Cablegate: Tokyo Media Reaction - Russia And

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P 210151Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
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UNCLAS TOKYO 002302

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 - RUSSIA AND
SYRIA-LEBANON RELATIONS

1. LEAD STORIES: Front-page items on Thursday morning
included the death of former Chinese Communist Party
leader Hua Guofeng on Wednesday in Beijing.

2. "Russia's Continued Military Presence Should Not Be
Allowed" The moderate Yomiuri editorialized (8/21):
"Does the Russian military really intend to pull out of
Georgia? Our doubts are fueled by a gap between
Russia's words and actions.... The international
community will not go along with Russia's move to crush
a democratic state through brute military force. This
move is unacceptable in particular to the U.S., which
has held up Georgia as a model of democratization.
There is no need for the U.S and Europe to
unnecessarily increase military tensions, but they need
to continue to take a clear position on what is
impermissible for them."

3. "Use Normalization to Lead to Middle East Peace" The
liberal Asahi contended in an editorial (8/21): "Syria
and Lebanon agreed last week to establish diplomatic
relations. Following decades of violence, including
sectarian conflict, assassinations, and terrorism, we
welcome this move as a small but important first
step.... We hope that a change in relations between
Syria and Lebanon will be used to jumpstart the Middle
East peace process."

SCHIEFFER

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