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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 NEW DELHI 001514 
 
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 REPORT: MEDIA COVERAGE OF SECRETARY 
CLINTON'S VISIT 
 
SUMMARY: Secretary Clinton left behind an astounding 
body of positive media coverage as she departed India 
today after a successful four-day visit. The national 
media highlighted the final outcomes of the visit - the 
announcement of the "end-use monitoring" and 
"technology safeguards" pacts; New Delhi's approving 
two sites for U.S. companies to build nuclear power 
plants; and the invitation extended to PM Singh for a 
state visit to Washington November 24. Media reports 
said an emotionally-inclined India applauded the 
Secretary's personal "prose and poetry" touch in her 
interactions with the country's students and civil 
society. 
 
Some analysts said the visit dispelled any remaining 
fears that the Obama administration would neglect India 
as it focused on getting Pakistan's help against 
insurgents on the Afghan border. Editorials welcomed 
the Secretary's decision to drop the customary stop in 
Pakistan, saying that the U.S. had finally come to 
accept India on its own terms. A leading business daily 
said Obama Administration has decided to continue the 
Bush Administration's "royal treatment" of India. A 
widely-respected commentator said that the Secretary 
left behind the lasting image that the United States 
wants to see India emerge as a player on the global 
stage. Barring some skepticism editorial reaction was 
positive. Commentary from India's leading English and 
language newspapers follows. End summary. 
 
------------- 
NEWS SUMMARY 
------------- 
 
¶1. The Secretary's press conference with External 
Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna generated lead stories 
today. Reports said U.S. and India announced they had 
agreed on an "end-use monitoring" pact that takes a 
major step toward allowing the sale of sophisticated 
U.S. arms to India. 
 
¶2. Secretary Clinton said New Delhi had approved two 
sites for U.S. companies to build nuclear power plants. 
Secretary Clinton said that PM Manmohan Singh had 
accepted an invitation to make a state visit to 
Washington on November 24 in what would be the first 
such visit by a foreign leader under President Obama. 
As part their efforts to strengthen ties, the two 
countries reportedly agreed to form a "strategic 
dialogue" led by Secretary Clinton and Minister Krishna 
who will meet annually. 
 
---------------------------------------- 
G-8 N-STATEMENT NOT MEANT FOR INDIA: US 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶3. Commenting on the Secretary Clinton's clarification 
that the G-8 declaration on curbing transfer of 
enrichment and reprocessing technology would not apply 
to India, India's revered business daily said the 
Secretary had put "Obama's stamp on India's unique 
 
NEW DELHI 00001514  002 OF 005 
 
 
status in the world's civilian nuclear hierarchy." By 
doing so, the Secretary had made a clear distinction 
between India and rogue countries that attempt to get 
such technologies and items through inappropriate 
means, the paper said. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
NOTED FOREIGN EDITORS AND THEIR INTERPRETATIONS 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶4. In their first reactions, top foreign affairs 
journalists had different interpretations to offer on 
the visit. "This is clearly a response from Washington 
to the perception in Delhi that the U.S. had forgotten 
India," Siddharth Varadarajan, strategic affairs editor 
of THE HINDU said. 
 
¶5. "Soothing ruffled feathers in India about a 
perceived lack of interest by the Obama administration 
after the golden Bush years, Secretary Clinton talked 
about democracy being 'a stronger base for 
relationships than any other in the world.' Through her 
visit, Secretary Clinton successfully pressed the right 
buttons in India," wrote Indrani Bagchi, Foreign 
Editor, THE TIMES OF INDIA. 
 
¶6. "The real desire of the Obama administration is to 
make India think big picture," wrote Pramitpal 
Chowdhury, Foreign Editor, THE HINDUSTAN TIMES. "The 
conclusion of an end-use-monitoring agreement is a 
major breakthrough as this opens the door for Indian 
purchases of high-technology weapons systems from the 
U.S. While this is lucrative for the US, these systems 
are necessary for "hardening" India's perimeter against 
terrorist attacks." 
 
--------------------------------------------- 
EDITORIALS IN INDIA'S LEADING ENGLISH DAILIES 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶7. "FRANK AND FAIR," editorial in July 21 centrist, 
independent national English daily THE TIMES OF INDIA: 
"Hillary Clinton's visit to India has so far been 
according to script. She has made encouraging 
statements on security issues, acknowledging that 
Pakistan hosts a syndicate of terror, though she has 
not been forthright in addressing India's concerns 
about the free run that the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish- 
e-Mohammed continue to enjoy in Pakistan. 
 
¶8. "Clinton, who began her trip in Mumbai, is 
addressing a broad range of issues on her maiden visit 
as secretary of state. This bodes well for bilateral 
ties between the two countries.... The canvas of Indo-US 
ties should however go beyond the terrorism motif. 
Clinton's expansive agenda on her trip here is 
promising. Both sides have agreed to undertake more 
collaborative projects across a variety of fields, 
including energy and trade." 
 
¶9. "THE SOFT TOUCH," editorial in July 20 centrist 
 
NEW DELHI 00001514  003 OF 005 
 
 
English daily, DAILY NEWS & ANALYSIS: "US secretaries 
of state are hard-nosed realists, whose job is to 
travel the world and relentlessly pursue American 
interests.... Clinton is as hard-nosed as they come, but 
apart from discussing terrorism and climate change, why 
this warm and fuzzy side to her itinerary? First, 
Clinton is a woman of many parts and has even earlier 
shown a tendency towards education and social issues.... 
Let it also not be forgotten than Clinton is above all 
a politician. The earlier women secretaries of state, 
Madeleine Albright and Condoleezza Rice were basically 
international relations experts and policy wonks.... 
Clinton was never a folksy person like her husband, but 
she has schooled herself to meet with people from all 
walks of life and connect with them -- the true 
business of a politician.... Hillary Clinton's tour 
program therefore was no accident; it meets her as well 
as her government's objectives well." 
 
¶10. "A DECENT PROPOSAL," editorial in July 21 pro- 
Congress Party, centrist English daily, THE HINDUSTAN 
TIMES: "Hillary Clinton's visit kicks off the India 
policy of the administration of Barack Obama. The 
United States Secretary of State has not arrived with a 
bushel of ready-to-sign agreements or offered a big 
ticket boost for bilateral relations.... This is the 
India-US V 3.0 that the Obama administration espouses: 
exploring how far India is prepared to sign up for 
long-term strategic solutions even when they have 
short-term domestic costs. The stuff, in other words, 
of what great powers are made of.... Ms Clinton, in 
effect, has invited India to partner the US as the 
world begins what may be the largest rewriting of the 
law of nations since the end of the Cold War. India 
cannot afford to ignore this offer..." 
 
--------------------------- 
"MAKE U.S. PICK UP ITS TAB" 
--------------------------- 
 
¶11. In a not-so-unexpected display of skepticism, the 
pro-BJP English daily PIONEER editorialized that India 
can't toe the American line on climate change. The 
paper said: "There is an imperious assumption among 
policy-makers in the US...that it is for Washington to 
command and the capitals of the developing world to 
supinely do America's bidding.... Having contributed the 
most to environmental degradation and climate change, 
the US and its Western allies now want the developing 
countries to pick up the tab for the damage.... Union 
Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh 
deserves to be applauded for forcefully presenting 
India's case before US Secretary of State Hillary 
Clinton who, and understandably so, has used her visit 
to push the American line." 
 
¶12. THE TELEGRAPH English daily, in the meanwhile, 
said: "If indeed India has agreed in principle to such 
verification, it is not the first time New Delhi has 
signaled its willingness to allow intrusive inspections 
of US-origin equipment in its arsenal." 
 
NEW DELHI 00001514  004 OF 005 
 
 
 
--------------------------------- 
COMMENTARY IN THE LANGUAGE PRESS 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶13. "HILLARY'S GESTURE OF GOODWILL," editorial in July 
21 centrist Hindi daily, DAINIK BHASKAR: "Being her 
first trip to India after being appointed the Secretary 
of State, Hillary's first mandate was to establish a 
climate of goodwill. And that she did. Her gestures of 
goodwill were evident in her actions - staying at the 
Taj, meeting with its employees and signing the 
register with remarks of solidarity. Her gestures 
demonstrated that the U.S. understands India's pain of 
terrorism.... Hillary gave positive signs that the U.S. 
will keep up the heat on Pakistan. Hopefully Pakistan 
will act against the Lashkar and Al Qaeda. In goading 
Pakistan to do so, America has an important role." 
 
¶14. "MESSAGES IN HILLARY'S INDIA TRIP," editorial in 
July 21 nationalist Hindi daily, RASHTRIYA SAHARA: 
"Perhaps the most significant thing in Hillary 
Clinton's visit was not including Pakistan in the 
itinerary. That is a good sign. It shows that the U.S. 
is finally moving away from hyphenating India and 
Pakistan!" 
 
¶15. "HILLARY CLINTON'S VISIT TO INDIA", editorial in 
July 20 right-of-center Urdu daily, HAMARA SAMAJ: "The 
warmth of mutual close relationship, expressed by the 
US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton should be 
welcomed because it is natural. Its importance 
increases manifolds when a country is in the process of 
development. She expressed her views on terrorism, 
global economy, climate change, non-proliferation 
treaty, etc. Some of them deserve our serious 
deliberations. Relations with the US are indeed a good 
initiative, but if the cost of friendship is high, we 
need to tread cautiously." 
 
¶16. "HILLARY'S HOPE-GIVING VISIT," editorial in July 21 
left-of-center Marathi daily, MAHARASHTRA TIMES: "Ever 
since the Obama administration took over, India wasn't 
sure of the course that U.S.-India bilateral relations 
would take henceforth. India was doubtful of the U.S. 
willingness to cooperate at various levels. But U.S. 
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's India visit has 
served a definite positive purpose in this context. She 
has spelled out the U.S.' readiness to work together, 
especially in countering terrorism. Unlike the earlier 
whirlwind tours of high-level U.S. dignitaries, which 
were hurried affairs, Hillary Clinton's five-day 
interaction was welcome. More welcome is the fact that 
she started her tour with Mumbai and stayed at the Taj 
hotel, a one-time target of Pakistani terrorism. Even 
more commendable was her public appearances at St. 
Xavier's College and the SEWA women's store - a clear- 
cut effort to reach out to the common people of Mumbai, 
along with industrialists and economic experts." 
 
--------------------- 
 
NEW DELHI 00001514  005 OF 005 
 
 
NEGATIVE COMMENTARY 
-------------------- 
 
¶17. A section of the language press was not convinced 
about the U.S. intentions, or the fruitfulness of the 
Secretary's visit. Some editorial excerpts follow: 
 
¶18. "MOOD OF CLINTON VISIT," editorial in July 21 
independent Kannada daily, VIJAY KARNATAKA: "What was 
the purpose of Clinton's visit? India has not accepted 
the U.S. argument with regard to climate change. India 
is opposing CTBT from the beginning. Hillary has not 
even uttered a single harsh word against Pakistan about 
terror emanating from its soil." 
 
¶19. "US SECRETARY OF STATE VISITS INDIA," editorial in 
July 20 right-of-center Urdu daily, RASHTRIYA SAHARA: 
"While some people of India are holding out their hands 
to Secretary Hillary Clinton, others are furious about 
her compliments to Pakistani politicians. Such attitude 
shows that America shall never seclude Pakistan, 
despite our close relations with the former." 
 
¶20. "INDO-US RELATIONS," editorial in July 21 right-of- 
center Urdu daily, RASHTIYA SAHARA: "When American 
diplomats visit India, they say things India loves to 
hear. In Pakistan, they speak in a changed language and 
voice. It may not be the case with Hillary Clinton, but 
the U.S. approach toward India and Pakistan has always 
been two-faced.... How far will Hillary's assurances to 
India on issues like terrorism stand true? Difficult to 
say!" 
 
¶21. "CUNNING AMERICA," editorial in July 21 right-of- 
center Gujarati daily, GUJARAT SAMACHAR: "Be it 
President Bush or President Obama, be it Condoleezza 
Rice or Hillary Clinton, all are sides of the same 
coin.  They have only one agenda and that is to 
pressure India.  It is precisely with this agenda in 
mind that U.S. Secretary of State Clinton is in India 
to pressure India to sign the NPT and start a dialogue 
with Pakistan among other things...  Despite Pakistan's 
complicity in the Mumbai terror attacks being proved 
beyond doubt, America provided Pakistan with millions 
of dollars in aid.  If India wants to emerge as a 
global power, she needs to fully understand America's 
cunning nature." 
ROEMER