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P 060424Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2391
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INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 0555
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RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 6466
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RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 3838
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UNCLAS TOKYO 001510
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 MIDDLE EAST - TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: Friday morning's Yomiuri front-paged the
GOJ decision Thursday to extend its sanctions on North
Korea, which expire on April 13, by another six months.
1. "Changing Diplomatic Environment in the Middle East"
The business-oriented Nihon Keizai editorialized (4/6):
"Israeli Prime Minister Olmert proposed peace talks with
Arab nations in response to the adoption at the recent
Arab Summit meeting of the 'Riyadh Declaration,' which
seeks comprehensive Middle East peace. Iran released the
15 British troops it held captive, averting a flare-up
with the US and Britain over its nuclear development.
Diplomatic efforts are underway to prevent the Middle
East from becoming more unstable. The international
community should take this opportunity to accelerate its
support, which would encourage stabilization in this
region.... Although the differences between Arab nations
and Israel are still great, it is significant that the
Arab Summit leaders proposed a 'resumption of sincere and
direct talks' with Israel, while asking the UN, US and EU
nations to join working group meetings proposed by the
'Riyadh Declaration....' Saudi King Abdullah, the
initiator of the 'Riyadh Declaration,' reportedly
mediated between main PLO factions and Hamas in February,
while asking Iranian President Ahmadinejad in early March
not to take a provocative diplomatic stance toward the
West. Although Ahmadinejad had initially taken a hard-
line stance regarding the capture of the British troops,
the Iranian leadership turned to a diplomatic settlement
of the issue earlier than expected. Behind Tehran's
diplomatic move was a bid to avoid becoming isolated from
the world community, as the UN made moves to tighten
sanctions. The diplomatic environment is changing in the
Middle East."
SCHIEFFER