MEDIA REACTION Q BLAIR'S RESIGNATION - TOKYO

UNCLAS TOKYO 002143 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 BLAIR'S RESIGNATION - TOKYO LEAD STORIES: Most Monday morning papers front-paged reports from Tehran concerning the Iranian Foreign Ministry's announcement Sunday that Iran and the US have agreed to direct discussion on the security situation in Iraq. ¶1. "Blair Stuck in Iraq QuagmireQ The top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri editorialized (5/12): "... British Prime Minister Tony Blair was obliged to announce his resignation halfway through his remaining term of office because of a sharp drop in public support and under rising pressure from his own Labour Party, which is concerned about a possible poor showing in next general election expected for 2009. The biggest reason for a sharp drop in public support for the Blair government was the stalemate in IraqQs security situation. Mr. Blair, giving top priority to maintaining the Anglo-American alliance, had Britain join the US in starting the war in Iraq in 2003 despite objections from the public and his party.... Blair is expected to formally resign in late June, while Nicholas Sarkozy has been elected the next French president. What influence will a the change of leadership in Britain and France have on the European Community (EU)?" ¶2. "Blair Q Creator of New Middle-of-the-Road Politics An editorial in the business-oriented Nihon Keizai commented (5/12): "British Prime Minister Blair will be remembered by many around the worled for a long time. Blair, who has successfully shifted his Labour Party from its long-held left-leaning dogma to a new middle-of-the- road party since he became premier in 1997 at age 43, will step down on June 27.... Mr. Blair consistently tried to maintain a close British-US alliance with both the Clinton and Bush administrations. Although PM Blair's decision to have Britain join the US in the Iraq war led to a setback for his government, he emphatically said he did what he considered right for the country." DONOVAN