JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 07/08/08

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 12 TOKYO 001864 SIPDIS DEPT FOR E, P, EB, EAP/J, EAP/P, EAP/PD, PA; WHITE HOUSE/NSC/NEC; JUSTICE FOR STU CHEMTOB IN ANTI-TRUST DIVISION; TREASURY/OASIA/IMI/JAPAN; DEPT PASS USTR/PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE; SECDEF FOR JCS-J-5/JAPAN, DASD/ISA/EAPR/JAPAN; DEPT PASS ELECTRONICALLY TO USDA FAS/ITP FOR SCHROETER; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR; CINCPAC FLT/PA/ COMNAVFORJAPAN/PA. E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 07/08/08 Index: 1) Top headlines 2) Editorials 3) Prime Minister's G-8 Summit schedule (Nikkei) G-8 Summit diplomacy: 4) First day of Hokkaido Toyako Summit focuses on Africa aid (Yomiuri) 5) Japan's proactive stance toward African assistance motivated by desire for UNSC permanent seat, securing natural resources (Nikkei) 6) Japan's African contribution lacks a human presence, with PKO strategy going nowhere (Sankei) 7) Prime Minister Fukuda, as chair of the Toyako Summit, faces difficult task of persuading U.S. to accept long-term target for greenhouse gas reduction (Sankei) 8) Coordination for setting a long-term target for reduction of greenhouse gases reaching final stage, but setting the base year may slip (Nikkei) 9) Summit's joint statement on terrorism to denounce abductions (Nikkei) 10) G-8 leaders all offer written hopes for the future on Tanabata Festival tree (Asahi) 11) Fukuda has bilateral meetings with South African president and other leaders (Yomiuri) 12) Fukuda in meetings with British, German leaders confirms cooperation on climate change policy (Asahi) Korean Peninsula issues: 13) Tokyo Shimbun's exclusive interview with ROK President Lee: Promises cooperation on resolving abduction issue (Tokyo Shimbun) 14) Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura says next U.S. administration will back Japan on the abduction issue, as well (Mainichi) 15) Urgent meeting of association of families of abductees calls for public to raise voices in support of resolving abduction issue (Sankei) 16) Overseas rush of Japanese lawmakers: 150 over next couple of months (Yomiuri) Defense and security: 17) Plan readied in outline to dispose of Self-Defense Forces stock of cluster munitions next fiscal year under international agreement (Yomiuri) 18) Final report on Defense Ministry reform bogs down (Mainichi) 19) Influential LDP lawmaker Makoto Koga sees Diet dissolution and a snap election either next January or next spring (Nikkei) Articles: 1) TOP HEADLINES Asahi: African leaders urge G-8 to step up assistance to deal with soaring food prices Mainichi & Sankei: G-8 agrees to expand assistance to Africa Yomiuri: TOKYO 00001864 002 OF 012 G-8 vows coordinated assistance on food, farm technology for Africa Nikkei: G-8 to include call for ending food export restrictions in statement Tokyo Shimbun: ROK President Lee: Leaders of Japan, China, South Korea will discuss environmental issues in September Akahata: African leaders urge G-8 to resolve rising food prices 2)EDITORIALS Asahi: (1) Zimbabwe: President Mugabe's oppression cannot be ignored (2) Reform of archive system: Make Kasumigaseki transparent Mainichi: (1) G-8 Toyako Summit: Make the G-8 summit starting point for African self-reliance (2) Teacher hiring scandal: Thorough investigation necessary to teach students morals Yomiuri: (1) G-8 summit: Cooperation vital to control food prices (2) Dispatch of day workers: Calm discussion needed before stepping up restrictions Nikkei: (1) G-8 must respond to anxiety of financial markets (2) Strengthening taxi regulations questionable Sankei: (1) Assistance for Africa: Need to shift policy from quantity to quality (2) Teacher hiring scandal: End collusion Tokyo Shimbun: (1) G-8 Toyako Summit: Africa first test for G-8 (2) Convenience stores' voluntary closing during late night hours: Good chance to reconsider lifestyles Akahata: (1) Crime committed by former Japan Highway Public Co. vice president: Amakudari must be banned in order also to eradicate bid rigging 3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) Prime Minister's schedule, July 7 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) July 8, 2008 10:30 Met with British Prime Minister Brown at the Windsor Hotel Toya. 11:30 Met with German Chancellor Merkel. TOKYO 00001864 003 OF 012 12:56 Working lunch with participants from G-8 nations, various African nations and international agencies. Photo session. 14:30 Meetings with leaders of G-8 nations, African countries and international agencies. 16:30 Met with Sough African President Mbeki. 17:06 Met with Algerian President Bouteflika, followed by Nigerian President Yar'Adua. 19:04 Summit reception. 20:05 Dinner party hosted by him and his wife. Stayed the hotel overnight. 4) G-8 to coordinate assistance on food, farm technology for Africa YOMIURI (Top Play) (Excerpts) July 8, 2008 The leaders of the Group of Eight summit and seven African countries took part in an "extended talks" yesterday afternoon. They exchanged views on the serious impact of soaring global food and oil prices on African countries. The African leaders expressed strong concern about the soaring prices and urged the G-8 leaders to strengthen their assistance that would lead to improving the productivity of agricultural products, as well as to display leadership in curbing prices through talks with oil-producing countries, including the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). In response, the G-8 leaders vowed a policy of providing African countries with agricultural assistance. At the beginning of the conference, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, chair of the G-8 summit, briefed the members on Japan's policy of doubling its official development assistance (ODA) to Africa by 2012, which he had promised in the fourth round of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV) held in May in Yokohama. One African leader voiced appreciation, saying: "I highly value that Japan fulfilled leadership in doubling investment, focusing on infrastructure improvement." 5) Japan plays up pro-Africa policy, eyeing UNSC permanent seat, abundant resources NIKKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) July 8, 2008 In expanded talks participated by the leaders of the Group of Eight (G-8) nations and African countries yesterday, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda underscored his eagerness to help African development. Behind this approach is a desire to win support from African countries, a strong voting base in the United Nations, for Japan's bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. But Japan's conventional aid-oriented diplomatic approach is facing financial difficulties. Representatives from African countries also presented requests and TOKYO 00001864 004 OF 012 complaints of the present state of assistant measures pledged by the G-8 nations. The expanded talks lasted for about three hours starting from around 13:00. Delivering a speech at the outset of the talks, Fukuda, taking advantage of his role as the chair of the G-8 Summit, explained Japan's assistant measures for Africa. He said: "Japan plans to double official development assistance (ODA) disbursements to the region by 2012. The government will also advance assistance programs that will lead to doubling private direct investment." Fukuda briefed on the assistance measures he pledged to implement in the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in late May and then said: "Based on these measures, Japan would like to help Africa develop in cooperation with you." African leaders expressed their gratitude, with one participant saying: "I offer my thanks to you for inviting us to the Lake Toya Summit. TICAD ended in great success." As the talks proceeded, however, one request after another was presented from African leaders. They posed questions about the state of implementation of the aid plans pledged (by the G-8 nations). They complained that some of the plans committed to by the G-8 nations have ended up as just lip service. Fukuda met separately with African leaders, including South African President Thabo Mubeki, after the expanded talks. Mubeki told Fukuda in the meeting: "We want you to hold a follow-up discussion (on the pledged aid) with the other G-8 leaders." Some representatives from Africa expressed hope for Japan's technological cooperation. Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika stressed in a meeting with Fukuda: "Our nation has natural resources, so we can form a full partnership with other countries. We want to learn Japan's technologies and know what brought success to Japan." Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua indicated his enthusiasm to lure Japanese companies into his country, remarking: "We are making efforts to create an environment for investment. In particular, we would like to improve public security on a priority basis." There are two major reasons Japan spent many hours to emphasize its pro-Africa policy on the first day of the summit. One is a desire to win over African votes for its bid for a UNSC permanent seat. Another is to secure abundant resources in Africa by deepening relations with the region. 6) Japan's PKO strategy going nowhere SANKEI (Page 5) (Abridged) July 8, 2008 Poverty drives civil wars and tribal disputes in Africa. Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda advocated his "peace cooperative nation" initiative in his January policy before the Diet, clarifying Japan's stance of contributing to the international community in the area of United Nations peacekeeping operations. The Group of Eight (G-8), now in session with its leaders meeting at Lake Toya in Hokkaido, discussed aid to Africa in its expanded meeting held yesterday. However, there was no scene to allow Fukuda to display his leadership on the issue of building peace. TOKYO 00001864 005 OF 012 The government plans to send two persons this September from the Self-Defense Forces to the headquarters of the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) deployed in the southern part of Sudan in Africa. Japan will participate in PKO in Africa for the first time in 13 years since the SDF sent personnel to the headquarters of United Nations Operations in Mozambique (ONUMOZ) in 1993-1995. Fukuda began early this year to study where to send SDF personnel for Japan's PKO contribution. The area on his mind was Africa, which was expected to be on the agenda for the G-8 summit. Then, the government, centering on the Foreign Ministry, chose Sudan, where most of the G-8 members have sent troops to settle the Darfur war, which is called the worst crisis to humanity in history. The Foreign Ministry explored the possibility of sending Ground Self-Defense Force engineering troops to the southern part of Sudan for such missions as repairing roads and removing landmines. With the G-8 summit timetabled, the Foreign Ministry pushed ahead with its idea of sending GSDF members to Sudan. This, however, upset the Defense Ministry, which was concerned about how to ensure the safety of GSDF members. Subsequently, the government forwent its GSDF dispatch plan for the time being. Instead, the government decided to send personnel to UNMIS headquarters in Sudan's capital city of Khartoum. This course of action was finalized within the government on June 26, with the G-8 summit soon to open. On June 30, Fukuda met with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon. On that occasion, Fukuda told Ban that Japan would send SDF personnel to UNMIS headquarters. However, Ban urged Fukuda to send SDF troops to Sudan, suggesting the need for Japan to step up the SDF's role in the areas of airlift, land transportation, and supply. 7) Lake Toya Summit: Japan, host nation, at crucial juncture in persuading U.S. over long-term target for cutting greenhouse gas emissions SANKEI (Page 3) (Excerpts) July 8, 2008 Participants in the G-8 summit (Lake Toya Summit in Hokkaido) will today discuss global warming measures. Since Japan will lead discussions on a post-Kyoto Protocol framework for preventing global warming from 2013, it is being called upon to achieve progress. The focus of discussions is how to deal with the long-term goal of cutting global greenhouse gas emissions by 50 PERCENT by 2050. Prime Minister Fukuda intends to persuade the U.S. to agree on this goal. However, Chairman Connaughton of the U.S. government's Council on Environmental Quality yesterday said, "Cutting greenhouse gas emissions is an issue for all major economies." As such, since the U.S. remains cautious about the idea of setting a long-term goal, it is unclear whether there will be as much progress on the matter as Japan would like to see. In an effort to create a post-Kyoto Protocol framework led by the UN, Japan intends to call for participation of all major emitters, approval for not only top-down reduction goals but also for a variety of flexible approaches, as well as balancing environmental preservation with economic development. To achieve those ends, Japan as the host nation wants to lead discussions on a post-Kyoto framework, thereby sending a message to TOKYO 00001864 006 OF 012 the world that Japan is proactive on global warming. As part of that effort, it will propose a sector-specific approach that would apply reduction targets for various industrial sectors. It wants to incorporate the proposal in the declaration of leaders of the G-8 nations. Japan aims at upgrading the treatment of the proposal from "seriously consider," as was adopted last year, to "agreement." To this end, it is necessary to persuade the U.S., which has not joined the Kyoto Protocol and remains cautious about setting a long-term goal, to agree on the idea. President Bush has indicated a possibility of making a concession but still remains cautious. If Japan leans toward European countries, which are positive about setting a long-term goal, the U.S. will not be persuaded. However, if it is overly deferent to the U.S., it will lose support from European countries. Prime Minister Fukuda as the chairman of the meeting will surely have to walk a fine line in the discussions. 8) Global warming measures: Coordination on long-term targets reaches final stage; Decision on base year for emissions cuts to be put off NIKKEI (Page 3) (Abridged slightly) July 8, 2008 Coordination of views of various countries on long-term targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions, the major issue among global warming measures, has reached its final stage. Japan, the G-8 summit host nation, is trying to secure approval from various countries on the inclusion in a chairman's statement of a goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 50 PERCENT by 2050. Reaching a decision on the adoption of a base year will likely be put off. With leading countries wide apart on long-term targets, tough negotiations are continuing. A senior official of the European Commission of the European Union (EU) yesterday warned that the long-term target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 50 PERCENT by 2050 should not suffer a setback at the summit this time. He said: "We already discussed the target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 50 PERCENT by 2050 at the G-8 last year. We must move forward this year." This official also pointed out: "We should slash carbon emissions by 60 PERCENT to 80 PERCENT from the perspective of a scientific approach. 50 PERCENT is the minimum level." He thus underscored that reaching an agreement on a 50 PERCENT reduction is a nonnegotiable line. Concerning the long-term target, participants in the Heiligendamm summit held in Germany last year agreed to seriously consider cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 50 PERCENT by 2050. Japan is aiming at including in a G-8 statement wording saying that moving forward that agreement is the supreme task. However, the U.S. stance is stubborn, as it seeks the involvement of such major emitters as China and India as well. Chairman Connaughton of the U.S. government's Council on Environmental Quality underscored during a press conference yesterday: "President Bush said that cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 50 PERCENT by 2050 is valuable and necessary. He, however, categorically noted that all emitters must share this target." TOKYO 00001864 007 OF 012 Regarding a numerical target for cutting greenhouse gas emissions, Connaughton said, "If major economies set realistic targets, they can produce major results." He thus indicated a view that it would be desirable to adopt a framework of setting achievable nation-specific goals. Commenting on a base year for emissions, the same senior EC official yesterday revealed his stance of not seeking an agreement. He said, "It is all right to discuss this matter after the G-8." The base year of the Kyoto Protocol is 1990. Japan is calling for making 2005 the base year in a post-Kyoto Protocol framework. Its stance is at odds with that of the EU, which considers 1990 to be the appropriate year. 9) G-8 joint statement to criticize abductions, terrorism as "impermissible" NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) July 8, 2008 The draft of a joint statement on antiterrorism measures to be adopted at the Group of Eight (G-8) Summit (Lake Toya Summit) was released yesterday. The draft defines all terrorist acts as crimes and criticizes abductions, hostage-taking, and suicide bombings as "impermissible." It specifies: "Disputes or poverty cannot be used to justify terrorism." The draft mentions the G-8 nation's "firm support" for the antiterrorism measures by the United Nations, pledging G-8 nations' strengthened cooperation in fighting terrorism. Specifically, the draft emphasizes that the nations will cooperate in preventing the smuggling of cash and the flow of terrorists' funds via charity organizations. The draft also proposes taking steps to cope with biological, chemical, and radiological terrorism, terrorism against information and communications, and other types of threats. 10) Prime Minister Fukuda makes summit debut on Tanabata ASAHI (Page 4) (Excerpts) July 8, 2008 The G-8 Lake Toya Summit opened on July 7. Timed with Tanabata (a Japanese star festival),an event was held at the summit hall yesterday in which G-8 participants hung paper strips with their wishes written on bamboo branches. Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's paper strip read: "Learn lessons from the past -- open a bright future by learning from human wisdom." President George W. Bush's paper strip read: "I want to see a world free from any kind of oppression, including poverty and illness." The message of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the chair of last year's summit, read: "May a good star shine upon the G-8 summit. May each one of us have a sense of responsibility." British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's wished: "An end to poverty; an end to terrorism on the third anniversary of the July 7, 2005, London bombings." EU Chairman Barroso's paper strip simply read "peace" in kanji. TOKYO 00001864 008 OF 012 11) Premier meets with South African president and other African leaders YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) July 8, 2008 Prime Minister Fukuda met with the presidents of South Africa, Algeria and Nigeria at the venue of the G-8 Lake Toya Summit in Hokkaido. Referring to the climate change issue, the prime minister during the meeting with South African President Mbeki sought cooperation from his nation, a major greenhouse gas emitter, noting: "I would like to hold close talks for the setting of an effective post-Kyoto Protocol framework to prevent global warming from 2013. It is important to set numbers that are convincible in technical and scientific terms." President Mbeki simply replied, "I would like to discuss this issue at the meeting of major emitters on July 9." The three leaders expressed to Fukuda their support for Japan's bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. 12) Fukuda reaffirms cooperation with British and German leaders MAINICHI (Page 4) (Full) July 8, 2008 Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda met with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in succession ahead of the opening of the Lake Toya Summit in Hokkaido yesterday. In discussing the issue of climate change in the meetings with the two leaders, both sides agreed to cooperate to produce valuable results at the Summit. Merkel, who chaired the Heiligendamm Summit last year, expressed hopes that a joint statement to be adopted this year will take a step forward from the one of last year, saying: "Various positive moves have been seen since the Heiligendamm Summit." 13) South Korean President Lee in interview with Tokyo Shimbun president reveals plan to upgrade Japan-China-South Korea environmental ministerial to trilateral top-level talks in September, expresses eagerness to cooperate to resolve abduction issue TOKYO SHIMBUN (Top play) (Excerpts) July 8, 2008 Eiji Tsukiyama, Seoul South Korean President Lee Myung Bak gave an interview on July 7 at the Blue House, the presidential office, for about an hour to Chunichi Shimbun and Tokyo Shimbun President Torao Oshima and others ahead of his attendance at an expanded G-8 Lake Toya summit meeting in Hokkaido. In the interview, the president indicated that he would discuss joint efforts to fight against global warming in East Asia at a Japan-China-South Korea summit to be held in Japan in September. The president also indicated that he would work strongly upon North Korea in connection with the abduction of Japanese nationals by the North, saying: "If North Korea is to come out to the international community after its nuclear issue is resolved, it is important to settle this (abduction issue)." TOKYO 00001864 009 OF 012 President Lee also revealed a plan to present specific figures regarding greenhouse gas emissions, such as a mid-term reduction target up to 2020, in 2009. He also said about China, the world's second largest CO2 emitter, "The fact that coal is its major energy source is also a problem." He also indicated that Japan, China, and South Korea would discuss joint efforts at the trilateral summit in September by upgrading the trilateral environmental ministerial to top-level talks. About North Korea's declaration on June 26 of its nuclear programs and activities, the president said: "Although I can positively evaluate it, it is insufficient because information on nuclear weapons is not included." He expressed his resolve, saying: "The goal must be achieved without fail by convincing North Korea that abandoning nuclear programs would serve its own interests." As reasons of ongoing protest rallies against the resumption of U.S. beef imports, the president cited an increased public interest in food safety and a lack of correct information on BSE. He also noted: "Power has been shifted from innovative forces to conservative forces after a lapse of 10 years and a political slogan has also circulated. But because a large number of people have begun to understand the crux of the matter, I don't think (the turmoil) will grow any further." 14) Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura expects next U.S. administration will support Japan's efforts to resolve abduction issue MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) July 8, 2008 Referring to the statements of the top leaders of Japan and the United States in their summit meeting on July 6 stressing cooperation on resolving the issues of North Korea's nuclear programs and abductions of Japanese nationals, Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura told the press yesterday: "It was meaningful." Based on the fact that the term of President George W. Bush will end next January, Machimura expressed his anticipation that the U.S. stance of supporting Japan to resolve the abduction issue would continue in the next administration, as well. He stated: "It is not good for superpower like the United States to shift its policy whenever an administration changes." (08070804kn) Back to Top 15) SANKEI (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) July 8, 2008 The Association of the Families of Victims of Kidnapped by North Korea (AFVKN) and other organizations held an emergency meeting yesterday at the Servo Kankan Hall in Nagata-cho, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo. The Japanese government has announced that it will partially lift sanctions against North Korea even though there has been no progress on the abduction issue. The United States, too, has begun taking steps to delist North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism. Frustrated with the series of concessions by the government, AFVKN members urged Tokyo not to lift sanctions easily and called for a TOKYO 00001864 010 OF 012 stronger national voice. AFVKN representative Shigeo Iizuka, 70, who is the older brother of Yaeko Taguchi, who was abducted at the age of 22, expressed a sense of crisis at the meeting, saying: "We are losing the major bargaining chip of economic sanctions. We are worried that the government is using its diplomatic cards for nothing." Teruaki Masumoto, 52, the younger brother of Rumiko Masumoto, who went missing at the age of 24, also called for cooperation, saying: "If the Japanese government does not raise its voice about (the United States' decision to take the North off its list of terrorism blacklist),then we would like to see the general public raise their voices." Kyoko Nakayama, prime ministerial advisor on the abduction issue, also called for public support, saying: "We are frustrated. Concessions must not be made easily. We need the public's help so that the Japanese government will take a firm stance." 16) About 150 lawmakers planning overseas trips YOMIURI (Page 4) (Excerpts) July 8, 2008 A rush of Diet members' overseas junkets has already begun. About 150 lawmakers from both Diet chambers are expected to travel abroad mostly in July and August. The 150 members account for more than 70 PERCENT of all Diet members. They appear to have decided to hurry to make overseas trips because the outlook for the political situation has become fluid, given the possibility of dissolution of the House of Representatives for a snap election after the end of the next extraordinary Diet session. Of the 138 Lower House members planned to visit overseas, about 100 will have wound up their itineraries by early August. Usually many lawmakers go abroad before an ordinary Diet session in January, but the Diet members were unable to do so because the last extraordinary session went straight through the New Year from last year for the first time in 14 years. Reportedly, they did not go abroad during the consecutive holidays (Golden Week) from late April to early May; so, many lawmakers planned their overseas trips for the summer. 17) Defense Ministry to work out cluster bomb disposal plan next year YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) July 8, 2008 The Defense Ministry set a basic course yesterday to dispose of the Self-Defense Forces' stock of cluster munitions. The ministry will outline a disposal plan next fiscal year. In addition, the ministry will also make a budget request for that purpose. Scrapping the cluster munitions will cost 20-30 billion yen, so the ministry will retrench the disposal cost through such measures as reusing cluster bombs as single warhead bombs. The government has now agreed on a cluster bomb banning treaty and is expected to sign it late this year. The Defense Ministry has therefore studied its responses. If the treaty comes into effect, Japan will be required to dispose of the SDF's cluster munitions, worth 27.6 billion yen, within eight years. Japan has no know-how to TOKYO 00001864 011 OF 012 dispose of cluster bombs, so the Defense Ministry will first outline a plan to remove bomblets from cluster bombs and defuse these bomblets. After that, the ministry will consider setting up a new workshop for cluster disposal and redeploying cluster bomblets, which are mounted on weapons like multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS),as single warhead munitions. 18) Defense Ministry facing difficulties in finalizing reform plan MAINICHI (Page 5) (Abridged) July 8, 2008 A government advisory panel discussing how to reform the Defense Ministry was expected to work out a final report in late June. However, the panel has yet to finalize its report, facing difficulties in compiling opinions from its members. The Defense Ministry is going to partially integrate its internal bureaus' officials and the Self-Defense Forces' staff officers. However, the Defense Ministry still remains unable to coordinate what to do about civilian control after its organizational integration of bureaucrats and SDF staff officers. The reform panel was set up in the wake of scandals, such as former Administrative Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya's bribery case. In February, Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba came up with a radical restructuring plan that features a drastic reorganization of the Defense Ministry's internal bureaus and the SDF's staff offices. Then, the panel focused its discussion on restructuring the Defense Ministry. In mid-June, the advisory panel's secretariat, including Assistant Chief Cabinet Secretary Kyoji Yanagisawa, who is from the Defense Ministry, presented a draft plan for personnel exchanges between the Defense Ministry's internal bureau officials and the SDF's staff officers. However, Ishiba rejected the draft plan intended to maintain the Defense Ministry's current system as is. In this case, Ishiba thought to himself that SDF personnel cannot be above division director in the Defense Ministry's internal bureaus. In the end, the advisory panel's secretariat will fully rewrite its draft plan, basing it on a proposal that came this May from National Defense Academy President Makoto Iokibe, an influential member of the advisory panel. Iokibe's proposal is to basically retain the Defense Ministry's current organizational setup that consists of its internal bureaus and the SDF's staff offices. Meanwhile, Iokibe has also proposed mixing internal bureau officials and SDF staff officers. His idea paves the way for the Defense Ministry to appoint SDF staff officers to senior posts that have been occupied by those in the Defense Policy Bureau and other internal bureaus. Compared with the secretariat's draft plan, Iokibe's proposal is going further to integrate the Defense Ministry's bureaucracy and the SDF's brass. 19) LDP Koga predicts dissolution of Lower House "next January or spring" NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) July 8, 2008 Delivering a speech in Fukuoka yesterday, Makoto Koga, chairman of the Election Committee of the Liberal Democratic Party, said about timing for dissolution of the House of Representatives for a snap TOKYO 00001864 012 OF 012 election: "It is conceivable that the government will make the decision after it submits a bill related to revenues and expenditures at the outset of the ordinary Diet session (next January) or in late March or early April after the bill is enacted." Koga said: "The Lower House should not be dissolved this year. If that were the case, (the LDP) would be defeated (in the general election)." He added that in the election to be held in September of next year following the expiration of the Lower House members' term, "There is a high possibility that the LDP will be driven into a corner by the opposition camp. Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's right to dissolve the Lower House might be restricted." SCHIEFFER