VZCZCXRO1564
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #5416 3370506
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 030506Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9948
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/USFJ PRIORITY
INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 4699
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 7102
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 3470
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 5361
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 8365
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0396
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 1983
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 6448
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 7202
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 005416
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: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - RUSSIAN PARLIAMENTARY
ELECTIONS
LEAD STORIES: Monday morning's Asahi led with the
reported questioning by Tokyo prosecutors of several
senior Defense Ministry officials familiar with U.S.
force realignment programs in Okinawa concerning their
knowledge of individual initiatives and influence
peddling, if any, by arrested former Vice Defense
Minister Moriya.
1. "Doubts Raised About Election Fairness" The liberal
Tokyo Shimbun's Moscow correspondent wrote (12/3):
"Parliamentary elections were held across Russia on
Sunday. Given that President Putin's ruling party
"United Russia" appears to be heading toward a lopsided
victory, momentum is bound to build for creating a
system that would allow Putin to maintain his power
base even after he is required to step down from the
presidency next May. However, as European countries
canceled plans to send election observers and as
allegations emerged during the campaign about the
improper use of government agencies by the ruling
party, there will likely be concerns raised in the
international community about the fairness of the
Russian elections."
SCHIEFFER