SPECIAL MEDIA REPORT: INDIAN MEDIA COVERAGE OF

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000698

SIPDIS

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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