VZCZCXRO1771
PP RUEHFK
DE RUEHKO #6590 3210610
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 170610Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8400
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI//N541// PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA// PRIORITY
RUHBANB/OKINAWA FLD OFC US FORCES JAPAN CP BUTLER JA PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/COMUSJAPAN YOKOTA AB JA PRIORITY
INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 8848
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 2255
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 4902
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 1360
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 1014
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2522
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 006590
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 - ABE-BUSH TALKS - TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: FRIDAY MORNING'S NIHON KEIZAI FRONT-PAGED
PRESIDENT BUSH'S SPEECH THURSDAY IN SINGAPORE, IN WHICH
HE REPORTEDLY PROPOSED THE CONCLUSION OF AN APEC-WIDE
FREE TRADE AGREEMENT (FTA). HE ALSO STRESSED THE NEED TO
EXPAND DEFENSE COOPERATION IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION.
1. "ABE AND BUSH: CREATING A RELATIONSHIP THAT ALLOWS FOR
FRANK TALKS" THE MODERATE TOKYO SHIMBUN EDITORIALIZED
(11/17): "PRIME MINISTER ABE WILL MEET WITH PRESIDENT
BUSH IN HANOI SATURDAY FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE BECOMING
PRIME MINISTER. THEY WILL NEED TO ESTABLISH A
RELATIONSHIP THAT ALLOWS THEM TO SPEAK CANDIDLY IN ORDER
TO PREVENT ANY RECURRENCE OF TRADE FRICTION AND TO
MAINTAIN A STABLE BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP.... FOLLOWING
THE POLITICAL CHANGES IN THE US AND JAPAN, COUNTRIES IN
ASIA AND ELSEWHERE ARE KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON THE
DIPLOMATIC POLICIES OF WASHINGTON AND TOKYO AND THE
COURSE OF THEIR BILATERAL ALLIANCE. IT IS NOT SURPRISING
THAT NORTH KOREA IS HOPEFUL THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION WILL
BE INCLINED TO TAKE A CONCILIATORY APPROACH FOLLOWING THE
DEMOCRATIC TAKEOVER OF CONGRESS. ABE AND BUSH WILL HAVE
TO WORK TOGETHER TO CONTINUE ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ON
PYONGYANG IN ORDER TO FORCE IT TO RESOLVE THE NUCLEAR
CRISIS THROUGH DIALOGUE. THE US AND JAPAN CAN ALSO
COOPERATE CLOSELY ON SUCH ISSUES FACING THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY AS IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM, THE WAR ON
TERRORISM, STRENGTHENING THE FREE ECONOMIC SYSTEM, AND
RAISING AWARENESS OF HUMAN RIGHTS. IN ADDITION TO THOSE,
THERE ARE AREAS IN WHICH JAPAN WILL NEED TO PROVIDE BLUNT
ADVICE TO THE US AS A FRIEND, SUCH AS THE ENVIRONMENT."
DONOVAN