SPECIAL MEDIA REPORT: INDIAN MEDIA COVERAGE OF

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 000679

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: SPECIAL MEDIA REPORT: INDIAN MEDIA COVERAGE OF
POTUS REMARKS IN TURKEY

SUMMARY: President Barack ObamaQs address to the Turkish
Parliament received wide media coverage in India. His
message of goodwill toward Islam was highlighted in news
reports in leading newspapers, television bulletins and
internet portals, and most significantly in all leading
Urdu newspapers of the country. Leading Urdu dailies,
read by millions of Muslims, highlighted the PresidentQs
remarks -- QThe United States is not, and will never be,
at war with Islam.Q In their headlines, pro-Islamic Urdu
newspapers also gave prominence to the PresidentQs
comments that America's relationship with the Muslim
world Qcannot, and will not, just be based upon
opposition to terrorism,Q and that the U.S. seeks a
Qbroader engagement based on mutual interest and mutual
respect.Q Overall, the reporting seen so far is
straightforward and objective. No editorial commentary
has yet appeared. END SUMMARY.

-- QNO WAR WITH ISLAM: OBAMA


1. Following is the full text of a Press Trust of India
(PTI) wire story that appeared in several leading English
language dailies, including THE INDIAN EXPRESS, THE
HINDU, THE ASIAN AGE and DECCAN HERALD:


2. (Begin text) DUBAI: Reaching out to the Muslim world,
President Barack Obama on Monday said the U.S. Qis not
and will never be at war with IslamQ as he sought to rope
in close ally Turkey in the critical fight against
terrorism. Addressing a packed Turkish Parliament, Mr.
Obama said: QLet me say this as clearly as I can. The
United States is not and never will be at war with Islam.
In fact, our partnership with the Muslim world is
critical ... in rolling back a fringe ideology that
people of all faiths reject,Q he said during his first
state visit to a Muslim nation after becoming U.S.
President in January.


3. Describing Turkey as a key ally in many areas
including the fight against terrorism, he said there
should be greater bond between Americans and Muslims. Mr.
ObamaQs visit is being closely watched by an Islamic
world that harbored deep distrust of his predecessor,
George W Bush. Mr. Obama clearly sought to draw a
distinction between Islam and terrorist groups like Al-
Qaeda saying the latter did not represent the vast
majority of Muslims. QAmericaQs relationship with the
Muslim world cannot and will not be based on opposition
to Al-Qaeda,Q he said, adding that the U.S. sought broad
engagement based upon Qmutual interests and mutual
respect.Q Mr. Obama also warned that Iran had to make a
choice between having a nuclear weapon and building a
better future for its people. (End text)

-- QUS IS NOT AT WAR WITH ISLAM, SAYS OBAMA


4. Following is an excerpt from an AFP wire story that
appeared in IndiaQs leading English newspaper THE TIMES
OF INDIA:


5. (Begin excerpt) ANKARA: US President Barack Obama on

NEW DELHI 00000679 002 OF 003


Monday seized upon his first symbolism-laced visit to the
Muslim world as US president to declare that the United
States is not and never will be at war with Islam. From
the well of the Turkish parliament, Obama warned "you
cannot put out fire with flames," arguing that brute
force alone could not thwart extremism as he sent a
flurry of coded messages throughout the Middle East.


6. Obama drew on his own biography as the son of a
believer as he sought to forge new trust with the Islamic
world, and portrayed Turkey as an example of a thriving
Muslim nation where faith and democracy could thrive
together. The president said US ties with the Muslim
world could not be simply defined by opposition to
terrorism, decades into a US struggle with extremism that
was sharpened by the September 11 attacks in 2001.


7. "The United States has been enriched by Muslim
Americans. Many other Americans have Muslims in their
family, or have lived in a Muslim-majority country -- I
know, because I am one of them." Obama also sent a fresh
olive branch to Iran, backed dialogue between Israel and
Syria and promised a new initiative within months to
improve healthcare, education, and trade with the Islamic
world.


8. He also attempted to ease bilateral relations with
Turkey that were bruised by former president George W.
Bush's decision to invade Iraq, and portrayed his hosts
as a pivotal player in the troubled region. "The United
States is not and never will be at war with Islam," Obama
told ranks of seated Turkish members of parliament, in a
speech occasionally punctuated by applause.


9. "We will listen carefully, bridge misunderstanding...
We will be respectful, even when we do not agree," said
Obama, promising to unveil specific programs on trade,
education and health care in the Muslim world. In his
latest attempt to frame his offer of dialogue with Iran,
Obama warned that the country he pointedly referred to as
"the Islamic Republic" must choose between its nuclear
drive or an embrace by the West. "Now, Iran's leaders
must choose whether they will try to build a weapon or
build a better future for their people."


10. Obama had said during his election campaign he would
give an important speech to a major Islamic forum within
his first 100 days in office. Aides said the Turkey trip
did not mark the expected address, but would not say when
or where it might appear. Obama also renewed US support
for a two-state solution in the Middle East. "That is a
goal that the parties agreed to in the roadmap and at
Annapolis. And that is a goal that I will actively pursue
as president," he said. Obama's remarks came after
Israel's new Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said last
week the 2007 Annapolis document did not bind Israel
though he did accept the roadmap as the basis for
progress. (End excerpt)

-- TV COVERAGE OF POTUSQS SPEECH


NEW DELHI 00000679 003 OF 003



11. Leading English news channel CNN-IBN carried clips of
the President, saying the U.S. is not at war with Islam
and that the relationship with the Muslim world will not
just be based on the U.S. position on terrorism. Major TV
new channels also carried wire stories on their websites
highlighting the PresidentQs remarks that the US is not
and never will be at war with Islam.

-- URDU PRESS COVERAGE


12. Most significantly, the PresidentQs speech played out
positively in IndiaQs Urdu language press. While the
reports were objective wire stories, appreciation was
visible in the some of the headlines and blurbs. The
countryQs most influential Urdu daily, SIASAT, published
from Hyderabad in South India, said in a headline -- QU.S
To Build Broader Relations with Muslim World -- ObamaQs
Message of Peace to Iran.


13. The lead headline in MUNSIF, another leading Urdu
daily from Hyderabad, said: QBarack Hussein Obama Gives
Message to Muslim World; Offers Pleasant Relationship
Based on Mutual Respect.Q Similar positive headlines
appeared in lead stories in ETEMAAD and RASHTRIYA SAHARA
Urdu dailies. Other mass-circulating language newspapers
of the country, including NAVBHARAT TIMES, AMAR UJALA,
VEER ARJUN and DAINIK BHASKAR (Hindi dailies) and
PRAJAVANI (Kannada daily) also prominently carried news
reports on the PresidentQs speech.
BURLEIGH