MEDIA REACTION: NUCLEAR ISSUES, COPENHAGEN,

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E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL IN
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: NUCLEAR ISSUES, COPENHAGEN,
HEADLEY CASE, IRAN; 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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NUCLEAR ISSUES
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1. "SECURITY OVERLOOKED IN U.S. INTEREST," op-ed
article by leftist leader Prakash Karat in December 23
Hindi daily, AMAR UJALA: "The proposed Nuclear End Use
Bill is brought by the government to meet U.S. demands...
It is noteworthy that Russian and French suppliers have
not raised such demands. Accepting this demand is
bowing to the U.S. The U.S.-India nuclear deal
sacrifices the nation's interests. The government
cannot be allowed to put the nation's security at
stake. All the political parties should unite and
oppose the proposed bill to protect the country's basic
interests."

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COPENHAGEN
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2. "RAW DEAL IN COPENHAGEN," commentary in December 24
Hindi daily, DAINIK JAGRAN: "The Copenhagen summit
could not reach a legally-binding agreement, but it got
developing countries on board with a political
commitment. Now this political commitment will become
the basis of future international talks. President
Barack Obama got two brownie points. He didn't enter
into any binding commitments, but got important
developing countries to jettison the Kyoto Protocol, at
least in a de facto sense... Copenhagen shows that
climate change is less science and more geopolitics, in
which the rich and powerful perform well."


3. "CLIMATE AGREEMENT" editorial in December 23
Guwahati Assamese centrist DAINIK AGRADOOT:"The deal
concluded between President Obama and the four BASIC
countries is unlikely to play an effective role in
regulating environmental pollution... On the contrary, it
may jeopardize the solidarity of the G-77 countries... By
just giving financial assistance...the rich nations
simply cannot expect developing countries such as
China, India, Brazil or South Africa to slow down their
progress. Seemingly, the agreement will help only
America but not the developing nations to fulfill their
agenda."

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HEADLEY CASE
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4. "HEADLEY AND CO." editorial in December 24 right-of-
center Gujarati daily, GUJARAT SAMACHAR: "The FBI has
saved India from possible terror strikes by
apprehending David Headley and his accomplice Husain
Rana... Had they not been arrested both these men would

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have inflicted even more deadly terror strikes on
India. Besides, Headley's case has also proved hollow
India's own visa procedures and the security screening
of foreign travelers entering into India."

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IRAN
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5. "IRAN IS SIMMERING," editorial in December 24
centrist Marathi daily, NAVSHAKTI: "Iran's latest
missile test is one of its provocative actions,
executed in the teeth of mounting pressure and scrutiny
of the international community. Iran has dared to test-
fire an advanced version of a medium-range missile with
a range that would allow it to reach targets inside
Israel... That has raised the eyebrows of the Obama
administration, which has warned Iran against any
clandestine nuclear program... Insofar as India is
concerned, we have to just wait and watch and react
cautiously, considering the various commercial
interests that bind Iran and India together."
ROEMER