VZCZCXRO6515
PP RUEHFK
DE RUEHKO #0043 0080429
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 080429Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0799
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 5343
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 9008
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0974
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2059
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 7042
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 7702
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 000043
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 - MIDDLE EAST PEACE & EU
EXPANSION
LEAD STORIES: Top stories on Tuesday morning included
the growing likelihood that special legislation
sponsored by the ruling coalition for providing medical
and other relief measures for hepatitis C patients will
be unanimously approved later this week.
1. "Put an End to 60-year Conflict" The liberal Asahi
editorialized (1/8): "President Bush is to visit Israel
and the West Bank for the first time, with just one
year remaining in his term.... Many are pessimistic
about how much he can accomplish on Middle East peace
in a year. Bush's efforts to achieve a breakthrough on
this issue, however, will help reduce sympathy in the
Arab world toward al-Qaeda. Two major issues need to be
resolved: Palestinian independence and Palestinian
refugees.... A compromise is imperative. Only the U.S.
can act as a go-between, because it has influence over
the two parties to the conflict."
2. "High Time to Demonstrate Effects of Unification and
Expansion" The liberal Mainichi wrote in an editorial
(1/8) "The unification of the EU is entering a new
stage with its members' signing of the Lisbon Treaty
that sets forth new basic principles concerning its
decision-making and management.... Europe has chosen to
unite in order to demonstrate its presence and clout in
a multipolar world. It can influence discussions on
global warming because it enters into international
negotiations with one voice. The EU's policies and
initiatives in such areas as the International Criminal
Court and consumer protection have become international
norms. As the EU compiled the Lisbon Treaty based on
debate over what the union should look like, the EU
will have to visibly demonstrate the effects of
unification and expansion."
DONOVAN