MEDIA REACTION: PM SINGH'S U.S. VISIT, NPT,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 002453 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: PM SINGH'S U.S. VISIT, NPT, COPENHAGEN; 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. -------------- PM SINGH'S U.S. VISIT -------------- ¶1. "INDIA, AMERICA IN THE NEW AGE," op-ed in December 6 Hindi daily, DAINIK JAGRAN: "PM Singh's U.S. trip was more about symbolism than substance. America's pledges to fight terror in India's neighborhood seem to be diplomatic. It remains to be seen if the US will really exert pressure on Pakistan to take action against anti- India terror groups. Although President Obama wrote to Zardari that the U.S. will no longer tolerate Islamabad's reluctance to act against Lashkar and other jihadi groups, Obama also praised Pakistan and promised a more enhanced U.S.-Pakistan relationship. On Af-Pak, there is concern in India as to what will happen when the US leaves the region, leaving India to grapple with the Taliban. India had hoped that the creases in the nuclear deal will be smoothened out during Singh's visit, but even that did not happen. Why is the US silent when it comes to endorsing India's name for the permanent membership of the UN Security Council? Finally, the US's tilt toward China is evident." --- NPT --- ¶2. "NPT AND INDIA IN CHANGING SCENARIO," op-ed in December 7 Hindi daily, DAINIK HINDUSTAN: "The NPT is still a big hurdle in the U.S.-India nuclear deal. India opposes nuclear weapons, but refuses to sign the NPT. We need to drop this contradiction. At the same time, it is true that the NPT is flawed and there are double standards at international level on the issue. The U.S. gave birth to the NPT; so the U.S. will have to make a respectable place in it for India." -------------- COPENHAGEN -------------- ¶3. "THE EARTH IS ONE," editorial in December 8 independent Kolkata Bengali, ANANDABAZAR PATRIKA: "India, the fourth largest polluting nation in the world, has to take responsibility to reduce pollution. By announcing its own goal of reducing carbon emission, India has gained morally with a right of mounting pressure on other nations to curb pollution." ¶4. "CHALLENGE BEFORE COPENHAGEN," editorial in December 8 Leftist Kolkata Bengali, GANASHAKTI: "The problem is that the adamant attitude of the U.S. puts a big hurdle before a smooth and effective implementation of the climate change policy. Every developed nation must adopt leading roles in reducing the intensity of carbon NEW DELHI 00002453 002 OF 002 emission. Developing nations also cannot evade their responsibility." ¶5. "CHALLENGES OF COPENHAGEN," editorial in December 8 Assamese left-of-center ASAMIYA PRATIDIN: "Reducing carbon emissions is a big challenge because there is no other way to save the environment. No single country, industry or individual should be exempted from observing strict emission norms. The Copenhagen Summit should take strong measures to ensure this." ¶6. "POLLUTION MEETINGS: FROM KYOTO TO COPENHAGEN," editorial in December 8 centrist Gujarati daily, DIVYA BHASKAR: "There seems to be no hope of a real solution on global warming. This is mainly due to the adamant approach by big nations, especially America, that even refused to accept the Kyoto protocol on green house emissions. All the talk about emission cuts is nothing but a strategy by the developed world to impede the development of poor nations by pressuring them to cut carbon emission rates." ROEMER