MEDIA REACTION: PRIME MINISTER SINGH'S

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 002403 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: PRIME MINISTER SINGH'S WASHINGTON VISIT, COPENHAGEN SUMMIT; 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. -------------- PRIME MINISTER SINGH'S WASHINGTON VISIT -------------- ¶1. "MANMOHAN SINGH'S SUCCESSFUL AMERICA VISIT: BOTH [NATIONS] NEED EACH OTHER," editorial in November 29 centrist Gujarati daily, GUJARATMITRA: "The number of accords signed in the field on defense, science and technology, trade and commerce, education, etc., by the United States and India during Indian Prime Minister Singh's visit to the U.S. indicates the positive approach in the bilateral relationship between the two nations. However, India needs to tread cautiously and should not become America's lapdog vis-`-vis America's foreign policy objectives. Also President Obama's commitment to the Indo-U.S. civilian nuclear deal without making India sign CTBT or NPT is indicative of America's interests in strengthening bilateral relations between both nations." ¶2. "MANMOHAN SINGH'S VISIT TO U.S WAS IN THE INTERESTS OF COUNTRY AND COUNTRYMEN," editorial in November 28 right-of-center Urdu daily AKHBAR-E-MASHRIQ: "Although not a single historic agreement was signed during the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's recent visit to Washington, it would not be justified to declare the visit a failure. In fact, we have achieved a lot from this visit. The visit established the fact that India has an important place in the foreign policy of the United States. It also successfully defused the impression that the U.S has tilted towards China. President Obama also reassured India that it is a valued strategic partner. The Obama administration recognized India as a nuclear power without questioning why India has yet not signed the NPT. Now we should expect that India and the U.S will finalize the fuel reprocessing agreement very soon. America also supported India's stand to destroy terrorists' hide outs in Pakistan." ¶3. "NEW RELATIONS, NEW SIGNIFICANCE," op-ed in November 29 left-of-center Marathi daily, MAHARASHTRA TIMES: "It is clear that both the U.S. and India are eager to take their bilateral relationship forward, and quite irrespective of the POLITICAL context provided by China and Pakistan. In fact, Prime Minister Singh's visit has clarified that President Obama does not wish to grant any special status to China in the South Asian dynamics. Hope China also gets the message and does not try to play the mediator in any of the tangles involving India." -------------- COPENHAGEN SUMMIT -------------- NEW DELHI 00002403 002 OF 002 ¶4. "A PRECURSOR TO THE COPENHAGEN SUMMIT," editorial in November 30 left-of-center Marathi daily, LOKSATTA: "Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statements at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Port of Spain carry great significance in the wake of the upcoming Copenhagen summit on climate change. Singh did not mince words while stating that India is willing to commit itself to an ambitious global target for emissions reduction, but that must be accompanied by an equitable burden sharing paradigm. He reiterated India's view that the Copenhagen outcome must be equitable and legally binding on developed countries as well." ROEMER