TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - BUSH VISIT TO MIDDLE

UNCLAS TOKYO 000115 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 - BUSH VISIT TO MIDDLE EAST LEAD STORIES: Top stories on Tuesday morning include a Kazakhstan government decision to take away some of the concessions held by Japan and other foreign nations in a Caspian Sea oil development to increase domestic control of the multinational initiative. ¶1. "U.S. Calls for Encirclement of Iran" A correspondent for the top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri wrote from Riyadh (1/15): "During his speech in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday, President Bush called Iran the world's 'leading sponsor of terrorism' and expressed his resolve to tighten the net around it. In order to drum up support for this policy, President Bush during his ongoing tour of the region has refrained from calling on Arab states to take steps toward democracy. He also plans to notify Congress of his administration's plans for a $20 billion package of military aid for Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. Given that Bush's 'containment' policy lacks specifics and that Arab countries' distrust in him remains strong, it remains to be seen whether this strategy will bear fruit." ¶2. "Arabs Disappointed with Bush Visit" A Cairo-based reporter for the Yomiuri stated (11/15): "Although Arab countries were initially hopeful that President Bush's visit to the region signaled a change in the failed U.S. Middle East diplomacy of the past seven years, they are now deeply disappointed with the rigidity of the U.S. positions on Iran and the issue of Palestinian refugees. In his address on Sunday, President Bush stressed the need to contain Iran and reiterated his previous concept of dividing the world into 'friends' and 'foes.' However, this approach will be unacceptable to the moderate Sunni Arab states near Iran, as Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states are exploring a path toward 'coexistence' with Tehran. Egypt is also moving toward rapprochement with Iran.... If Washington continues its current policy line, it will undermine the position of pro-U.S. Arab moderates and instead reinforce that of such anti-U.S. states as Iran and Syria." DONOVAN