SPECIAL MEDIA REPORT: PRIME MINISTER SINGH'S

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 NEW DELHI 002397 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: PRIME MINISTER SINGH'S WASHINGTON VISIT SUMMARY: Prime Minister Singh's Washington visit, while generating mixed reviews, found a largely positive though measured reception in the Indian press. Several reports emphasized that, although there were no big ticket announcements, the visit bode well for continued meaningful engagement and a new direction to the U.S.- India strategic partnership. Some analysts said the visit dispelled fears over the perceived tilt of the U.S. towards China. While President Obama was perceived reassuring Prime Minister Singh of India's priority, demands were made to "convert symbolism into substance." Reports called on Prime Minister Singh to leverage a more helpful position of the U.S. in the region for dealing with India's two nuclear neighbors and the fight against terrorism among other key issues. Many reports, however, argued that, despite the hype and glamour of the state dinner, the visit lacked substance, and that the Obama administration was not taking India seriously. Reports called a "let-down" the two countries' perceived failure to reach agreement on reprocessing nuclear fuel, further noting that the bilateral relationship is "living on past credit rather than current commitments." END SUMMARY. -------------- MATURING TIES AND THE WAY FORWARD -------------- ¶1. "MATURING TIES," editorial in centrist, independent English daily, THE TIMES OF INDIA: "The outlook for Indo-US ties going forward is substantive, though it might not be spectacular, and promises decent dividends. It is in India's interests to push through more market reforms and scale up its economic clout as it seeks a solid equation with the US and a greater say in global affairs. Upon his return, this should top Singh's agenda." ¶2. "BETWEEN FRIENDS," editorial in English daily, THE INDIAN EXPRESS: "Having won the necessary strategic reassurance from the White House, it is now up to Delhi to think more creatively about the India-US relationship and develop some big ideas for Obama's planned visit to Delhi next year." ¶3. "THE AMERICAN GRAFFITI READS...," editorial in centrist, independent English daily, HINDUSTAN TIMES: "Obama reassured Singh that India is a priority. Now to convert symbolism into substance. The summit was a success in sketching a roadmap for the future of the relationship. The test will be to see how well the map can be navigated in the real world." ¶4. "A GOOD VISIT, BUT DON'T OVER-HYPE IT," editorial in independent English daily, DECCAN CHRONICLE: "Prime Minister Singh's state visit to the United States earlier this week has on the whole ended on a positive note. A key objective of the trip was to gauge the current climate in Washington regarding India's own rise. The earlier George W. Bush administration was NEW DELHI 00002397 002 OF 004 remarkable in that it gave India wide room in the region, opened doors for it internationally through the civil nuclear agreement in the face of stiff opposition from nuclear hawks at home and sharp resentment in China and Pakistan, and invested in a bilateral ties across a broad range." ¶5. "CAPITOL IDEA," editorial in centrist English daily, THE TELEGRAPH: "There was the lurking fear that the bonhomie that existed between India and the US during the presidency of George W. Bush would not endure during Mr. Obama's term. All such gloomy predictions have been dispelled. Thus both in terms of politics and economics, the Indo-US relationship is Buttressed by genuine areas of cooperation that benefit both countries." ¶6. "DIPLOMATIC SUCCESS," editorial in left-of-center Bengali daily, SAMBAD PRATIDIN: "The diplomatic success that Manmohan Singh has been able to achieve during his Washington visit to corner neighboring Pakistan on the eve of the 26/11 anniversary deserves congratulation. It is now being felt that after Singh's visit the relations between the two countries would be strengthened. Obama's accepting the Prime Minister's invitation to visit India in 2010 has also sent new signals in the international arena. This is the success of India." ¶7. "WHAT'S INDISPENSABLE?" article in English daily, THE INDIAN EXPRESS: To be fixated on comparisons with US-China ties is to miss the point. The emphasis is on economic, technological and R&D cooperation and joint efforts to bring about a knowledge century are perhaps the most meaningful results of this summit. That does not have the sex appeal of the Indo-US nuclear deal, but this is a solid foundation for the Indo-US cooperative effort. ¶8. "MANMOHAN4S SINGH'S STRAIGHT TALK," editorial in Hindi daily, AMAR UJALA: "PM Singh's U.S. visit is significant in many ways. This visit strategically opens many such doors. While India has misgivings about President Obama's joint communiqu in Beijing, U.S.- India relations are truly at a warm people-to-people level. Above all, it was remarkable how PM Singh minced no words in protesting American protection to China and Pakistan. That is no mean achievement!" -------------- THE ASIAN BALANCE -------------- ¶9. "SINGH, OMABA AND THE ASIAN BALANCE," op-ed by C. Raja Mohan in English daily, THE FINANCIAL EXPRESS: "Singh's gains in Washington are certainly reversible given the fact that US stakes are real and high in both Beijing and Islamabad. Having moved the US towards a more helpful position in relation to India's challenges vis-a-vis China and Pakistan, Singh must now fully leverage it by demonstrating diplomatic agility and NEW DELHI 00002397 003 OF 004 strategic purposefulness in dealing with its two nuclear neighbours. The GAME has just begun." ¶10. "TAKE AWAY FROM WASHINGTON," op-ed by K. Subrahmanyam in centrist English daily, THE TIMES OF INDIA: "President Obama appreciated India's role in reconstruction and rebuilding efforts in Afghanistan. The two leaders agreed to enhance their respective efforts in this direction. With this statement President Obama has made it clear he did not endorse the apprehensions expressed by the Pakistanis and accepted by some Americans including General McChrystal that Indian development activities in Afghanistan were a cause for concern for Pakistan." ¶11. "FLOODS OF PRAISE: WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF PM'S VISIT TO THE U.S.?" editorial in independent Kannada daily, VIJAYA KARNATAKA: "The only significant gain of Prime Minister Singh's visit to the U.S. is that the grand welcome reception. America did not extend categorical support to India's stand in important matters. While praising Prime Minister Singh on one side, President Obama, on the other side, had laid his hands on the shoulders of China and Pakistan." ¶12. "WISDOM DAWNS ON OBAMA," editorial in centrist Marathi daily, NAVSHAKTI: "The popular impressions of U.S. appeasement of China, created after U.S. President Obama's China visit, were somewhat mellowed down after the one and a half hour meeting between the president and the Indian Prime Minister Singh. Both the leaders have spoken in one voice against terrorism of all kinds. The next logical step in the U.S.-India bilateral relationship is the actual action plan to deactivate the terrorist bases operating from Pakistani soil." ¶13. "APKA SWAGAT HAI, SAYS OBAMA," editorial in November 27 centrist Marathi daily, PRAHAR: "It is quite clear that Obama values India as a crucial ally in South Asia. After his China visit, political observers had made conclusions about his obvious tilt towards China. But the openness with which Singh spoke about China and Pakistan shows Obama is aware of India's role in the geo-politics of the region." -------------- LACKING SUBSTANCE -------------- ¶14. "LAST MILE IN THE NUCLEAR DEAL," editorial in left- of-center English daily, THE HINDU : "There can be little question that the failure to reach agreement on the arrangements and procedures for reprocessing spent American fuel on Indian soil during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to the United States is a let- down. The fact that the two sides were looking at the agreement as a major deliverable from the visit suggests the bilateral relationship is living on past credit rather than current commitments. India must act on the realization that there is no reason for it to NEW DELHI 00002397 004 OF 004 lose sleep over the delay in settling the reprocessing issue." ¶15. "A DEAL GONE SOUR," article by Bramha Chellaney in English daily, DNA: "The ritzy state dinner US president Barack Obama hosted in honour of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the White House could not obscure the fact that Singh's visit yielded little in substance." ¶16. "NO SUBSTANCE," editorial in left-of-center Kannada daily, PRAJAVANI: "The meeting between Prime Minister Singh and US President Obama has not achieved anything significant. President Obama has given several assurances with regard to many issues including civil nuclear deal, climate change, but none of them are concrete. US President Obama did not yield to India's request to put more pressure on Pakistan with regard to 26/11 terror strikes and he did not make any categorical statement in that regard." ¶18. "FROM AMERICA WITH A SMILE," article in English daily, THE PIONEER: "Irrespective of what Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's spin doctors in South Block say, it is as plain as daylight that the Obama Administration is not taking India seriously." ZEYA