Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TOKYO4691
2006-08-17 02:41:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION Q LEBANON - TOKYO
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UNCLAS TOKYO 004691
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 LEBANON - TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: Top stories on Thursday morning papers
include follow-ups on Russia's seizure of a Japanese
trawler in waters near the Northern Territories on
Wednesday, including a GOJ demand that Moscow apologize
for the shooting death of a Japanese fisherman and
immediately return the victim's body and the other
detained crewmembers.
UNCLAS TOKYO 004691
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 LEBANON - TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: Top stories on Thursday morning papers
include follow-ups on Russia's seizure of a Japanese
trawler in waters near the Northern Territories on
Wednesday, including a GOJ demand that Moscow apologize
for the shooting death of a Japanese fisherman and
immediately return the victim's body and the other
detained crewmembers.
¶1. "Ceasefire Must Not be Reversed" The liberal Tokyo
Shimbun editorialized (8/17): "In order to implement the
ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, a 15,000-strong
Lebanese Army unit and a similar-sized UN force must be
quickly deployed in southern Lebanon.... With the warring
parties still squaring off, monitoring a pullout and
ceasefire will not be an easy task. There are concerns
that the Lebanese forces lack the ability to keep the
peace. There must be an orderly command structure
integrating them with the UN forces in order to prevent
the exchange of fire between Israel and Hezbollah. Once a
ceasefire is firmly in place, Hezbollah should release
the Israeli soldiers it holds, while Israel should free
the Arab youths and Hezbollah fighters it holds. Israel
should also withdraw its occupation force from the
farmlands on the Golan Heights.
¶2. "If this peace process proceeds with support from the
international community, it should be possible to disarm
Hezbollah and absorb its forces into the Lebanese Army.
The important question is whether the pro-Israel US can
change its policy and engage in dialogue with Syria and
Iran, which support Hezbollah. A solution to the
Palestinian issue is key to making the ceasefire in
Lebanon a lasting one. As long as Israel and the US
engage in a 'display of force' by fighting with Lebanon
while at the same time conducting attacks in the Gaza
Strip, the people of the Middle East will turn to armed
extremists, and the chance for peace will slip away."
SCHIEFFER