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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