MEDIA REACTION - G-8 SUMMIT IN GERMANY - TOKYO

UNCLAS TOKYO 002612 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 - G-8 SUMMIT IN GERMANY - TOKYO ¶1. LEAD STORIES: There were no papers published Monday morning because of a press holiday. Quasi-governmental broadcaster NHK-TV reported on computer glitches Sunday at the Shizuoka and Okayama branch offices of the Social Insurance Agency (SIA),which inconvenienced pensioners who had flocked to the outlets to inquire about the status of their premium payment records. ¶2. "G-8 Environmental Accord: Post-Kyoto Framework Created" The liberal Asahi editorialized (6/9): "The international community has taken a step toward global security. The focus of discussion at the G-8 summit in Heilingendamm, Germany, was neither economic issues nor armed conflicts but rather how to combat global warming, which poses a common threat to mankind. Leaders from the major countries recognized the security issue posed by climate change and agreed to move quickly to take coordinated action. We welcome this agreement, which will lay the groundwork for tackling issues related to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions...." ¶3. "G-8 Summit Opens the Way for US and Chinese Participation in Post-Kyoto Framework" An editorial in the business-oriented Nihon Keizai commented (6/9): "The G-8 summit in Heilingedamm, Germany, agreed to 'restart' work to create a new framework to combat global warming, work that had been stalled by US and Chinese opposition. Under the envisioned framework, major emitters, including the US, China, and India, are expected to do their part to help halve global emissions by 2050. The world has finally started fighting global warming...." ¶4. "Putting the G-8 Accord into Action" An editorial in the top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri stated 6/9): "Finally, the international community is coming together to prevent global warming. The G-8 leaders agreed on the basic goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, declaring that they will seriously consider halving global emissions by 2050.... It is certain that global warming will also be a major issue at the Lake Toya G-8 summit to be held in 2008 in Hokkaido. As chair of the summit, Japan will bear a heavy responsibility for the issue." SCHIEFFER