JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 10/02/08

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 002747 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 10/02/08 Index: Diet interpellations: 1) Prime Minister Aso in Diet interpellations stresses intention to pass supplementary budget, hints at possible second extra budget (Tokyo Shimbun) 2) Aso's Diet replies on Indian Ocean refueling mission, North Korea problem, financial unrest, and comprehensive economic package (Nikkei) 3) Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Ichiro Ozawa in Diet soliloquy calls the U.S.-Japan alliance the pivot of Japan's diplomacy, lays out economic plan (Asahi) 4) Ruling camp criticizes Ozawa's economic logic as outlined in his Diet statement, questioning whether the funding he claims to fund plan exists (Tokyo Shimbun) Diet agenda: 5) DPJ seeks confirmation of Diet dissolution while ruling camp presses for deliberations on bill to extend MSDF operations in the Indian Ocean (Yomiuri) 6) Talks among Diet steering committee chairs rupture over scheduling deliberations on supplementary budget bill (Tokyo Shimbun) 7) Ruling and opposition camps intensifying horse trading over timing of Lower House dissolution (Mainichi) 8) Aso is searching for a way to dissolve the Diet in Oct. but he is being stymied by the state of the economy (Nikkei) 9) Prime Minister Aso wants to restudy the tax system to tap more overseas income of companies (Nikkei) 10) Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura's political support groups reported 22 million yen in office expenses for an apartment used by his secretary (Mainichi) 11) Senior Foreign Ministry official on Assistant Secretary of State Hill's trip to Pyongyang: If progress, Six-Party Talks could resume this month (Asahi) 12) Japan, South Korea to continue joint surveys of waters around dispute Takeshima isles (Nikkei) Articles: 1) Prime minister stresses intention to pass supplementary budget bill: Hints at additional economic pump-priming measures during interpellations by party representatives TOKYO SHIMBUN (Top Play) (Full) October 2, 2008 �0A;Following Prime Minister Taro Aso's policy speech, party representatives engaged in a question-and-answer session in a plenary session of the Lower House on the afternoon of October 1. The prime minister indicated his intention to pass at an early date the fiscal 2008 supplementary budget bill, saying, "The bill has specific measures that are directly connected with people's lives, such as measures to help small to medium-sized businesses manage their funds." He also told reporters on the evening of the same day that it is necessary to adopt additional economic stimulus measures. At the present stage, the prime minister is standing firm on holding a Lower House election on November 2. However, he took a stance of TOKYO 00002747 002 OF 010 reaching a final decision after monitoring budget deliberations and economic conditions. The prime minister last evening told reporters, "The second budget is within the range of expectations of the public. Calls for additional economic stimulus measures may rise." He then said, "The public's opinion is that the government should take more interest in economic stimulus measures rather than calling for dissolution of the Diet once the budget bill is enacted." He indicated that he would carefully determine the right timing for dissolving the Lower House and calling a snap election. Strengthening the confrontational stance against the DPJ, the prime minister during the interpellations stressed in a reply his intention to aim for early enactment of the bill amending the New Antiterrorism Special Measures Law to extend Japan's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean by another year. He also said he intended to pass a set of bills that would establish a consumer affairs agency. He called on the DPJ to clarify whether it is for or against the supplementary budget bill. Aso apologized for the Abe and Fukuda cabinets having both been replaced in less than one year. Regarding the resignation of former Transport Minister Nariaki Nakayama, Aso admitted to his responsibility for appointing him and said, "I would like to fulfill my responsibility by achieving results in my job." 2) Main points from Oct. 1 Diet interpellations NIKKEI (Page 6) (Abridged) October 2, 2008 Indian Ocean refueling Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Hiroyuki Hosoda: Mr. Ozawa hardly answered the prime minister's questions from the day before yesterday. It's very regrettable. I wonder if it's really all right to hand over the reins of government to the Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto). Are you determined to pass the bill extending the refueling activities in the Indian Ocean? Prime Minister Taro Aso: The war on terror is still going on. Many countries are stepping up their efforts in Afghanistan and are willing to sacrifice valuable lives. Our withdrawing from the activities of the international community is not an option. North Korea Hosoda: How will Japan face the six-party talks? Aso: There's no change in our basic course of action to push for a comprehensive solution to the pending issues of the abductions, nuclear weapons, and missiles. I will go all out to repatriate all the abductees. In conformity with the agreement reached between Japan and North Korea in August, we will call on North Korea to reinvestigate the issue as soon as possible. Financial crisis Hosoda: There has been instability in financial and capital markets for over a year. TOKYO 00002747 003 OF 010 Aso: We will make efforts to stabilize international markets while cooperating closely with the United States and other countries. In international conferences, we will show Japan's experience and will contribute to the stabilization of international financial markets. Economic stimulus package Hosoda: You've advocated tax cuts to reinvigorate the economy. Aso: The government will implement a fixed-amount tax break within the current fiscal year as an emergency relief measure for the people's livelihood. In order for Japan to utilize its potential, the government will consider new tax plans late this year to promote investments in energy-saving facilities and reflux overseas subsidiary profits to Japan. 3) DPJ's Ozawa to base Japan's security on its alliance with U.S., go with U.N.-centered diplomacy ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) October 2, 2008 Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) President Ozawa clarified a set of three principles for his party's foreign and security policies in his Diet interpellation yesterday. His advocacy of U.N.-centered diplomacy tends to be taken as overemphasizing the United Nations, so Ozawa is believed to have aimed to explain his standpoint again of balancing the Japan-U.S. alliance with U.N.-centered diplomacy. The three principles for the DPJ's foreign and security policies are to maintain and develop Japan's alliance with the United States, strengthen Japan's relations with China, and develop a diplomacy centering on the United Nations. This advocacy, in a way, can be called an answer to the 'counter-interpellation' that Prime Minister Aso made in his Oct. 29 policy speech, when he had urged the DPJ to answer how it would balance the Japan-U.S. alliance and United Nations' centered diplomacy. "I showed our basic principles again and explained the principles plainly so he can fathom our thinking," Ozawa said in a press conference after his Diet interpellation. In his essay released in October last year, Ozawa set forth his views over Japan's overseas dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces, writing that he would like to have the SDF participate in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan if his party took office. In that essay, Ozawa also developed his criticism of the United States, saying: "They are not aware that their isolationism and excessive pride always disturb the international community's harmony." This view, however, faced criticism not only from government leaders but also from some DPJ lawmakers. "It inevitably gives the impression that he places U.N. resolutions above anything else," former Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura said. This time around, with a snap election ahead for a change of government, Ozawa apparently tried to clear up misunderstandings about his thinking. "Japan will base its security on its alliance with the United States," Ozawa stated, referring to his party's security policy. The point is his use of the word "base" (TN: kijuku also translated as "cornerstone"). This phrase has been used by the successive prime minister in their Diet replies. By using this wording, Ozawa TOKYO 00002747 004 OF 010 indicated that he would maintain the government's policy of positioning the United States, the party of Japan's security pact, as an exception. Based on this standpoint, Ozawa took the position that Japan will establish an equal partnership with the United States. With this, he denied that Japan would follow in the footsteps of the United States. He concluded, "The Japan-U.S. Security Treaty has been established on the basis of the ideal and framework of the Charter of the United Nations, and the Japan-U.S. alliance and U.N.-centered diplomacy are not contradictory to each other at all." Ozawa will be called on to shape the three principles, such as how Japan will take part in the war on terror. The DPJ, if it takes the reins of government, will face the question of whether Japan should send SDF troops to Afghanistan. Ozawa says, "There can be a political judgment for SDF dispatch only if there is a clear-cut U.N. resolution." In his party, however, there are also objections. In the end, a fundamental law is deemed imperative. For now, however, Ozawa has yet to show what to do about it after his party takes office. He came up with a time schedule for his party's roadmap to implement policies and to secure the ways and means. It did not include foreign and security policies. "Diplomacy and security are on the top of the agenda because they are very important matters," Ozawa said in a press conference yesterday. "But," he went on, "public life is in a crisis." He added, "In our campaign at this point, we will make an appeal on what the people really need now." With this, Ozawa indicated that the DPJ would not step into specifics. 4) DPJ Ozawa clarifies necessary amounts, specifics on revenues for policies, in effort to wipe out criticism of lacking fiscal resources TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) October 2, 2008 Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Ichiro Ozawa spelled out policy pledges for the next House of Representatives election in a representatives' interpellation session at the Lower House yesterday. He clarified how much money would be needed to carry out these policies and from where the fiscal resources would come. He apparently aimed at quickly warding off criticism in the government and the ruling camp of the DPJ as being unable to come up with fiscal resources to implement its policies, not to mention similar objections in his own party. The main opposition party will draw up a manifesto that adds more substance to the contents of Ozawa's "policy speech" and announce it at the time of Lower House dissolution. In the interpellation session, Ozawa presented a timeframe in three stages after assuming political power for carrying out such priority measures as waiving highway tolls and providing child-rearing support. He also for the first time clarified the amounts of revenues necessary to fund these measures. He said that he would come up with 8.4 trillion yen for fiscal 2009 and 20.5 trillion yen for fiscal 2012 in the third stage to finance the measures. His major tactic for squeezing out huge amounts of fiscal resources TOKYO 00002747 005 OF 010 is to overhaul the national budget. Ozawa categorically said: "We will determine the order of priorities, based on the standard of what is needed to create new people's lives. By doing so, it will become fully possible to secure necessary fiscal resources to fund our policy measures." In order to constantly revise the fiscal system, in line with the budget overhaul, Ozawa proposed measures to: (1) stop amakudari (the practice of former government officials finding jobs in the private sector) and wasteful spending; (2) abolish the providing of state subsidies as tied aid, and provide local governments instead with aid in a package as fiscal resources they can use as they wish; and (3) scrap the special account system and independent administrative corporations in principle. He also proposed making use of the so-called "hidden funds" (maizoukin),such as reserves in special accounts and the sales of government assets as immediate measures. A number of DPJ lawmakers, including even those who have kept their distance from Ozawa, praised his speech, with Vice President Katsuya Okada saying: "It was pretty much a policy speech and a good one at that. He explained where the fiscal resources would come from in a straightforward manner." Discord in the party in the run-up to the House of Representatives election seems to be dissolving. Finance Minister Shoichi Nakagawa, however, criticized Ozawa's speech in response to a question by Liberal Democratic Party's Secretary General Hiroyuki Hosoda: "Fiscal resources will be permanently necessary to implement the policy measures proposed by the DPJ. The DPJ relies on temporary fiscal resources, such as reserves in special accounts, so it is hard to say that necessary fiscal resources will be secured." The government and the ruling camp are likely to intensify their attacks against the DPJ. 5) DPJ seeks assurance of Lower House dissolution; Ruling camp to call for deliberations on new antiterrorism legislation YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) October 2, 2008 Prime Minister Taro Aso is considering postponing Lower House dissolution for a snap general election. Given the situation, the major opposition Democratic Party of Japan indicated yesterday that it would not cooperate for the early enactment of a fiscal 2008 supplementary budget bill unless the prime minister gives its assurance of Lower House dissolution. After the extra budget clears the Lower House, the ruling camp intends to call on the opposition parties to begin deliberations on a bill amending the New Antiterrorism Special Measures Law to extend the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean, as well as bills establishing a consumer affairs agency. The Diet affairs chiefs of the LDP and New Komeito held a meeting in the Diet building yesterday evening with their counterparts of the DPJ, Social Democratic Party and People's New Party. In the session, the coalition Diet affairs chiefs indicated that they would accept the three opposition parties' proposal to conduct two days of deliberations in each Diet chamber. At the same time, they refused to give assurance of Lower House dissolution, saying that only the prime minister could decide that. DPJ Diet affairs chief Kenji Yamaoka rebutted, saying: "No assurance, no plan. Let's deliberate TOKYO 00002747 006 OF 010 on matters thoroughly. A Lower House Budget Committee director thinks five days (are necessary),and the Upper House has its own opinion." The meeting broke off. Meanwhile, the prime minister last night revealed to reporters at his official residence his intention to consider an additional economic stimulus package, saying: "The general public think that the government should have more interest in economic stimulus measures rather than Lower House dissolution once the supplementary budget is enacted." He also expressed strong enthusiasm for the enactment of the bill amending the New Antiterrorism Special Measures Law, saying: "It is unthinkable for Japan alone to withdraw." He further underlined the need to enact the consumer affairs agency-related bills. The DPJ is set to apply greater pressure on the ruling camp through Budget Committee deliberations with the aim of forcing it into early Lower House dissolution. A senior DPJ lawmaker said: "We will take a severe approach in the DIet. We are planning to take up the issue of former Komeito Chairman Junya Yano (who has filed a lawsuit against Soka Gakkai),as well." 6) Diet Affairs Committee chairs' talks on supplementary budget deliberations timetable rupture: Ruling parties reject call for making Lower House dissolution precondition TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Excerpts) October 2, 2008 The LDP, the New Komeito, the DPJ, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the People's New Party (PNP) on the afternoon of Oct. 1 held a meeting of the chairman of the Diet Affairs Committees of both the ruling and opposition parties in the Diet building and conferred on a deliberation timetable for a fiscal 2008 supplementary budget bill. In response to a proposed time schedule of holding two-day deliberations both in the Lower and Upper Houses, the opposition side insisted, "We cannot accept the proposal unless it is premised on dissolution of the Lower House for a snap election." The talks ended in rupture. The ruling parties took a stance of accepting a timetable of holding two days of deliberations in the Lower and Upper Houses, respectively, which the opposition camp's side had proposed in the previous talks. However, it rejected the opposition camp's call for setting the schedule based on the precondition that a national election would be held on November 9. The representatives cited that it is the prime minister's prerogative to dissolve the Lower House. As a result, no agreement was reached in the talks on starting deliberations in the Lower House Budget Committee on the 6th because of the opposition's insistence that a deliberation timetable not premised on dissolution of the Diet was unacceptable. 7) Political maneuvering between ruling and opposition camps intensifying over timing of Lower House dissolution MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) October 2, 2008 The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner New Komeito confirmed yesterday that they would start, even independently, deliberations on the supplementary budget for fiscal TOKYO 00002747 007 OF 010 2008 at the Lower House Budget Committee. The ruling camp has not changed its basic policy of dissolving the House of Representatives soon after the supplementary budget clears the House of Councillors. However, a cautious view about early Lower House dissolution is spreading in the ruling party due to the need for measures to meet the financial crisis that started in the United States. Prime Minister Taro Aso also hinted at the need for additional economic stimulus measures. The political maneuvering between the ruling and opposition camps is intensifying over the timing of Lower House dissolution, even though both sides are unable to gauge Aso's real intention. Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Kenji Yamaoka said yesterday in a meeting of the Diet affairs committee chairmen from the ruling and opposition parties: "The Lower House will be dissolved immediately after the end of deliberations on the budget for two days each in the two chambers of the Diet. This is our precondition. If you can't promise dissolution, let's deliberate on it thoroughly (for a long time)." LDP Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Tadamori Oshima, however, responded, saying: "I accept the timetable for deliberations on the budget, but I can't promise dissolution because the prime minister alone has the right to dissolve the Lower House." The talks, therefore, ended in failure. The ruling coalition and the DPJ have reached an agreement on the timetable for deliberations on the supplementary budget. The ruling camp intends to accept the DPJ's request of an early Lower House dissolution. Even so, the reason for the ruling camp unable to accept the DPJ's plan is because consensus has yet to be reached in the DPJ, namely, a senior DPJ Upper House member said: "One week each in the Lower and Upper Houses is needed for deliberations on the budget." The ruling coalition is wary especially about deliberations on the budget in the opposition-controlled House of Councillors, with a senior New Komeito member saying: "It is the same as a black hole. Even if we promise the deliberation schedule, they could extend the schedule indefinitely." There is the ruling camp's distrust of the DPJ in the background of its decision to "start deliberations independently." LDP Lower House member Yamato Inaba met yesterday with Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura at the Prime Minister's Official Residence to hand in a letter addressed to the prime minister opposing Lower House election before enacting the supplementary budget. He told Kawamura: "It is stupid to dissolve the Lower House without coming up with fiscal measures." The letter was signed by 32 junior LDP lawmakers. A person close to Aso said: "It is uncertain whether the opposition keeps its promise on the supplementary budget. The situation is changing from moment to moment." 8) Prime Minister Aso seeking opportunity for Lower House dissolution in October NIKKEI (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) October 2, 2008 TOKYO 00002747 008 OF 010 Prime Minister Taro Aso yesterday took a positive stance toward an additional package of economic stimulus measures, reiterating the need for helping the economy rather than calling for a House of Representatives election. His aim is to create an environment that would favor the ruling coalition going into a Lower House election. However, if the Aso government prioritizes the enactment of the supplementary budget for fiscal 2008, it might be trapped by the opposition's strategy (to set the timeframe for Diet dissolution). Although calls for forgoing an early general election are becoming stronger in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, the New Komeito, the LDP's junior coalition partner, has not budged from its position of insisting on Lower House dissolution soon. Under such circumstances, Aso is now looking into the possibility of dissolving the Lower House in October. Aso and Ichiro Ozawa, president of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ),faced off in Diet debate yesterday. Ozawa: "After making clear each party's assertion through sufficient debate, it is the usual formula then to go to the people to ask for their vote of confidence." Aso: "I will decide that on my own." DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama also urged Aso to dissolve the Lower House immediately after enacting the supplementary budget, instead of delaying deliberations to Oct. 6. Aso would not listen, however. A person close to Aso said: "The prime minister will never give the political initiative to other side." Aso trying to put forward his own political identity The ruling coalition is making preparations for Lower House dissolution in October and general election in early November, after the supplementary budget is enacted. Before going into the general election, Aso without doubt aims to impress on the public the image that he is adept at dealing with the economy. He appears to be saying that he favors dissolving the Lower House while criticizing the opposition if it tries to delay the Diet debate. He also expects the LDP to include a new economic stimulus package in its set of campaign pledges for the Lower House election. Concerns about falls in stock prices Many in the LDP are worried about the adverse economic impact on the regions of plunging stock prices. As a result, there is a growing view for putting off Lower House dissolution. The LDP also is concerned about the results of a private survey it took of the Lower House election situation. The LDP survey found that the ruling camp would fail to secure 241 seats, a majority of the Lower House, in a general election. The New Komeito has envisaged Lower House dissolution in early October, since its support organization has focused on a general election in early November. Therefore, the possibility is strong that the New Komeito will frown on a lengthy delay in a decision to dissolve the Lower House. 9) Policy to recycle corporate profits made overseas: Prime minister positive toward amending tax code as additional economic stimulus measure TOKYO 00002747 009 OF 010 NIKKEI (Page 1) (Excerpts) October 2, 2008 Prime Minister Taro Aso during a plenary session of the Lower Housed announced his plan to consider in the annual tax code revision for fiscal 2009 establishing a system designed to bring profits Japanese companies made abroad back home. The idea is to make it easier for overseas profits to be used for domestic investment so as to bring about the revitalization of the economy. He stressed the need to pass a fiscal 2008 supplementary budget at an early date. He also indicated a proactive stance toward additional pump-priming measures. Those statements were made in response to questions asked by LDP Secretary General Hiroyuki Hosoda and other lawmakers. The prime minister said, "There is a wide range of challenges concerning the tax code, including the consolidation of conditions for bringing profits made by overseas subsidiaries of Japanese companies back home. We will consider this issue toward the end of the year." Contrary to the progress in the internationalization of corporate management, Japanese companies are increasingly showing a tendency to retain the profits they made abroad, where tax rates are lower than in Japan. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is calling for tax exemption for dividends companies received from their in which they have a more than 25 PERCENT stake. 10) Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura's political groups reported 22 million yen in office expenses for apartment used by former secretary MAINICHI (Page 27) (Excerpts) October 2, 2008 Three political groups of Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura reported the condominium (Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo) where his former official secretary was living as their office and declared a total of about 22 million yen in office and other expenses over a three-year period until 2007. The three groups were disbanded in March 2008. A member of the Kawamura office explained: "The condominium was being used as office of the three groups, but we decided to dismantle them because the report might be subject to misunderstanding." According to political funds reports submitted to the Tokyo Metropolitan Electoral Management Committee, the three political groups are Kenseikai, Kenryukai, and Kokuminseikei Doyukai (People's Politics and Economics Executives Association). As the combined amount of their office expenses, they listed 1.1 million yen for 2005, 1.08 million yen for 2006 and 0.96 million yen for 2007. As the amount of personnel expenses, they declared 5.05 million yen for 2005, 4.38 million yen for 2006 and 2.32 million yen for 2007. The condominium is owned by a relative of the late former House of Representatives member who was elected from Yamaguchi, which Kawamura also represents, and designated him as his successor. The relative was renting it free to Kawamura, and his former secretary whose residence is located in Kanagawa Prefecture was living there. No rent for the about 200 square-meter condo was being paid. The former official secretary was paying half of the office operating expenses for the three-year period and the three groups were paying the remaining half. The reported personnel expenses were for a female part-timer, according to the office member. TOKYO 00002747 010 OF 010 11) Foreign Ministry official: Six-party talks may take place before end of month if there is progress ASAHI (Page 9) (Full) October 2, 2008 Regarding a visit to North Korea by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, the chief U.S. delegate to the six-party talks, a senior Foreign Ministry official indicated yesterday that if there was any progress between the United States and North Korea, six-party talks might be restarted later this month. The U.S. government intends to delist the North as a state sponsor of terrorism once an agreement is reached on the methods of verifying the North's nuclear programs. The official also said: "We have reminded the United States about the need for solid contents based on international standards." 12) Japan, South Korea to continue joint Takeshima survey possibly later this month; Eager to use occasion to mend relations NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) October 2, 2008 Japan and South Korea have launched an effort to conduct possibly before the end of the month a joint radiation-contamination survey in waters near Takeshima, a group of disputed islets in the Sea of Japan, known as Dokdo in South Korea. Japan had temporarily looked for the possibility of an independent survey but has decided to maintain the joint survey framework for three years in a row in consideration of an outcry from South Korea over the reference to the Takeshima issue in the new curriculum guidelines for middle schools. The two countries conducted their joint surveys in 1994 and 1995 to examine the impact of radioactive materials dumped in the waters by the former Soviet Union. Since 1996, surveys were conducted independently by Japan. Joint surveys began in 2006 when the two countries resumed the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) demarcation talks after a six-year hiatus. The government had wanted to conduct the survey independently based on Tokyo's claim that sovereignty over Takeshima rests with Japan. But given South Korea's strong reaction to the reference to the sovereignty issue in the textbook guidelines, the government has concluded that an independent survey would deteriorate bilateral relations. Tokyo also wants to use the joint survey to mend relations with Seoul. Coordination is underway to conduct the survey before the end of the month. Several spots, including those in waters claimed by the two countries as their respective EEZs, will be selected. Under consideration is an approach allowing experts from the two countries to board each other's survey boat and exchange analytical data. The method will be finalized in the days ahead. Apart from the survey, the government intends to aim at progress on the EEZ demarcation talks. The talks that have been held a total of nine rounds since May 1996 have faced difficulties. SCHIEFFER