VZCZCXRO9408
PP RUEHFK
DE RUEHKO #5522 3460209
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 120209Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0219
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 4903
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 8569
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0587
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2009
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 6627
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 7375
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 005522
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 - PUTIN'S SELECTION OF
SUCCESSOR
LEAD STORIES: Top stories this morning include an
agreement between the ruling LDP and its coalition
partner New Komeito to extend the current Diet session
for another month until mid-January to enact the new
antiterrorism legislation.
"Putin's Control to Continue" The liberal Mainichi
editorialized (12/12): "...President Putin selected his
closest aide, First Deputy President Medvedev, as his
successor. Putin appears to have chosen a person whom
he can easily control in order to establish a footing
for his continued rein.... The process of selecting his
successor has raised questions about democracy in
Russia. The Russian people are to select their
country's third president in the upcoming election.
They would appreciate democracy more if the election
were contested by candidates who espouse a variety of
values...."
SCHIEFFER