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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 TOKYO 001989 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR E, P, EB, EAP/J, EAP/P, EAP/PD, PA 
WHITE HOUSE/NSC/NEC; JUSTICE FOR STU CHEMTOB IN ANTI-TRUST DIVISION; 
TREASURY/OASIA/IMI/JAPAN; DEPT PASS USTR/PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE; 
SECDEF FOR JCS-J-5/JAPAN, 
DASD/ISA/EAPR/JAPAN; DEPT PASS ELECTRONICALLY TO USDA 
FAS/ITP FOR SCHROETER; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR; 
CINCPAC FLT/PA/ COMNAVFORJAPAN/PA. 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA
SUBJECT:  DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 05/07/07 
 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) "I believe in the Japan-US alliance," says Kyuma in Washington 
 
(2) Japan desperate in 2+2 meeting to ease America's concerns over 
Futenma relocation, information leak 
 
(3) Japan-US dialogue lacks sense of urgency with gap not removed 
over Iraq, DPRK 
 
(4) Abe: "Additional action against North Korea may be considered" 
 
(5) Abe agrees with Egyptian president to cooperate in promoting 
Middle East peace process 
 
(6) Nukaga suggests need to discuss whether to possess Tomahawk 
missiles 
 
(7) 1996 US government documents reveal plan to deploy 300 aircraft 
to Futenma to deal with contingency on Korean Peninsula 
 
(8) Kyuma reveals plan for study on relaxation of three-point arms 
export ban, eyeing research and development for purposes other than 
MD 
 
(9) Ruling bloc eyes committee vote this week on Iraq legislation to 
extend SDF mission 
 
(10) UN chief expresses hope for SDF extension in Iraq 
 
(11) Iraqi prime minister: ASDF activities will be become 
unnecessary before end of the year 
 
(12) Defense Minister Kyuma suggests plan to review Antiterrorism 
Special Measures Law, envisioning possible expansion of SDF 
operations 
 
(13) Kyuma: Japan will study ways to allow SDF to contribute to 
reconstruction in Afghanistan 
 
(14) New Komeito president: Party does not agree to collective 
self-defense 8 
 
(15) Constitution turns 60 today; LDP considering two-stage 
amendment; Article 9 left for later 
 
(16) Japanese, Russian foreign ministers agree to cooperate on 
energy development: Aso expresses concern about abolition of fish 
catches quota 
 
(17) ASEAN+3 reaches consensus on currency crisis measures: Foreign 
currencies to be pooled 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) "I believe in the Japan-US alliance," says Kyuma in Washington 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
May 4, 2007 
 
Giving a speech in Washington on May 2, Defense Minister Kyuma 
underscored, "Believe me, I have faith in the Japan-US alliance." 
 
 
TOKYO 00001989  002 OF 011 
 
 
Referring to his statement that the Iraq war was wrong receiving 
criticism from the US, Kyuma pointed out: "Some of you may be 
worried about my statement. However, you will see there is nothing 
to be concerned about if you take a look at the history of my 
activities over the past decade." He then enumerated his own 
achievements made in strengthening the bilateral alliance, noting: 
"Who has promoted the missile defense system? Who has called for 
taking a second look at the Three Principles on Arms Exports? Who 
has compiled a special law on the realignment of US forces in 
Japan?" He then indicated a stance of continuing to offer candid 
advice, saying: "A real friend is a friend who gives frank advice. I 
would like you to understand my real intention." 
 
(2) Japan desperate in 2+2 meeting to ease America's concerns over 
Futenma relocation, information leak 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
May 3, 2007 
 
Takuji Nakata, Washington 
 
During the Japan-US Security Consultative Committee (2+2) meeting on 
May 1, Japanese officials struggled to remove America's concerns 
about Defense Minister Kyuma's remarks on the realignment plans for 
the US Forces Japan (USFJ) and a Self-Defense Force (SDF) officer's 
leak of information on the Aegis system, as US distrust in Japan is 
growing. 
 
On the relocation of the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station in 
Okinawa Prefecture, among other things, the governments of Japan and 
the United States have now confirmed that no changes will be made to 
the final report released in May of last year, but the tough task 
for the Japanese government is how to persuade Okinawa Prefecture. 
 
"I want to implement in any way the agreement reached in last May," 
Kyuma said at the outset of the 2+2 meeting, revealing his 
enthusiasm to translate the final agreement on the Futenma 
relocation into action. At one point Kyuma hinted at making changes 
to the final report, and when the US reacted, Kyuma went as far as 
to say, "Don't talk so big," but he now tried to quiet down the fuss 
he caused. 
 
The US also had strong concern about the leak of US military 
information on the Aegis system. Japan and the US in effect agreed 
on the conclusion of a general security of military information 
agreement (GSOMIA), but this came in a way to dispel America's 
concerns over the information leakage problem rather than to meet 
the initial goal of Japan-US cooperation for the missile defense 
(MD) system. 
 
In the 2+2 meeting this time, Japan and the US appear to have 
restored their basis for cooperation for now, but it seems tough for 
Japan to undertake domestic coordination on concluding the GSOMIA, 
even though Japan has virtually committed to concluding it. 
 
On Futenma relocation, Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima on May 2 
reiterated in a firm tone that unless the central government is 
willing to revise the Japan-US agreement, he will not allow any 
environment impact assessment. 
 
On the GSOMIA, too, objections are likely to be raised by opposition 
parties in the process of preparing a domestic law containing 
punishments for leaking official secrets. 
 
TOKYO 00001989  003 OF 011 
 
 
 
(3) Japan-US dialogue lacks sense of urgency with gap not removed 
over Iraq, DPRK 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Excerpts) 
May 3, 2007 
 
Hayami Ichikawa, Washington 
 
Confidence-building and reform of the alliance -- these two elements 
were the key to the recent Japan-US summit and the recent Japan-US 
Security Consultative Committee (2+2) meeting. Japan and the United 
States reaffirmed the bilateral alliance as they initially planned 
and highlighted that as the results of the bilateral summit, but the 
series of the recent bilateral dialogues appeared to be lacking a 
sense of urgency when it comes to what to do about Iraq and North 
Korea. 
 
"The alliance between Japan and the United States has never been 
stronger," President Bush said. This was a generous tribute paid by 
President Bush to Prime Minister Abe. This tribute came presumably 
because of the "souvenirs" prepared by the Abe administration, like 
a bill aimed at extending the deployment of Self-Defense Forces 
(SDF) troops to Iraq, a bill relating to the US military realignment 
plans, and the establishment of a council of experts to discuss the 
question of the right to collective self-defense, according to a 
government official. 
 
In dining with Abe, Bush reportedly said: "The most important 
question at present is which to choose as our dessert -- ice cream 
or apple pie." This remark got a great laugh. 
 
The most important matter for the US on the diplomatic front is how 
to resolve the quagmire of Iraq. Japan has continued to back 
America's action until now. But even in the recent Japan-US foreign 
ministerial session and the 2+2 meeting, Iraq was not discussed. 
 
For the Abe administration, one major diplomatic goal is how to 
resolve the issue of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea and 
the issue of that country's nuclear programs, but it is still 
unclear whether Japan and the US will be able to work together to 
resolve them. On the North Korean nuclear issue, Bush and Secretary 
of State Rice said, "Our patience is not unlimited," going along 
with Japan. Meanwhile, the US Department of State's annual report on 
global terrorism released around when the bilateral dialogues were 
held was proof of America's pragmatic policy with the descriptions 
about North Korea reduced. Japan, however, did not make any move to 
discern the real intentions of the US. 
 
(4) Abe: "Additional action against North Korea may be considered" 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Excerpts) 
May 3, 2007 
 
Naoto Maeda, Cairo 
 
At a press briefing at a hotel in Cairo City on the evening of May 2 
(night of that day, Japan time), Prime Minister Abe, asked about 
North Korea policy, referred to the possibility of taking additional 
sanctions if there is no progress in North Korea's response. Abe 
said: "Bearing in mind the fact that North Korea has failed to 
implement what it should implement in the initial stage (as agreed 
on the six-party talks), we must consider additional sanctions 
 
TOKYO 00001989  004 OF 011 
 
 
against that country depending on the circumstances. If the 
abduction issue does not make progress, we must consider a number of 
sanctions." 
 
(5) Abe agrees with Egyptian president to cooperate in promoting 
Middle East peace process 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
May 3, 2007 
 
Cairo, Kanai 
 
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, currently visiting the Middle East, 
arrived in Egypt and met with President Mubarak on the morning of 
May 2, local time. The two agreed that the two countries should step 
up their cooperation to bring about peace in the Middle East. 
 
Prime Minister Abe told Mubarak: "Japan would like to enhance 
partnership with Egypt, which is a strategic hub for the Middle East 
and Africa." President Mubarak replied: "We want to cooperate in 
that direction." 
 
Abe asked Mubarak to demonstrate his leadership further to stabilize 
the security situation in Iraq. In response, the president said: "Of 
course, I will try to do so, but what is needed is that the Iraqi 
people strengthen their capability to govern the country." 
 
After the summit, both released a joint statement proposing that the 
two countries would (1) accelerate efforts to establish a 
Japan-Egypt science and technology university and (2) hold a 
Japan-Egypt dialogue forum in Alexandria, Egypt, in November, in 
order for the two countries to deepen their mutual understanding. 
 
This is the first prime ministerial visit to Egypt since Prime 
Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visit in May 2003. Abe is scheduled to 
arrive at Haneda Airport this evening. 
 
(6) Nukaga suggests need to discuss whether to possess Tomahawk 
missiles 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
May 3, 2007 
 
Yoshiyuki Komurata, Washington 
 
Former Defense Agency Director-General Fukushiro Nukaga, now 
visiting the United States, mentioned the need to have the 
capability to attack an enemy base in preparation against 
ballistic-missile attacks in a speech on May 1. Nukaga said: "We 
should debate the question of whether we need to possess 
precision-guided weapons like Tomahawk cruise missiles and reach a 
conclusion." 
 
Nukaga said that the ballistic missile defense (BMD) system is 
"highly reliable," but he added: "Considering cases of being 
attacked repeatedly by a number of ballistic missiles, I think we 
must study whether the defense system solely dependent on the BMD 
system will be perfect." 
 
(7) 1996 US government documents reveal plan to deploy 300 aircraft 
to Futenma to deal with contingency on Korean Peninsula 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
 
TOKYO 00001989  005 OF 011 
 
 
May 4, 2007 
 
The US military's plan compiled in 1996 to use Futenma Air Station 
(Ginowan City, Okinawa Prefecture) to deal with contingencies on the 
Korean Peninsula and other areas became clear yesterday through US 
government documents obtained by Kyodo News Service. The plan 
depicts a blueprint to carry out operations with a total of 300 
aircraft: 70 KC130 air-tankers and CH53E transport helicopters that 
are at the base on a regular basis, plus 230 airplanes that would be 
deployed to the base in stages. The plan shows that Futenma Air 
Station is the "frontline sally port" in Asia, according to military 
analyst Kensuke Ebata. 
 
The plan describes the nature of the envisaged Futenma replacement 
facility as the base to launch aircraft to deal with conflicts on 
the Korean Peninsula that would be open to UN forces, in addition to 
the US military. The substitute facility planned for the coastline 
of Camp Schwab (Nago City) is likely to play a similar military role 
in time of a contingency in accordance with an agreement reached 
between Tokyo and Washington last year. 
 
According to a US military memorandum dated January 23, 1996, 
shortly before full-fledged Japan-US talks on the reversion of 
Futenma Air Station in the wake of the 1995 schoolgirl rape 
incident, the First Marine Aircraft Wing prepared briefing documents 
on the functions of Futenma Air Station for (then) Deputy Assistant 
Secretary of Defense Kurt Campbell. 
 
SIPDIS 
 
The Aircraft Wing in Okinawa explained to Campbell that 300 aircraft 
would use Futenma in time of a contingency. The documents also 
noted: (1) 71 aircraft would be deployed at the base in peacetime, 
(2) in time of a contingency, an additional 142 aircraft would be 
deployed in stages, including CH53E transport helicopters, CH46Es 
and KC130s, and (3) also, to deal with escalated battles, 87 planes, 
including AH1W attack helicopters, would be deployed additionally. 
 
Although the means of transporting additional military aircraft from 
Futenma to the Korean Peninsula are not specified, some military 
experts think large transport aircraft can be used. According to the 
documents, the US military plans to deploy 90 aircraft at Futenma at 
a peak time. 
 
(8) Kyuma reveals plan for study on relaxation of three-point arms 
export ban, eyeing research and development for purposes other than 
MD 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
May 4, 2007 
 
Igarashi, Washington 
 
Delivering a speech in Washington on the afternoon of May 2, local 
time, Defense Minister Kyuma revealed that Japan would launch a 
full-scale discussion on the relaxation of the nation's three 
principles restricting arms exports. He said: 
 
"Now that we are engaged in joint research and development of 
weapons between Japan and the United States, it might be necessary 
to reconsider future options for the three principles." 
 
In a statement issued by the chief cabinet secretary in December 
2004, the Japanese government specified that Japan would place 
weapons developed and produced by Japan and the US for missile 
 
TOKYO 00001989  006 OF 011 
 
 
defense (MD) outside the application of the three principles. The 
US, however, has been promoting research on high-tech defense 
equipment, such as a next-generation Aegis vessel. Given this, some 
observers take the view that the defense minister has judged it 
necessary to also make an exception in the case of joint development 
and development for other purposes than MD. 
 
Kyuma added: "We will continue to look into each case, but 
developing defense equipment costs a lot of money. There are some 
parts that need joint development and research because of difficulty 
for a single country alone." He thus indicated that Japan would 
study its possible participation in multinational joint research and 
development. 
 
(9) Ruling bloc eyes committee vote this week on Iraq legislation to 
extend SDF mission 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 6, 2007 
 
Once Diet deliberations resume next week, the ruling coalition 
intends to take a vote on a bill amending the Iraq Reconstruction 
Support Special Measures Law at a Lower House special committee by 
May 11. Meanwhile, the major opposition Minshuto (Democratic Party 
of Japan) has introduced its own bill to block the ruling 
coalition's plan to extend the Self-Defense Forces' mission in Iraq. 
Stormy developments might unfold in the Diet. 
 
The Iraq legislation for extending the SDF mission for two years 
from the end of July is the government's top priority in the ongoing 
Diet session, because it is regarded in a way as "proof" of the 
Japan-US alliance. The ruling coalition plans to take a vote on it 
ahead of other bills, with a Liberal Democratic Party executive 
saying, "Given Minshuto's bill to repeal the legislation, 
contentious points are clear. All we need to do is take a vote on 
the bill without making a fuss." 
 
The ruling coalition wants to take a vote quickly, given mounting 
important bills with an end to the current Diet session approaching. 
They plan to have Lower House approval of three education related 
bills in mid-May and the bills reforming the Social Insurance Agency 
and the National Civil Service Law by the end of May. 
 
Committee deliberations on the Iraq legislation, the education 
reform bills, and the bill amending the National Civil Service Law 
require the attendance of Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki. 
They also require coordination of timetables for cabinet ministers 
making replies in committee sessions. The ruling camp might be 
forced to narrow down priority bills. 
 
(10) UN chief expresses hope for SDF extension in Iraq 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 5, 2007 
 
SHARM EL SHEIKH-Foreign Minister Taro Aso met with Ban Ki Moon, 
secretary general of the United Nations, in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, 
 
SIPDIS 
on the afternoon of May 4 (on the evening of the same day, Japan 
time). 
 
In the meeting, UN Secretary General Ban highly appreciated Aso for 
Japan's assistance to Iraq's reconstruction. "We want Japan to 
continue its contribution as long as possible with its deployment of 
 
TOKYO 00001989  007 OF 011 
 
 
Self-Defense Forces personnel," Ban said to Aso. With this, he 
expressed hope for extending the Air Self-Defense Force's airlift 
mission from Kuwait to Iraq. 
 
Ban as UN secretary general met with Aso for the first time. The 
government has already presented a bill to the Diet at its current 
session to revise the Iraq Special Measures Law. "I thank the United 
Nations for its appreciation," Aso told Ban. 
 
In addition, Ban expressed his expectations for Japan's support of 
the United Nations' efforts to reform its secretariat, including its 
department of peacekeeping operations, and for the issue of Darfur 
in the Sudan. Ban also asked for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's 
attendance at a UN General Assembly session to be held in 
September. 
 
(11) Iraqi prime minister: ASDF activities will be become 
unnecessary before end of the year 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 6, 2007 
 
Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt, Kyodo 
 
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki indicated on May 4 that demand 
for the Air Self-Defense Force's airlift operations in Iraq would 
not last long, saying: "The presence of the Japanese troops would 
become unnecessary by the end of this year." The Iraq prime minister 
revealed this view in an interview with Kyodo News Service in the 
Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik. Maliki also announced a 
plan to seek reconstruction assistance by Japanese civilians who can 
make use of their experience and technology. 
 
Maliki's remarks clearly exposed a difference in perceptions on 
assistance between the Japanese government and Iraq. 
 
(12) Defense Minister Kyuma suggests plan to review Antiterrorism 
Special Measures Law, envisioning possible expansion of SDF 
operations 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 6, 2007 
 
Yoshifumi Sugita, Brussels 
 
Defense Minister Kyuma held a meeting with accompanying reporters at 
a hotel in Brussels on the night of May 4 (dawn of May 5, Japan 
time). Envisioning a possible expansion of the Self-Defense Forces 
(SDF) operations with the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law set to 
expire in coming November, he indicated a plan to establish a senior 
staff council of relevant senior officials intended to discuss how 
to conduct peacekeeping operations so as to review that law and 
create a new law. 
 
Kyuma said: "I want to have an internal discussion in the ministry 
as to whether to extend or repeal that law or whether another 
operation will be started." "If Japan engages in such activities as 
transporting members of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in 
addition to refueling now provided in the Indian Ocean, we must 
study what to do about the existing law. The aim of that law is to 
back America's war of self-defense. That law is not intended in 
legal terms to help Iraq to reconstruct itself," Kyuma added. 
 
 
TOKYO 00001989  008 OF 011 
 
 
The Antiterrorism Special Measures Law has served as the basis for 
the SDF to provide logistical support and the like for operations in 
Afghanistan the US and other countries have conducted since the 
terrorist attacks in the US in 2001. The government, however, has 
limited the SDF's logistical support to refueling by Maritime 
Self-Defense Force (MSDF) ships in the Indian Ocean to US, British 
and other countries' forces, considering the local security 
situation. 
 
Kyuma's remarks imply that Japan will consider expanding the SDF's 
operations so that Japan will engage in reconstruction assistance in 
Afghanistan. The senior staff council is expected to be headed by 
the defense minister and meet once a month. 
 
(13) Kyuma: Japan will study ways to allow SDF to contribute to 
reconstruction in Afghanistan 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 5, 2007 
 
Yoshifumi Sugita, Brussels 
 
Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma held talks with North Atlantic Treaty 
Organization Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer in Brussels on 
the afternoon of May 4 (late hours of May 4, Japan time). As a 
result, the two leaders reached an agreement to promote assistance 
for the reconstruction of Afghanistan. After the meeting, Kyuma told 
a press conference: "We would like to conduct discussions in the 
Diet on what kind of assistance the Self-Defense Forces would be 
able to provide, including transporting civilians." In response, de 
Hoop Scheffer said, "I hope Japan will extend cooperation in any way 
possible." 
 
The United States and other countries are conducting mop-up 
operations against terrorists in Afghanistan. Japan has been 
providing fuel to vessels of the United States and other countries 
in the Indian Ocean under the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law. 
 
Kyuma's comment is regarded as Japan's plan to search for ways for 
allowing the SDF to contribute to reconstruction assistance. 
 
(14) New Komeito president: Party does not agree to collective 
self-defense 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
May 3, 2007 
 
New Komeito President Akihiro Ota said in a street-corner speech in 
Tokyo yesterday: "Although our party does not deny the necessity for 
specific case studies regarding gray areas, it naturally does not 
allow the use of the right to collective self-defense, while calling 
for keeping Article 9, Paragraphs 1 and 2, in the Constitution 
intact." He made this remark in connection with an expert panel 
recently established to look into the partial allowance of 
collective self-defense, which is prohibited under the government's 
interpretation of the Constitution. 
 
Ota stressed that he had already told Prime Minister Abe: "(Panel 
members) should not discuss the matter with the intention of 
gradually allowing collective self-defense in a gray area," adding 
that they have agreed on this view. 
 
(15) Constitution turns 60 today; LDP considering two-stage 
 
TOKYO 00001989  009 OF 011 
 
 
amendment; Article 9 left for later 
 
TOKYO (Top play) (Abridged) 
May 3, 2007 
 
A national referendum bill is now expected to get through the Diet 
about the middle of this month, and the ruling Liberal Democratic 
Party yesterday began to study a two-stage amendment of the 
Constitution. The first stage is to hold a national referendum on 
whether to constitutionalize environmental rights and privacy rights 
that can easily get approval not only from the leading opposition 
Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) and the New Komeito, the LDP's 
coalition partner, but also from the general public. Article 9 will 
be left until later. 
 
The bill says the Diet will initiate amendments to relevant matters 
and will then put them to a national referendum. Meanwhile, a total 
of 44.5%  were negative about amending Article 9 in a Kyodo News 
poll conducted in mid-April, with only 26.0%  affirmative. 
 
Based on this way of initiating amendments, and in response to the 
trends of public opinion, one LDP member says the LDP should first 
propose initiating amendments that are easily acceptable to the 
people so that the general public will get used to national 
referendums. Another LDP lawmaker insists that the LDP should first 
propose amendments that other parties cannot oppose and that Article 
9 should be amended later. 
 
The Diet is scheduled to set up a constitutional review panel in 
both chambers after this July's election for the House of 
Councillors. The LDP will outline draft amendments to the 
Constitution in the Diet panels. 
 
The parliamentary constitutional panels are to study constitutional 
affairs for a period of three years until the national referendum 
law comes into effect. However, the LDP deemed it possible to 
outline prospective amendments. The LDP would like to push ahead 
with discussions based on a final report worked out in April 2005 by 
the House of Councillors Research Commission on the Constitution. 
The review panel will be set up both in the House of Representatives 
and in the House of Councillors, so the two panels will coordinate 
with each other for discussions. 
 
Commentary: LDP preparing to initiate amendments 
 
The LDP has now begun to study revising the Constitution in two 
stages. This move is aimed at reading the LDP to amend the 
Constitution at once if the Diet can initiate amendments three years 
after the national referendum law comes into effect. 
 
The Diet is expected to gear up for amendments to the Constitution 
if the national referendum legislation gets through the Diet. 
Concerning this move, a New Komeito executive has denied the 
possibility of instantaneous amendments, saying: "The Diet cannot 
initiate amendments for at least three years. The Constitution will 
not be amended at once. That's a matter for the future." 
 
However, the LDP will get everything ready to revise the 
Constitution. "We will not take it easy for three years," says one 
LDP lawmaker who experienced a cabinet ministerial post. 
 
The LDP undoubtedly positions the national referendum legislation as 
a big step forward toward revising the Constitution and takes this 
 
TOKYO 00001989  010 OF 011 
 
 
as an opportunity to move toward constitutional revision. 
 
(16) Japanese, Russian foreign ministers agree to cooperate on 
energy development: Aso expresses concern about abolition of fish 
catches quota 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Slightly abridged) 
May 4, 2007 
 
Foreign Minister Aso on the afternoon of May 3 (evening of the same 
day, Japan time) met with his counterpart Lavrov at the Russian 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Both agreed that Japan and Russia would 
cooperate on development of energy in Russia's Far East and East 
Siberia regions. Japan will provide technology cooperation on such 
areas as development of liquefied natural gas and the refining of 
oil. They also reaffirmed that both countries would promote talks on 
the signing of a nuclear power agreement concerning nuclear 
nonproliferation. 
 
Aso and Lavrov also agreed to launch an expert panel to discuss a 
possible disaster-prevention cooperation program and the 
conservation and usage of the ecosystem in areas near the Northern 
Territories. They also decided to hold a summit between Prime 
Minister Abe and President Putin on the sidelines of the G-8 Summit 
to be held in Hailigendamm, Germany, in June. 
 
Aso expressed concern about President Putin's April 26 
state-of-the-nation address, which indicated a policy of allocating 
fish catches quotas to domestic companies by abolishing the practice 
of allocating such to foreign countries. He noted: "If a situation 
in which Japanese fishermen cannot operate in Russian waters occurs, 
it could cause a major problem. Japan has a strong interest in the 
matter." In response, Lavrov said, "The fisheries agreement between 
the governments of Japan and Russia is part of Russia's federal 
legislation. I expect the accord to be implemented." 
 
Regarding the Northern Territories issue, Aso once again conveyed to 
the Russian side Japan's basic position that Japan has sovereignty 
over Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan, and the Habomai group of islets 
and that it will not conclude a peace treaty with Russia until the 
issue of the attribution of the four islands is settled. Aso and 
Lavrov agreed to continue talks in order to find a settlement that 
both Japan and Russia find acceptable. However, no specific progress 
has been made. They decided to hold a bilateral 
vice-foreign-ministerial-level strategic dialogue on May 29 to 
discuss such issues as the territories. 
 
(17) ASEAN+3 reaches consensus on currency crisis measures: Foreign 
currencies to be pooled 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) 
May 6, 2007 
 
A foreign ministerial meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian 
Nations (ASEAN), and Japan, China and South Korea (ASEAN+3) was held 
in Kyoto on May 5. Participants agreed to establish a new system of 
putting up foreign currencies for member nations to use in the event 
of a currency crisis. Under the system, each country would conclude 
multilateral accords and disburse portions of foreign currencies to 
be held in one place. The aim is to enable a quick response in the 
event of a crisis. Currency cooperation in Asia will thus enter a 
new stage ten years after the currency crisis of 1997. 
 
 
TOKYO 00001989  011 OF 011 
 
 
Under the system agreed upon, when the value of a certain country's 
currency plummets, it can borrow foreign currencies, such as US 
dollars, from the reserves to carry out price-bolstering purchases 
of its currency. Member nations will consider the specifics of the 
system, such as eligible recipients of foreign reserves and 
disbursement quotas allocated to each country, over the next several 
years. 
 
According to the joint statement released after the meeting, each 
recipient country will set a policy of managing the foreign 
currencies it borrowed. The system is likely to start off as a loose 
framework. 
 
Currency cooperation in Asia is at the moment based on bilateral 
agreements. The proposed system is based on the Chiang Mai 
Initiative, which was agreed upon at the ASEAN+3 foreign ministerial 
meeting held in 2000 following the 1997 Asian currency crisis. At 
present, there are 16 bilateral agreements among eight countries. 
The amount of foreign currency available for lending totals 
approximately 9 trillion yen. All 13 member nations, including 
countries that have not yet signed bilateral agreements, will likely 
join the new multilateral agreement. 
 
DONOVAN