship with Muslim world; Jewish settlements not legal; no shift in policy; Hillary Clinton makes effort to convince Arab leaders" -- ETEMAAD (circulation 45,620) -- "No shift in U.S stand on Jewish settlements; Arabs and Israelis should come forward for peace talks: Clinton" -- INQUILAB (circulation 35,438) -- "America assures help for building relationship with Muslim world" -- MUNSIF (circulation 60,452) -- "U.S. to foster good relations with Muslim countries" -- AZAD HIND (circulation 12,000) -- "U.S. bows to Israel" -- ROZNAMA SAHARA (circulation 20,000) -- "Israel not taking right step on the issue of settlement" -- AABSHAAR (circulation 10,000) -- "U.S. to do everything for better relations with Muslims" -- AABSHAAR (circulation 10,000) -------------- ELECTRONIC MEDIA COVERAGE -------------- ¶3. The speech was telecast as a news item in all 12 network channels of Eenadu TV (including ETV-Urdu). The estimated viewership of the network is 20 million. ROEMER