TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - SUDAN

UNCLAS TOKYO 000391 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 - SUDAN ¶1. LEAD STORIES: Front-page stories on Friday morning included the repercussions of Toyota President Toyoda's congressional testimony and moves among the U.S., Japan, and other industrialized nations to establish a new international organ tasked with cracking down on tax havens. ¶2. "Momentum for Peace in Darfur " On the recent ceasefire agreement reached between the Sudanese government and the rebel group Justice and Equality Movement (JEM),the business-oriented Nikkei editorialized (2/26): "A number of major problems must be dealt with in order to reach a conclusion to the Darfur conflict, including JEM participation in the government, distribution of resources, and the repatriation of refugees. It is also necessary to involve other rebel parties that did not take part in the latest peace negotiation. The international community needs to bear in mind the history of truce accords being violated and patiently support the peace process so that it can bear fruit.... The international community should help to implement the peace pact and set up a support system for a post-peace accord era. In this regard, the role of China, which has enormous influence over the al-Bashir administration due to its development of resources [in Sudan], will hold the key." ROOS