TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - DAVOS CONFERENCE AND

UNCLAS TOKYO 000237 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 - DAVOS CONFERENCE AND IRAN ¶1. LEAD STORIES: Front-page items on Monday morning included Secretary of State Clinton's possible visit to Japan as part of her first official overseas trip. ¶2. "Davos Conference Shows Seriousness of Economic Crisis" The business-oriented Nikkei editorialized (2/2): "Many participants in this year's annual meeting of the World Economic Forum appear to have understood how quickly the current world economic crisis is deepening. They also seem to have realized the absence of leaders who stand at the forefront of global efforts to overcome the crisis... Leaders of major nations should make their maximum efforts at the G20 financial summit in April to restore the financial system. It is noteworthy that there was no 'leading player' in this year's meeting. Although participants discussed the U.S.-originated financial crisis and directed criticism at the U.S., fewer people from the U.S. took part in this year's conference than usual. There were very few messages from U.S. policymakers. A speech by a special envoy of President Obama was abstract and lacked specifics." ¶3. "Breakthrough Should Be Created through Direct Talks with Iran" The liberal Tokyo Shimbun argued in an editorial (2/2): "Iran continues its nuclear development programs, including uranium enrichment. Pledging to seek mutual benefits with the Muslim world, President Obama said that dialogue is possible. We hope Iran will respond to this call to create a breakthrough in the nuclear problem... We hope the Obama administration will not tighten sanctions on Iran but instead will employ diplomacy that will soften Tehran's stance. Five permanent UN Security Council members and Germany will hold a conference on Iran shortly. We hope the U.S. will accept the decisions to be made at the meeting and show a clear position to accept dialogue." ZUMWALT