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PP RUEHFK
DE RUEHKO #1990 1270223
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 070223Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3282
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
RUALSFJ/COMUSJAPAN YOKOTA AB JA PRIORITY
INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 0973
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 4517
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 6896
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 1640
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 2960
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 4159
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 001990
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 - IRAQ - TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: There were no papers published Monday
morning because of a press holiday. Top stories on TV
this morning include the victory in Sunday's French
presidential runoff of former Interior Minister Nicolas
Sarkozy.
1. "Course for Stabilization Remains Unclear" The liberal
Mainichi editorialized (5/6): "In Iraq, where a large
number of citizens are dying every day due to violence
and terrorism, millions of people have become refugees in
their own country.... An international conference on Iraq
was held in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el Sheik, during
which participants adopted a joint statement approving
debt relief for Iraq and the UN-led International Compact
for Iraq (ICI) and advocated international cooperation in
preventing armed militants from entering the nation.
Although the establishment of a working group to support
displaced persons and border control is a positive
development, the creation of the framework alone is not
enough.... It is critical that the US and Iran set aside
the issue of Tehran's nuclear development and discuss the
stabilization of Iraq.... Needless to say, Prime Minister
Maliki bears a heavy responsibility. He needs to seek a
national reconciliation and try to dispel distrust among
Sunnis. Otherwise, the international community's support
plan will soon stall."
2. "Continued Dialogue Important for Progress" The
conservative Sankei wrote (5/6): "Although the confusion
in Iraq is not a simple matter that can be solved through
a few international conferences, we hope that concrete
measures toward improving the situation will be gradually
taken by setting a framework for international dialogue.
Although the possibility of the US holding foreign
ministerials with Iran and Syria received much attention,
the failure to set a US-Iran meeting illustrated the
years of deep mutual distrust between Washington and
Tehran. However, the ambassadorial talks between the two
nations made some progress."
DONOVAN