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PP RUEHBI RUEHCI
DE RUEHNE #2849/01 3101119
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P 051119Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 002849 
 
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: ECONOMIC CRISIS, U.S. 
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, IRAN-PAKISTAN-INDIA GAS PIPELINE 
AGREEMENT; NEW DELHI. 
 
This cable reports on relevant media reaction from 
India's large non-English press. Embassy New Delhi 
reports on English-language media via email in the daily 
"Early Edition".  USG customers please write to Geeta 
Krishali (KrishaliG@state.gov) to subscribe to the "Early 
Edition." 
 
--------------- 
ECONOMIC CRISIS 
--------------- 
 
¶1. "U.S. PREDICTION," editorial in the November 4 
RASHTRIYA SAHARA Hindi daily: "Western countries, which 
dominate the world, have started showing signs of 
collapsing. According to the U.S. intelligence report if 
the current trend continues, China will emerge as the 
world's largest economy and topmost military power by 
2025 followed by Russia and India. The rivalry among them 
will naturally grow. Will this rivalry create tensions in 
the world? The international community is already going 
through serious tensions. Basically, U.S. and some 
western countries control the international scenario at 
present and the tension is because of their opponents and 
those who want to change this trend. The terrorism 
emerged against it is the biggest challenge presently. It 
is difficult to assess the situation after the change in 
power balancing. But, we should not forget that the faith 
of the present China and Russia in democratic values is 
not certified. China can even cross the limits of cruelty 
and repression in its national interest. It is clear that 
the world dominated by these two will be nerve-wracking." 
 
-------------------------- 
U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 
-------------------------- 
 
¶2. "BIG DAY OF WORLD POLITICS TODAY," opinion article in 
the November 4 NAVBHARAT TIMES Hindi daily by Sanjay 
Khati: "Today is the big day of the world politics as the 
world's most powerful leader will be elected. The U.S. 
elections are not just an internal matter of America, but 
its affects the whole world. Being a black Barack Obama4s 
candidacy has made these elections unique because the 
racism is still a major social problem in the U.S. The 
U.S. is going through a critical phase. It is deeply 
stuck in a financial crisis, Afghanistan and Iraq wars, 
war against terrorism and issues like global warming and 
global trade agreement. Now the world expects such a 
leadership to emerge that can bring change. Unlike Bush's 
aggressiveness, the world wants a more liberal and 
tolerant rule to be established. Obama is apt from this 
viewpoint. Choice of India: It is difficult to say who do 
the people of India like, but the majority of the U.S.- 
based 26 million Indians seem to be in Obama's favor." 
 
------------------------------------------ 
IRAN-PAKISTAN-INDIA GAS PIPELINE AGREEMENT 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶3. "THREE-NATION GAS PIPELINE AGREEMENT", editorial in 
the November 4 right-of-centre Urdu daily "MUNSIF", 
 
NEW DELHI 00002849  002 OF 002 
 
 
Hyderabad: "Those, who like an independent and non- 
aligned foreign policy for the country, will heave a sigh 
of relief over the recent statement of our foreign 
minister Pranab Mukherjee on the Indo-Iran relationship. 
There is at least one matter, on which India wants to 
enter into agreement with Iran against the American wish 
and whim. America is hell bent to impose economic as well 
as political sanctions on Iran so that it may not be able 
to sell its oil and gas to any country (what was done to 
Iraq in the name of UNO). Indo-Iran relationship has a 
time-honored history. However, we had, under the coercive 
influence of the U.S., voted against Iran in the matter 
of Iranian nuclear project, but its acrimonious impact 
did not affect the IPI pipeline project. Its 
implementation may improve our relations not only with 
Iran but with Pakistan too." 
 
¶4. "PRANAB MUKHERJEE VISITS IRAN", editorial in the 
November 3 right-of-center Urdu daily "SIASAT", 
Hyderabad: "Indo-Iran cultural, trade and other various 
bilateral relations are time-honored and deep-rooted. In 
the perspective of recent intimate relationship with the 
USA, there re apprehensions that it might affect Indo- 
Iran relations adversely. One of such examples is voting 
against Iran by India. Although, it is an open stand of 
India, that Iran has all the rights to continue its 
nuclear program for peaceful purposes, but Indian foreign 
policy seems to be working under increasing undue 
pressure tactics of the U.S. establishment. This pressure 
may hamper Indo-Iran trade relations. Now, it is the 
responsibility of both the governments that they should 
strive hard to strengthen their ancient traditional 
links, without giving the alien pressure any chance to 
rule the roost. They should also find out new dimensions 
of mutual cooperation and partnership. Under the 
prevalent circumstances, Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline 
may play a significant role." 
MULFORD