US embassy cable - 05DHAKA1297

UNCLAS DHAKA 001297 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR I/FW, B/G, IIP/G/NEA-SA, B/VOA/N (BANGLA SERVICE) STATE 
FOR SA/PAB, SA/PPD (LSCENSNY, SSTRYKER), SA/RA, INR/R/MR, 
AND PASS TO USAID FOR ANE/ASIA/SA/B (WJOHNSON) 
 
CINCPAC FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR, J51 (MAJ TURNER), J45 
(MAJ NICHOLLS) 
 
USARPAC FOR APOP-IM (MAJ HEDRICK) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR, OIIP, OPRC, KPAO, PREL, ETRD, PTER, ASEC, BG, OCII 
SUBJECT: Media Reaction: Secretary of State Rice's South 
Asia Tour; Dhaka 
 
 
Summary: Conservative Bangla language newspaper "Ittefaq" 
commends the desire of the U.S. and India to reduce tension 
and control fundamentalist forces in the Subcontinent. 
 
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1. U.S. Secretary of State's South Asia Tour 
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"The Visit of Condoleezza Rice" 
Conservative Bangla language newspaper "Ittefaq" editorially 
comments (3/20): 
What Condoleezza Rice said during her visit to India and 
Pakistan means that the U.S. wants to strengthen its 
bilateral relations with India and Pakistan.  India and the 
U.S. have agreed to reduce tension and control 
fundamentalist forces in the subcontinent.  We commend these 
wishes.  There are other South Asian countries that have 
also some regional problems.  These issues should also be 
resolved for the sake of uninterrupted peace in the region. 
It would be better if she discusses these issues in addition 
to the Indo-Pak conflict, Iran's energy issue and the 
situation in Nepal. 
The people of the world expect the U.S. to work for peace in 
the world.  Its policies toward North Korea and Iran are 
praiseworthy.  There is no doubt that the U.S. will receive 
support from European and South and Southeast Asian nations 
if it continues follow these policies.  We would expect that 
President Bush and his Secretary of State's visit to the 
subcontinent would include some other countries also. 
THOMAS