Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TOKYO40
2009-01-08 03:34:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - GAZA AND GAS ROW
how-toVZCZCXRO1843 PP RUEHFK DE RUEHKO #0040 0080334 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 080334Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9889 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA PRIORITY RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI//N541// PRIORITY RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA// PRIORITY RUHBANB/OKINAWA FLD OFC US FORCES JAPAN CP BUTLER JA PRIORITY RHMFIUU/USFJ PRIORITY INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 1742 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 5529 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 7115 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2675 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 3132 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 3180 RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 000040
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 - GAZA AND GAS ROW
BETWEEN RUSSIA AND UKRAINE
UNCLAS TOKYO 000040
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 - GAZA AND GAS ROW
BETWEEN RUSSIA AND UKRAINE
1. LEAD STORIES: Front-page stories on Thursday morning
included the reported release of a Japanese female
doctor who has been held hostage in Somalia since
September as well a decision by a Russian state company
to completely halt its natural gas exports to Europe
through Ukraine.
2. "Tragedy in Gaza Continues" The liberal Asahi
editorialized (1/8): "Given that a number of civilians
have been killed and injured due to a series of Israeli
attacks in Gaza, these acts may constitute a random
assault on civilians and non-combat zones, which is
prohibited under the international law. The cruelty of
the attacks is tantamount to genocide. The situation
even raises doubts about the raison d'tre of the
UN.... Without any action by the international
community, the tragedy will continue, resulting in
additional suffering by civilians. Israel must
completely halt its military operation."
3. "Israel's Makeshift Flexibility" On the Israeli
decision to temporarily stop an attack on Gaza, a
Jerusalem correspondent for the top-circulation,
moderate Yomiuri wrote (1/8): "Behind the Israeli
decision lies its shrewd strategy of continuing its
military operation in Gaza by temporarily demonstrating
a flexible stance in view of mounting international
calls for Tel Aviv to undertake a ceasefire."
4. "Key Question Is How to Control Borders" On Egypt's
proposal concerning a ceasefire in Gaza, the business-
oriented Nikkei reported from Cairo (1/8): "A success
of a ceasefire arrangement proposed by President
Mubarak relies on how to manage the Gaza borders in
order to prevent weapons from keep flowing into the
segregated area."
4. "Russia Politicizes Natural Gas Pipelines" On
Moscow's decision to halt the provision of natural gas
to Europe through Ukraine, a Moscow-based reporter for
the liberal Mainichi stated (1/8): "The Russian
decision exposed the risk of oil and natural gas
pipelines being possibly utilized for political
purposes, as the construction of such pipelines
perpetuate the supplier-consumer relationship."
SCHIEFFER
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 - GAZA AND GAS ROW
BETWEEN RUSSIA AND UKRAINE
1. LEAD STORIES: Front-page stories on Thursday morning
included the reported release of a Japanese female
doctor who has been held hostage in Somalia since
September as well a decision by a Russian state company
to completely halt its natural gas exports to Europe
through Ukraine.
2. "Tragedy in Gaza Continues" The liberal Asahi
editorialized (1/8): "Given that a number of civilians
have been killed and injured due to a series of Israeli
attacks in Gaza, these acts may constitute a random
assault on civilians and non-combat zones, which is
prohibited under the international law. The cruelty of
the attacks is tantamount to genocide. The situation
even raises doubts about the raison d'tre of the
UN.... Without any action by the international
community, the tragedy will continue, resulting in
additional suffering by civilians. Israel must
completely halt its military operation."
3. "Israel's Makeshift Flexibility" On the Israeli
decision to temporarily stop an attack on Gaza, a
Jerusalem correspondent for the top-circulation,
moderate Yomiuri wrote (1/8): "Behind the Israeli
decision lies its shrewd strategy of continuing its
military operation in Gaza by temporarily demonstrating
a flexible stance in view of mounting international
calls for Tel Aviv to undertake a ceasefire."
4. "Key Question Is How to Control Borders" On Egypt's
proposal concerning a ceasefire in Gaza, the business-
oriented Nikkei reported from Cairo (1/8): "A success
of a ceasefire arrangement proposed by President
Mubarak relies on how to manage the Gaza borders in
order to prevent weapons from keep flowing into the
segregated area."
4. "Russia Politicizes Natural Gas Pipelines" On
Moscow's decision to halt the provision of natural gas
to Europe through Ukraine, a Moscow-based reporter for
the liberal Mainichi stated (1/8): "The Russian
decision exposed the risk of oil and natural gas
pipelines being possibly utilized for political
purposes, as the construction of such pipelines
perpetuate the supplier-consumer relationship."
SCHIEFFER