TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - EXECUTIVE ORDER TO

UNCLAS TOKYO 000137 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 - EXECUTIVE ORDER TO CLOSE GUANTANAMO ¶1. LEAD STORIES: Asahi gave front-page play to Secretary of State Clinton's first day on the job at the State Department on Thursday. ¶2. "President Obama Orders Closing of Guantanamo" The liberal Mainichi wrote from Washington (1/23): "President Obama ordered on Thursday the closing of the detention facilities at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base within a year. The President will seek to carry out his campaign pledge and regain international confidence in the U.S. by promptly closing the camp, which is deemed a 'negative legacy' of the previous administration." ¶3. "President Obama Begins to Restore 'Ethical Dignity' of U.S." The moderate Yomiuri's Washington correspondent wrote (1/23): "The Presidential order on Thursday demonstrated the Obama administration's move to restore the 'ethical dignity' of the U.S. However, many difficult issues lie ahead in connection with the closure of Guantanamo, such as the search for nations to accept the detainees." ¶4. "President Signs Order to Close Guantanamo" A Washington correspondent of the business-oriented Nikkei reported (1/23): "The President signed an executive order to close Guantanamo within one year. He showed his efforts to the nation and the world to carry out his campaign pledge and make a policy change from the Bush administration. However, there are major challenges ahead, such as securing alternate facilities to detain terror suspects." ¶5. "Clear Departure from Bush Diplomacy" A correspondent reported from Washington in the liberal Tokyo Shimbun wrote (1/23): "... The President demonstrated his position of departing from the Bush diplomacy by developing his own diplomatic and security policies. Supporters of the 'change' advocated by President Obama will be disappointed, however, if the President fails to carry out his campaign pledge to pull out American troops from Iraq within 16 months. The executive order set a one-year deadline for the closure. There is no clear prospect for the transfer of the 250 detainees at the camp. Despite his 'hasty' decision, the closure will not be easy, as many nations are hesitant to accept the detainees out of concern for public security and the related financial burden." ZUMWALT