Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TOKYO1624
2006-03-29 04:13:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION AFHGANISTAN - TOKYO
how-toVZCZCXRO5127 PP RUEHFK DE RUEHKO #1624 0880413 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 290413Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0239 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/COMUSJAPAN YOKOTA AB JA PRIORITY INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 5380 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 8531 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1391 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0948 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 7569 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 9523 RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 001624
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: MEDIA REACTION AFHGANISTAN - TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: Most Wednesday morning papers front-paged
the massive demonstrations held Tuesday across France to
protest the French government's introduction of a new
employment law for first-time job seekers.
UNCLAS TOKYO 001624
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: MEDIA REACTION AFHGANISTAN - TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: Most Wednesday morning papers front-paged
the massive demonstrations held Tuesday across France to
protest the French government's introduction of a new
employment law for first-time job seekers.
1. "Afghanistan: Terrorism Slowing the Pace of
Reconstruction" The liberal Asahi's Kabul correspondent
Kitagawa wrote (3/29): "It has been more than four years
since the fall of the Islamic fundamentalist Taliban
regime. Although the nation has taken its first steps
toward democracy with the convening of the National
Assembly for the first time in 32 years, life in
Afghanistan remains hard. As seen by the frequent
occurrence of suicide bombings, public security is
lacking, reflecting the shadow of the warlords. The
central government is continuing to look for assistance
from the international community in the hope of
eradicating armed groups and improving Afghanistan's
lagging living standards.... Afghanistan is a multiethnic
country where ethnically organized armed factions fought
a civil war. Among the members of the National Assembly,
there are many leaders and commanders of armed factions,
and they are not accustomed to arriving at solutions
through discussion, one of the ground rules of democracy.
A local journalist stated, 'There are concerns that the
National Assembly could once again become a venue for
ethnic confrontation.' Although the disarmament of these
military groups ended in July 2005, more than 1,000 armed
organizations are said to still exist....
2. "The eradication of illicit drugs, believed to be a
source of funds for the armed groups, is an important
issue.... According to a report issued by the UN Office
of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in September 2005, annual
production of opium in Afghanistan was 4,100 tons, a
decrease of 100 tons from the previous year but still
accounting for 87 percent of global production. President
Karzai has said that it will take at least 10 years to
eradicate production. Donor nations met February in
London and adopted an agreement that includes
reconstruction targets for the next five years. The
agreement also allows the US military and International
Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to operate in
Afghanistan through 2010, while calling for the complete
dismantlement of all illegal armed groups by 2007 and the
enactment of a law to curb bureaucratic corruption. The
Afghan government has said that it needs 4 billion USD
yearly to reach these targets. The more than 60 countries
and international organizations attending the meeting
pledged 10.5 billion USD over five years.... A diplomatic
source in Kabul stated, 'There is always a danger that
Afghanistan's reconstruction could be set back if the
international community loses interest. US and ISAF
troops may be needed beyond 2010. There is a long way to
go until this country is stabilized.'"
SCHIEFFER
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: MEDIA REACTION AFHGANISTAN - TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: Most Wednesday morning papers front-paged
the massive demonstrations held Tuesday across France to
protest the French government's introduction of a new
employment law for first-time job seekers.
1. "Afghanistan: Terrorism Slowing the Pace of
Reconstruction" The liberal Asahi's Kabul correspondent
Kitagawa wrote (3/29): "It has been more than four years
since the fall of the Islamic fundamentalist Taliban
regime. Although the nation has taken its first steps
toward democracy with the convening of the National
Assembly for the first time in 32 years, life in
Afghanistan remains hard. As seen by the frequent
occurrence of suicide bombings, public security is
lacking, reflecting the shadow of the warlords. The
central government is continuing to look for assistance
from the international community in the hope of
eradicating armed groups and improving Afghanistan's
lagging living standards.... Afghanistan is a multiethnic
country where ethnically organized armed factions fought
a civil war. Among the members of the National Assembly,
there are many leaders and commanders of armed factions,
and they are not accustomed to arriving at solutions
through discussion, one of the ground rules of democracy.
A local journalist stated, 'There are concerns that the
National Assembly could once again become a venue for
ethnic confrontation.' Although the disarmament of these
military groups ended in July 2005, more than 1,000 armed
organizations are said to still exist....
2. "The eradication of illicit drugs, believed to be a
source of funds for the armed groups, is an important
issue.... According to a report issued by the UN Office
of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in September 2005, annual
production of opium in Afghanistan was 4,100 tons, a
decrease of 100 tons from the previous year but still
accounting for 87 percent of global production. President
Karzai has said that it will take at least 10 years to
eradicate production. Donor nations met February in
London and adopted an agreement that includes
reconstruction targets for the next five years. The
agreement also allows the US military and International
Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to operate in
Afghanistan through 2010, while calling for the complete
dismantlement of all illegal armed groups by 2007 and the
enactment of a law to curb bureaucratic corruption. The
Afghan government has said that it needs 4 billion USD
yearly to reach these targets. The more than 60 countries
and international organizations attending the meeting
pledged 10.5 billion USD over five years.... A diplomatic
source in Kabul stated, 'There is always a danger that
Afghanistan's reconstruction could be set back if the
international community loses interest. US and ISAF
troops may be needed beyond 2010. There is a long way to
go until this country is stabilized.'"
SCHIEFFER