Cablegate: Tokyo Media Reaction - Georgia

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UNCLAS TOKYO 002746

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 - GEORGIA

1. LEAD STORIES: Front-page items on Thursday morning
included Prime Minister Aso's remarks in the Diet on
Wednesday, during which he hinted at the need for an
additional supplementary budget.

2. "EU Deploys Monitors in Georgia" The liberal Asahi
wrote (10/2): "EU monitors began their operations in
Georgia on October 1 by entering the Georgian buffer
zone, which has been controlled by Russian troops since
August. This is the first step of the commitment by the
international community to a complete withdrawal of the
Russian force. However, Russia has been refusing
monitors' entry to South Ossetia and Abkhazia. This is
the beginning of a clash over Georgian territory...
Problems remain for future activities by the EU
monitors, as Russia does not allow their access to
South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The EU, which has not
approved the independence of those two regions, is in a
confrontation with Russia, as the European monitors
plan to operate in the entire Georgian territory...
While the EU aims at a complete withdrawal of Russian
troops, Russia is trying to 'emasculate' Georgia, which
could be the front line of the expansion of NATO... A
total of 22 nations are taking part in the monitoring
mission. Those nations include Latvia and Poland, which
hope that the operation will help contain Russia.
Dissatisfaction could spread within the EU, if the
monitors remain in the buffer zone."

SCHIEFFER

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