VZCZCXRO9813
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #0883 0920822
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 010822Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3042
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 6995
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 9378
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 5453
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 7591
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 0664
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2537
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2194
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 8575
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 9123
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 000883
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 - SECTARIAN VIOLENCE IN
IRAQ, NATO SUMMIT, AND PAKISTAN
1. LEAD STORIES: All Tuesday morning papers gave top
play to yesterday's expiration of gasoline surcharges
for road construction, noting that pump prices fell at
a number of stations across Japan at midnight.
2. "'Six-Day War' Highlights Instability" The liberal
Asahi reported from Cairo (4/1): "While the recent
battle between Iraqi security forces and the Mahdi Army
of Shiite cleric al-Sadr, termed a 'Six-Day War,'
appears to be coming to an end, it demonstrates the
fragile security situation in Iraq, which had been said
to be improving. This conflict could have an impact on
the compilation of plans for a full-fledged pullout of
U.S. and British forces.... Prime Minister Maliki went
to Basra with the resolve that it be the final
showdown. However, as the battle demonstrated the
strength of the Mahdi Army while exposing the limit of
his security forces, the prime minister appears to have
little choice but to accept a 'truce' through
behind-the-scenes negotiations."
3. "Russia Determined to Prevent Encroachment into its
Backyard" A Moscow correspondent for the conservative
Sankei wrote (4/1): "Russia is deeply concerned about
NATO coming into its 'backyard,' namely Georgia and
Ukraine. President Putin considers the possibility of
their membership in NATO 'intolerable' and will use
every means available to prevent this from coming to
pass.... Putin is expected to attend a NATO session
scheduled for Friday. He apparently will attempt to
head off NATO's eastward expansion by NATO cargo bound
for Afghanistan to pass through Russian territory."
4. "Pakistan Opts for Dialogue to Combat Terrorism" The
conservative Sankei said in a report from Bangkok
(4/1): "In his key policy address on Saturday,
Pakistani Prime Minister Gilani revealed a change in
the country's hard line toward Islamic armed rebels by
declaring that he would hold talks with them. As the
prime minister has at the same time pledged to continue
the war on terrorism with the U.S., there appears to be
an inconsistency in his statements. The outlook for the
war on terrorism in Pakistan is becoming increasingly
murky."
SCHIEFFER