MEDIA REACTION: INDO-RUSSIAN NUCLEAR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 002481

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: INDO-RUSSIAN NUCLEAR
AGREEMENT, COPENHAGEN, AFGHANISTAN, PAKISTAN; 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.

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INDO-RUSSIAN NUCLEAR AGREEMENT
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1. "RUSSIA-INDIA NUCLEAR AGREEMENT," editorial in
December 11 Leftist Kolkata Bengali GANASHAKTI: "The
Indo-Russian nuclear agreement will have far reaching
effect on bilateral relationship. This pact offers more
facilities than the Indo-U.S. civilian nuclear deal.
Washington naturally faces terrible embarrassment.
While Russia is fully cooperating with India on
developing its nuclear energy capability, America
unethically wanted to obtain mileage with several
conditions. From that angle, the Indo-Russian pact is
much more positive."


2. "ENERGY OF COOPERATION," editorial in December 9
Hindi daily, DAINIK HINDUSTAN: "India-Russia relations
touched new heights in the economic-political and
nuclear sectors during PM Manmohan Singh's Moscow
visit. The India-Russia nuclear deal is far ahead of
the U.S.-India 123 agreement. The liberal India-Russia
nuclear deal is in the interest of both nations. The
Russian economy benefits from selling defense or energy
technology and equipment to India. And the latter gets
easily what it does not get from the West. The U.S.
imposes many conditions on the sale of defense
equipment, technology and reprocessing, but Russia does
not."

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COPENHAGEN
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3. "EXPECTATIONS FROM COPENHAGEN," op-ed in December 10
Hindi daily, DAINIK JAGRAN: "All eyes are on Copenhagen
where a new agreement to reduce greenhouse gases is
expected as the Kyoto Protocol ends in 2012. Many
countries have declared cuts in carbon emissions, but
unfortunately developed nations, which are major
polluters, want to impose it on developing countries.
What can be more ironical than the fact that the U.S.
has not yet signed the Kyoto Protocol? Developed
nations consume 88% of the world's natural resources,
despite being less in population. They should bear the
responsibility to reduce emissions."

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AFGHANISTAN
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4. "AMERICA TO BEGIN A NEW WAR," opinion in December 11
centrist Marathi Daily, PUDHARI: "President Obama was
widely criticized for also announcing the date for
withdrawal of troops along with the decision of sending

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extra troops to Afghanistan. No American President in
the past had made such a kind of announcement. After
all, what was the need to declare the date of
withdrawal of troops? The enemy gets a heads up of what
is going to happen because of such announcements."

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PAKISTAN
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5. "AMERICA'S FINAL WARNING TO PAKISTAN," opinion in
December 11 centrist Marathi daily, VARTAHAAR: "General
James Jones has warned the Pakistani army that if it is
not successful in its military action against Taliban
insurgents and terrorist groups then it would force the
US army into Pakistan. It would also be compelled to
increase the drone strikes in the area. The meaning
that could be implied from this is that America is not
content with Pakistan army's action against the Taliban
and Obama administration has come to the conclusion
that to relinquish the Taliban it has to send its
troops to Pakistan."
ROEMER