TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - WAR ON TERROR; APEC

UNCLAS TOKYO 004229 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: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - WAR ON TERROR; APEC LEAD STORIES: Top stories this morning included a decision on Monday by the government of Japan to submit new legislation in the current Diet session to extend the MSDF refueling operation in the Indian Ocean. ¶1. "Six Years After 9/11: Unity Against Terrorism Still Needed" The conservative Sankei editorialized (9/11): "Six years have passed since 9/11.... Not only Americans but people the world over remember the shock of that day. There is as yet no end in sight to the fight against terrorism.... Is there no way to stop the violence and bloodshed? The will of the international community to eradicate terrorism is being tested six years after 9/11.... The US has at times acted on its own since that day, and its mishandling of the situation in Iraq has widened the gap between Washington and Europe and the UN. The US, however, is now focusing on international cooperation.... There is a long way to go before terrorism is eliminated. It is a fact, however, that anger over the spread of terrorism is growing in both developed and developing nations irrespective of religion and culture. The international community must not miss this opportunity and must strengthen unity." ¶2. "APEC Agreement on Energy Conservation" The top- circulation, moderate Yomiuri editorialized (9/11): "Although APEC was able to set a minimum numerical target for curbing greenhouse gases, the debate among APEC members illustrated the difficulty in convincing developing countries to take part in measures to fight global warming.... There is growing competition between the US and Europe over leadership in the creation of a post-Kyoto framework. While the US only wants to set energy-conservation goals in order to urge developing nations to take part, the EU wants to directly control CO2 emissions. To be effective, any new framework must include the US, China, and developing nations, and the creation of one will top the agenda at next year's G-8 summit." SCHIEFFER