TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - LATIN AMERICA SUMMIT AND PAKISTAN

UNCLAS TOKYO 000901 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 - LATIN AMERICA SUMMIT AND PAKISTAN DONORS CONFERENCE ¶1. LEAD STORIES: Monday morning's Tokyo Shimbun front-paged the revelation by an unnamed senior GOJ official that the USG has promised to Japan that it will not hold bilateral talks with North Korea for the time being. ¶2. "Obama's Pro-Dialogue Diplomacy Breaking Ice with Latin America" On the conclusion of the Summit of the Americas in Port of Spain, the liberal Asahi wrote (4/20): ".... By sending to CUBA a 'signal of good faith,' President Obama reiterated his diplomatic stance on a 'new era of engagement...' Given that U.S.-Cuba relations are less challenging (to the Obama administration) than the conflict-ridden Middle East peace process and the ongoing nuclear standoff involving Iran and North Korea, expectations for progress are mounting. However, a clear path toward significant improvement is not yet in sight." ¶3. "Continued Engagement with Pakistan Necessary to Contain Terrorism" On the Pakistan Donors Conference in Tokyo on Friday, the business-oriented Nikkei editorialized (4/19): "The weak political foundation of Pakistani President Zardari and continued political turmoil are worrisome.... Pakistan is a nuclear state. Ensuring Pakistan's stability is essential from the standpoint of preventing nuclear proliferation. Continued engagement with Pakistan by the international community is vital." ¶4. "Japan Pressed to Address Poverty in Pakistan" The conservative Sankei insisted in an editorial (4/19): "It was noteworthy that the Iranian foreign minister took part in the donor conference and had a brief encounter with the USG representative. Iran's cooperation is critical on such issues as Afghan refugees and drug trafficking, which finances Taliban operations." ¶5. "Long Road toward Stability" An editorial in the liberal Asahi asserted (4/18): "Real tasks still lie ahead. First, it will be necessary to strictly verify whether massive international aid is leading to stability in Pakistan.... If such assistance is not made available to ordinary citizens and instead is misused to deepen corruption among government officials, it would result in benefitting radicals and opponents and further complicating the situation.... Pakistan must also be pressed to abandon nuclear weapons and join the international framework on nuclear nonproliferation. This matter must not be allowed to be left unaddressed in the face of the alleged nuclear and missile connection between Pakistan and North Korea." ZUMWALT