SPECIAL MEDIA REPORT: INDIAN MEDIA COVERAGE OF

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000698 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 (Continued) SUMMARY: Two leading Indian Urdu dailies cautiously welcomed President Obama's message of goodwill in his April 6, 2009, address to the Turkish Parliament. While they welcomed the President's remarks, both papers in April 8 editorials said that the true sign of his sincerity would be a complete U.S. withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan. END SUMMARY. -- COMMENTARY IN THE URDU PRESS ¶1. "BARACK OBAMA AND ISLAM" editorial in April 8 right- of-center Urdu daily SIASAT: "President Barack Obama's significant remarks at the Turkish parliament indicate that he does not intend to repeat the follies of his predecessor George W. Bush, but rather establish a broader engagement with the Muslim world. Obama's speech goes a long way in inspiring trust among the Muslims of the world. But Mr. Obama will ultimately be judged by his actions. If he is truly sincere and does not want war with Islam, as a first step, he should withdraw forces from Iraq and Afghanistan and announce the entry of Turkey into the European Union." ¶2. "PRESIDENT OBAMA NEEDS TO BE PRACTICAL," editorial in April 8 right-of-center Urdu daily MUNSIF: "President Obama's willingness to build cordial relations with the Islamic world comes as a breath of tranquility, after a long period of storms. But Obama needs to walk his talk. First of all he should support Turkey which is not being included in the European Union only because of its Islamic identity. Secondly, President Obama should also end the U.S. occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan and stop aerial attacks on Pakistan which are causing the deaths of innocent people. Above all, he should stop America's blind support of Israel and make sincere efforts to establish an independent state for the Palestinian people. Only then can the United States convince the Islamic world that it is a friend." -- "OBAMA MEETS RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN EFFORT TO UNITE MODERATES OF MAJOR FAITHS AGAINST EXTREMISM" - URDU NEWSPAPERS ¶3. Other leading Urdu newspapers continued to highlight the President's engagements on his second and last day in Turkey. ETEMAAD, a leading Urdu newspaper published in Hyderabad, reported that as part of an effort to unite moderates of major faiths against extremism, President Obama met religious leaders in Istanbul. He also reportedly toured Turkey's most important mosque, the Blue Mosque, and other places of historic importance accompanied by the Turkish PM. ¶4. Urdu daily MUNSIF, in addition to the editorial cited in para 2 also highlighted that President Obama's message of peace was welcomed in the entire Arab world. Media as well as leaders of Egypt, Libya, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia were highly appreciative of President's willingness to rebuild the lost trust of the Muslim world in the United States. NEW DELHI 00000698 002 OF 002 ¶5. SIASAT, India's most influential Urdu newspaper, also highlighted the President's "respectful" tour of the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sofia. The paper said President Obama finished his trip with an appeal to Turkish youth that "you can choose to make new bridges instead of new walls" and "the world will be what you make of it" ¶6. Two leading Urdu dailies published in Eastern India, AKHBAR-E-MASHRIQ and AZAD HIND, carried similar wire service stories and photos showing President Obama inside a mosque. BURLEIGH