MEDIA REACTION: COPENHAGEN, HEADLEY CASE,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 002553 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: COPENHAGEN, HEADLEY CASE, PAKISTAN, 26/11 MUMBAI TERROR ATTACKS; 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. -------------- COPENHAGEN -------------- ¶1. "KYOTO KILLED," editorial in December 21 Hindi daily, RASHTRIYA SAHARA: "There were hopes of forging binding agreements in Copenhagen and making the US sign it. Who expected Kyoto would be killed! But that is what happened. Neither were the developing countries able to obtain technology to cut carbon emissions. However, the developed nations' agreeing to the billion-dollar aid to developing and poor countries to deal with natural calamities is some sort of an achievement." ¶2. "GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT AND IMMODERATE BIG POWERS," op- ed in December 22 right-of-center Urdu daily RASHTRIYA SAHARA: "Major countries, particularly America and Europe, want to close mills and factories with chimneys down on the pretext of controlling greenhouse gas emissions and let their industries capture our markets. The extraordinary concentration, interest and effort of American President Barack Obama also verify the aforesaid apprehension. Most probably, for this reason, our government has explained explicitly that interest of India will not be compromised at any cost and the world community will have to share equally in efforts to control the climate change." ¶3. "COPENHAGEN CONFERENCE: AN EFFORT TO CUT AND RUN," editorial in December 22 right-of-center Urdu daily MUNSIF: "How rich countries dominated over the conference could be assessed by the fact that no greenhouse gas emission limits were prescribed for them. In 1997, the most inglorious former American President George W. Bush had explicitly refused to accept Kyoto. On the other hand, the developing countries are still bound by this agreement and their gas emissions will be supervised. Moreover, in case of violation, sanctions may also be imposed on them. In short, results of success will not appear very soon, but the effects of its failure will not remain undisclosed for long." ¶4. "FAILURE OF COPENHAGEN" editorial in December 23 Guwahati Assamese left-of-center AMAR ASOM: "The Copenhagen Summit has disappointed the world community. Although the developed countries proposed to reduce carbon emissions by 25% by 2020, the draft of the 'Climate Change Agreement' does not mention anything about the measures that these countries should take." -------------- HEADLEY CASE -------------- NEW DELHI 00002553 002 OF 002 ¶5. "PAYING FOR TOO MUCH DEPENDENCY ON AMERICA" editorial in December 23 Kolkata Bengali leftist daily GANASHAKTI: "Questions are being raised about America's cooperation on the Headley issue...as the U.S. has declined to divulge information on the nature of its involvement with the Lashkar-e-Taiba. Clearly, the Obama Administration does not want to make Pakistan's position awkward in the current situation because Pakistani support is necessary for America to deal with the problems of Afghanistan and the Taliban. India, therefore, is paying the price for the UPA government's overdependence on Washington." -------------- PAKISTAN -------------- ¶6. "PAKISTAN IN TROUBLE," editorial in December 22 Hindi daily, NAI DUNIYA: "The Pakistan Supreme Court has scrapped an amnesty on corruption charges against 247 leaders, including President Zardari. This is big trouble for Zardari. A political crisis is imminent in Pakistan, and it will affect the Pakistani government's ability to effectively fight terrorism. The saga of Pakistan's internal problems doesn't seem to end, putting a question mark on the country's role in the war against terror!" -------------- 26/11 MUMBAI TERROR ATTACKS -------------- ¶7. "26/11: BITTER TRUTHS,' editorial in left-of-center Marathi daily, LOKSATTA: "The Ram Pradhan committee report on the 26/11 terror attack accuses the Mumbai police, especially the Mumbai Police Commissioner Hasan Gafoor of not taking command when the perpetrators wreaked havoc in Mumbai for four continuous days. Mumbai Police not only lacked proper arms and equipment, but there was also a clear disconnect between the state government and the police. These are not some major revelations, or unknown facts. The point is that if such an attack happens again, have the administrators and police gained any greater readiness for counterattack? Or are we ready to be taken unawares for the Nth time?" ROEMER