Cablegate: Media Reaction Q Nuclear Nonproliferation -

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UNCLAS TOKYO 004869

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR,
EAP/J, EAP/P, PM;
USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI;
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA;
CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE;
PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION Q NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION -
TOKYO

LEAD STORIES: Most Friday morning papers front-paged
Thursday's decision by the International Astronomical
Union that Pluto is no longer a planet under new
guidelines that downsize the solar system from nine
planets to eight.

1. "Nuclear Nonproliferation: Issue Must Be Dealt with
Resolutely" The moderate Tokyo Shimbun editorialized
(8/25): "This year's meeting of the United Nations
Disarmament Conference was held in Yokohama. There appear
to be no immediate solutions regarding the nuclear
programs of the DPRK and Iran.... The road to disarmament
and the nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction
is a steep one. North Korea, which has declared it
possesses nuclear weapons, launched seven ballistic
missiles last month. Iran, which is suspected of seeking
nuclear weapons, has not displayed any inclination to
accept the package of incentives offered by the P-5 plus
Germany.... At the Yokohama meeting, nearly 60 experts,
including diplomats, senior officials from international
organizations, and scholars, discussed how to put
disarmament and nonproliferation back on track.... Libyan
officials attended the meeting for the first time,
explaining how their country's decision to scrap its
nuclear program has led to the end of sanctions and to
the provision of Western assistance for power generation
and desalinization. We hope that North Korea and Iran
will carefully study the Libyan success story and choose
the path that leads to significant benefits in return for
abandoning their nuclear programs."

DONOVAN

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