MEDIA REACTION IRAQ - TOKYO

UNCLAS TOKYO 002791 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 IRAQ - TOKYO LEAD STORIES: Monday morning's Yomiuri gave top play to Toyota Motor's plan to build 10 additional assembly plants across the world by 2010, including two in the US. ¶1. "More Hurdles on the Way to Stability in Iraq" The business daily Nihon Keizai editorialized (5/22): "A permanent Iraqi government based on the country's new constitution has finally been launched. There had been signs of deepening ethnic and sectarian divisions during the more than five months since the parliamentary elections. The new government has been inaugurated with the key cabinet posts of interior and defense left unfilled due to difficulty in coordination. Can this government bring people together under a concept of Iraqi citizenship and realize reconciliation among the different forces in order to achieve social stability? Though the launch of a permanent government had been touted as the end step in the postwar political process, still larger tests lie ahead." ¶2. "Formation of Permanent Iraqi Government: Tie This to Withdrawal of Foreign Troops" An editorial in the liberal Mainichi commented (5/22): "A permanent Iraqi government has finally been formed some three years after the fall of the Hussein regime. The Iraqi people have overcome a number of difficulties and implemented a political process based on a UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution. We welcome the fact that the Iraqis have finally reached this goal. Nevertheless, it goes without saying that they are now at a starting point beyond which lie even greater challenges. The cabinet portfolios of interior and defense, which are responsible for ensuring security, have been left vacant and will be filled for the time being by Prime Minister al-Maliki, leaving major concerns about the unity and leadership of the new government.... With the political process basically implemented, now is the time to discuss the withdrawal of foreign troops, including Japan's GSDF unit.... An end to what is essentially an occupation is necessary for the true democratization of Iraq." SCHIEFFER