MEDIA REACTION: NUCLEAR ISSUES, COPENHAGEN,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 002559 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: 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. -------------- NUCLEAR ISSUES -------------- ¶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." -------------- COPENHAGEN -------------- ¶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." -------------- HEADLEY CASE -------------- ¶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 NEW DELHI 00002559 002 OF 002 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." -------------- IRAN -------------- ¶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