Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TOKYO5311
2007-11-21 04:33:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - ASEAN SUMMIT AND
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UNCLAS TOKYO 005311
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 - ASEAN SUMMIT AND
PUTIN'S PRE-ELECTION STRATEGY
LEAD STORIES: All Japanese national dailies in their
Wednesday morning editions front-paged the successful
creation of induced pluripotent stem cells, which
resemble embryonic stem cells, from human skin by a
Japanese research team and another group at the
University of Wisconsin.
UNCLAS TOKYO 005311
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 - ASEAN SUMMIT AND
PUTIN'S PRE-ELECTION STRATEGY
LEAD STORIES: All Japanese national dailies in their
Wednesday morning editions front-paged the successful
creation of induced pluripotent stem cells, which
resemble embryonic stem cells, from human skin by a
Japanese research team and another group at the
University of Wisconsin.
1. "Rough Road Toward Community" The liberal Mainichi's
Singapore correspondent wrote (11/21): "In its leaders'
summit on Tuesday, ASEAN adopted the ASEAN Charter,
which sets forth the organization's legal and other
frameworks. While the charter is considered the basic
principles upon which the group hopes to build a
community by 2015, it appears that the leaders
prioritized ideals and set aside the differing
political systems and economic disparities among
members. Forging a community is not an easy task."
2. "Concerns Remain About Realizing ASEAN Charter" The
liberal Tokyo Shimbun reported from Singapore (11/21):
"In its preamble, the ASEAN Charter highlights the
organization's commitment to the rule of law,
democracy, and respect for human rights. Given that the
charter does not have clauses mandating that its
members abide by these ideas, however, concerns remain
that the Charter could end up as nothing more than pie
in the sky. The fact that the assembled leaders had
trouble dealing with issues related to Burma just the
night before is symbolic, as it raises doubts about the
significance of the Charter.... While some in the
course of drafting the Charter had called for a review
of such principles as unanimous consensus and
noninterference in domestic affairs, these ideas were
preserved in the end due to opposition from Vietnam and
Burma. There is a possibility that this could undermine
ASEAN's transformation into a community."
3. "Russia Placing Importance on 'Stability' Toward
Putin Dynasty" The conservative Sankei's Moscow-based
reporter noted: "The December 2 parliamentary election
appears to be turning into a vote of confidence by
Russian voters that would elevate President Putin into
the role of supreme ruler and prolonging his tenure.
The Putin government is obsessed with creating a
dictatorship reminiscent of Czarist Russia, and the
opposition has little hope of stopping the move....
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia at one
point attempted to create a Western-style democracy.
After a period of chaos, however, President Putin
emerged and took strong-arm measures to rebuild Russia
by suppressing free speech and political opposition,
enhancing the police state, and creating crony
capitalism starting with renationalization of the
energy sector. Is there a 'Czar Putin' in the making?
Together with the spring presidential election, the
upcoming parliamentary vote is bound to have a
significant impact on Russia's future."
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: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - ASEAN SUMMIT AND
PUTIN'S PRE-ELECTION STRATEGY
LEAD STORIES: All Japanese national dailies in their
Wednesday morning editions front-paged the successful
creation of induced pluripotent stem cells, which
resemble embryonic stem cells, from human skin by a
Japanese research team and another group at the
University of Wisconsin.
1. "Rough Road Toward Community" The liberal Mainichi's
Singapore correspondent wrote (11/21): "In its leaders'
summit on Tuesday, ASEAN adopted the ASEAN Charter,
which sets forth the organization's legal and other
frameworks. While the charter is considered the basic
principles upon which the group hopes to build a
community by 2015, it appears that the leaders
prioritized ideals and set aside the differing
political systems and economic disparities among
members. Forging a community is not an easy task."
2. "Concerns Remain About Realizing ASEAN Charter" The
liberal Tokyo Shimbun reported from Singapore (11/21):
"In its preamble, the ASEAN Charter highlights the
organization's commitment to the rule of law,
democracy, and respect for human rights. Given that the
charter does not have clauses mandating that its
members abide by these ideas, however, concerns remain
that the Charter could end up as nothing more than pie
in the sky. The fact that the assembled leaders had
trouble dealing with issues related to Burma just the
night before is symbolic, as it raises doubts about the
significance of the Charter.... While some in the
course of drafting the Charter had called for a review
of such principles as unanimous consensus and
noninterference in domestic affairs, these ideas were
preserved in the end due to opposition from Vietnam and
Burma. There is a possibility that this could undermine
ASEAN's transformation into a community."
3. "Russia Placing Importance on 'Stability' Toward
Putin Dynasty" The conservative Sankei's Moscow-based
reporter noted: "The December 2 parliamentary election
appears to be turning into a vote of confidence by
Russian voters that would elevate President Putin into
the role of supreme ruler and prolonging his tenure.
The Putin government is obsessed with creating a
dictatorship reminiscent of Czarist Russia, and the
opposition has little hope of stopping the move....
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia at one
point attempted to create a Western-style democracy.
After a period of chaos, however, President Putin
emerged and took strong-arm measures to rebuild Russia
by suppressing free speech and political opposition,
enhancing the police state, and creating crony
capitalism starting with renationalization of the
energy sector. Is there a 'Czar Putin' in the making?
Together with the spring presidential election, the
upcoming parliamentary vote is bound to have a
significant impact on Russia's future."
SCHIEFFER