Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TOKYO3998
2006-07-19 04:07:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION Q MIDDLE EAST - TOKYO
how-toVZCZCXRO2733 PP RUEHFK DE RUEHKO #3998 2000407 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 190407Z JUL 06 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4436 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 7269 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 0573 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 3351 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 1150 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 9495 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1235 RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 003998
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 Q MIDDLE EAST - TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: Wednesday morning's Yomiuri front-paged an
interview Tuesday with Deputy Israeli Prime Minister
Perez in Tel Aviv. During the interview, Perez turned
down UN Secretary General Annan's proposal for the
dispatch of an international force to stop fighting
between Israeli troops and Hezbollah militants.
UNCLAS TOKYO 003998
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 Q MIDDLE EAST - TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: Wednesday morning's Yomiuri front-paged an
interview Tuesday with Deputy Israeli Prime Minister
Perez in Tel Aviv. During the interview, Perez turned
down UN Secretary General Annan's proposal for the
dispatch of an international force to stop fighting
between Israeli troops and Hezbollah militants.
1. "Lebanon Crisis: Syria's Isolation Deepening" The
liberal Asahi's Cairo correspondent Tachino commented
(7/19): "The deepening crisis in Lebanon has driven Syria
into a tight corner. Syria has drawn criticism not just
from the US but also from neighboring Arab countries for
its role in supporting extremist groups that are roiling
the region in violence. Though Syria is using the crisis
to strengthen its anti-US cooperative relationship with
Iran, there are growing concerns that Syria is, like
Iran, becoming isolated within the international
community. At an emergency Arab League foreign
ministerial held last Saturday in Cairo, Saudi Arabia
blasted Hezbollah and Syria....
2. "Most of the governments in the region are irritated
that Hezbollah, which is supported by Iran and Syria, and
the Palestinian extremist group Hamas have destabilized
the Middle East through their unexpected actions.... What
experts on Arab affairs are keeping a close watch on is
Iran's expanding influence on Syria. Ever since the
possibility emerged of a US strike on Iran in response to
that country's nuclear program, there has been talk of
Tehran launching a proxy war using extremists.... Iranian
Foreign Minister Mottaki visited Damascus Monday for
talks with Syrian President Assad to play up the friendly
relations between their countries. A professor at the
University of Damascus asks: 'How will Iran use its
relationship with Syria in its confrontation with the US?
It is possible that Tehran will seek to make a backroom
deal with Washington, so Syria is becoming somewhat
concerned.'"
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 Q MIDDLE EAST - TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: Wednesday morning's Yomiuri front-paged an
interview Tuesday with Deputy Israeli Prime Minister
Perez in Tel Aviv. During the interview, Perez turned
down UN Secretary General Annan's proposal for the
dispatch of an international force to stop fighting
between Israeli troops and Hezbollah militants.
1. "Lebanon Crisis: Syria's Isolation Deepening" The
liberal Asahi's Cairo correspondent Tachino commented
(7/19): "The deepening crisis in Lebanon has driven Syria
into a tight corner. Syria has drawn criticism not just
from the US but also from neighboring Arab countries for
its role in supporting extremist groups that are roiling
the region in violence. Though Syria is using the crisis
to strengthen its anti-US cooperative relationship with
Iran, there are growing concerns that Syria is, like
Iran, becoming isolated within the international
community. At an emergency Arab League foreign
ministerial held last Saturday in Cairo, Saudi Arabia
blasted Hezbollah and Syria....
2. "Most of the governments in the region are irritated
that Hezbollah, which is supported by Iran and Syria, and
the Palestinian extremist group Hamas have destabilized
the Middle East through their unexpected actions.... What
experts on Arab affairs are keeping a close watch on is
Iran's expanding influence on Syria. Ever since the
possibility emerged of a US strike on Iran in response to
that country's nuclear program, there has been talk of
Tehran launching a proxy war using extremists.... Iranian
Foreign Minister Mottaki visited Damascus Monday for
talks with Syrian President Assad to play up the friendly
relations between their countries. A professor at the
University of Damascus asks: 'How will Iran use its
relationship with Syria in its confrontation with the US?
It is possible that Tehran will seek to make a backroom
deal with Washington, so Syria is becoming somewhat
concerned.'"
SCHIEFFER