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.

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COMMENTARY IN URDU PRESS
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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."

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NEWS REPORTS IN URDU PRESS
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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)

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-- "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)

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ELECTRONIC MEDIA COVERAGE
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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