TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - ZIMBABWE

UNCLAS TOKYO 001813 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 - ZIMBABWE ¶1. LEAD STORIES: Top stories on Wednesday morning included a report saying that a "base year" for setting a greenhouse gas emissions reduction target will not be specified in the chairman's summary or other statements to be issued at the upcoming G8 summit. ¶2. "U.S. Looking into UNSC Resolution on Zimbabwe" The conservative Sankei's correspondent report from New York stated (7/2): "The U.S. has compiled an outline of a UN Security Council resolution against Zimbabwean President Mugabe. Based on Chapter VII of the UN Charter, the draft resolution includes a ban on the sale of arms to Zimbabwe and a freeze of assets. The discussion at the UNSC will likely be heated, as China, which excuses Mugabe's efforts to cling to power on the basis of 'noninterference,' is likely to oppose the U.S. resolution." ¶3. "African Union Paralyzed over Zimbabwe" The liberal Asahi's correspondent report from Sharm El Sheik, Egypt, stated (7/2): "Discord has emerged between the U.S.-European group, which strongly condemns Zimbabwean President Mugabe's crackdown on opposition parties, and African nations, which are trying to address the issue via 'calm diplomacy.' The African Union's (AU) presence as a regional framework could be called into question, as the recent AU leaders' meeting held in Egypt with Mugabe present failed to come up with effective measures to address the issue." SCHIEFFER