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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 TOKYO 002158 
 
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 05/14/07 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) US beef imports: Japan-US to start bargaining over easing of 
import conditions: Japan to start inspections of 28 meatpackers 
starting May 13 
 
(2) Abe, Bush at cross-purposes 
 
(3) Mike Mochizuki: "No one has been convinced" about comfort women 
issue; Lambastes Abe's "apology" 
 
(4) Comfort women: Private brokers responsible for recruiting, 
according to investigation by US Army: Former Japanese Imperial Army 
did not benefit 
 
(5) Defense Ministry to develop UUV, USV to prevent spies, 
terrorists from entering nation 
 
(6) Minshuto President Ozawa: Prime Minister Abe has no basic 
philosophy 
 
(7) LDP's Koga faction splits in two: Some seeking cooperation with 
Tanigaki faction, others feeling out possibility of leaving the 
faction 
 
(8) Pursuing the network of business, government and academic 
connected to Middle East assistance; Stream of delegations to the 
region 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) US beef imports: Japan-US to start bargaining over easing of 
import conditions: Japan to start inspections of 28 meatpackers 
starting May 13 
 
YOMIURI (Page 8) (Slightly abridged) 
May 12, 2007 
 
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) and the 
Ministry of Health, Labor a Welfare (MLIT) yesterday announced a 
plan to conduct inspections of US meat-processing plants in 
connection with whether to ease conditions for importing Japanese, 
starting from May 13 through 28. If the inspections find no 
problems, bargaining for easing import conditions will move into 
full swing. 
 
Verification 
 
The planned inspections will target 28 US meat-processing plants 
among 36 (including one that has applied for authorization) that are 
authorized to export products to Japan, excluding those that 
underwent inspections last year. Three teams consisting of 
inspectors from MAFF and MLIT will conduct inspections. 
 
Verification is part of the work to confirm whether the US side is 
observing conditions for exporting US beef to Japan. Since the US 
had rejected accepting inspection, the work has been under 
suspension since last December. 
 
Japan and the US will evaluate the results of the inspections. If 
they find no problems, the inspection will end possibly in early 
June. Japan will also end the practice of opening all boxes 
containing imported beef products. 
 
TOKYO 00002158  002 OF 009 
 
 
 
Tokyo and Washington will enter talks to revise import conditions 
and set new conditions. The government will then consult the Food 
Safety Commission under the Cabinet Office, which is responsible for 
judging BSE infection risk. 
 
OIE 
 
However, the US has asked Japan to scrap import restrictions as soon 
as the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), which is 
responsible for setting safety standards for livestock, ends its 
plenary session to be held in Paris from May 20 through 25. The two 
countries remain wide apart over when to start revision talks and 
subjects for discussion. 
 
The OIE has this year decided to categorize beef producing countries 
into three -- safe countries, semi-safe countries and countries with 
unknown risks -- in terms of BSE infection risk. If a country is 
categorized as a safe country, no export conditions would be imposed 
to its beef products. Countries categorized as semi-safe countries 
will also be basically free from export conditions. The removal of 
specified risk materials (SRM) will be mandated only for cattle aged 
30 months or older. 
 
If the OIE Science Committee categorizes the US as a semi-safe 
country and formally recognizes as such at its plenary session this 
May, it means the US is authorized to export its beef without age 
limit. 
 
Sources of dispute 
 
Japan has adopted import conditions, including limiting beef 
eligible for exports to cattle aged 20 months or younger and 
mandating the removal of SRM, which are stricter than the 
international standards. This is due to the facts that BSE infection 
was identified in a cow aged 21 months and another aged 23 months in 
¶2003. 
 
However, MLIT's research team has compiled an interim report noting 
that the injection of brain fluid extracted from those cows did not 
infect other animals. There is the possibility of this report 
invalidating the major grounds for Japan's limiting beef eligible 
for exports to cattle aged 20 months or younger. 
 
The US meat production cost has reportedly worsened with its beef 
importers, including Japan, seeking different import conditions from 
it. As such, the US will aim at having its trade partners simplify 
their import conditions on the strength of the new OIE criteria. 
 
South Korea has pledged to further ease import conditions imposed on 
US beef after the OIE plenary session. The US is bound to toughen 
its pressure on Japan. 
 
(2) Abe, Bush at cross-purposes 
 
SANKEI (Page 15) (Full) 
May 10, 2007 
 
Hiroshi Nakanishi, professor at Kyoto University 
 
During April 26-27, Prime Minister Abe visited the United States, 
where he held a summit meeting with President Bush. It was the first 
US trip since Abe became prime minister six months before. Abe was 
 
TOKYO 00002158  003 OF 009 
 
 
criticized for the tardiness in visiting Washington, but it does not 
matter much. Today, there are many opportunities for the leaders of 
countries to meet. Actually, Abe and Bush met in Hanoi in November 
last year when they attended a summit meeting of Asia-Pacific 
Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum members. Abe therefore did not 
have to be in a hurry to make a formal visit to the United States. 
 
The Abe-Bush summit meeting, however, cannot be called substantial. 
Indeed, everything was all diplomatically arranged for their meeting 
ahead of time. The two leaders held a long discussion and sought to 
build a relationship of mutual trust. Their wives also were able to 
meet, as well. Abe expressed his feeling of regret for the 
comfort-women issue, and Bush accepted the apology to quiet down the 
row. Abe also met with congressional leaders. In addition, Abe 
visited a naval hospital, where wounded soldiers from Iraq are being 
treated, and he also visited a memorial for Japanese Americans. In 
this way, Abe effectively covered much ground in a short time. After 
his US trip, Abe flew to the Middle East. This served to complement 
the United States' Middle East policy and gave the impression that 
Japan and Middle East countries have built relationships that go 
beyond oil. In that sense, Abe appears to have tried to show the 
global nature of the Japan-US alliance. 
 
Undoubtedly, Abe's visit to the United States resulted in 
reconfirming the Japan-US alliance and its importance. Bush called 
the alliance a global alliance that is based on commonly held 
values, such as respect for freedom and democracy, and he hailed the 
bilateral alliance as unprecedentedly rocksolid. Abe also told 
reporters in Egypt that the Japan-US alliance is irreplaceable and 
that he has agreed with Bush to deepen and broaden it. In fact, Abe 
and Bush adopted a joint statement on bilateral challenges, such as 
trade, energy, and the environment. This can be appreciated from a 
long-term perspective. 
 
The Abe-Bush meeting, however, has left an odd impression about 
foreign and security policies for the present. The oddest aspect was 
the holding of the two-plus-two foreign and defense ministerial 
meeting (of the Japan-US Security Consultative Committee) right 
after the prime minister's US visit. Such a meeting should be held 
before the two countries' top leaders meet. Based on its results, a 
summit meeting is usually held. The two-plus-two ministerial this 
time was also to have taken place earlier this year. However, it is 
believed to have been delayed until this point by Defense Minister 
Kyuma's remarks on the Iraq war which reportedly upset Bush 
administration officials. That may be true in a way. 
 
However, that does not seem to be the biggest reason. The Prime 
Minister's Official Residence (Kantei), the Defense Ministry, and 
the Foreign Ministry seemed to have failed to coordinate 
sufficiently over how to carry out the planned realignment of US 
forces in Japan. In addition, there was a gubernatorial election in 
Okinawa in November last year, and there were by-elections last 
month. The political schedule was important for the ruling parties, 
so they probably did not want to stir up base issues at the Japan-US 
meeting. The joint statement, released at the two-plus-two 
ministerial, took up intelligence protection and other issues. 
However, it went no further than to reconfirm a bilateral agreement 
reached under the Koizumi government to realign the alliance. In my 
impression, there was a failure in coordination between Japan and 
the United States. 
 
What next came out of the Abe-Bush meeting was discussion of the 
North Korea problem. On February 13, North Korea agreed on the 
 
TOKYO 00002158  004 OF 009 
 
 
initial steps to dismantle its nuclear facilities. However, it has 
yet to carry them out. Bush said there was a limit to his patience. 
In his press remarks, however, Bush played up his intention to go 
for a diplomatic solution, and he did not specify what he would do 
should North Korea fail to follow through with its commitment. On 
the issue of Japanese nationals abducted to North Korea, Bush said 
he was deeply moved when he met with Sakie Yokota. However, he did 
not referred to any political action on behalf of the abductees. 
There were also news reports that linked the abduction issue to 
delisting North Korea as a terrorist sponsor. However, Secretary of 
State Rice and Assistant Secretary of State Hill are giving top 
priority to the policy of stopping North Korea's nuclear development 
within the framework of six-party talks. For now, President Bush 
appears to back this policy course. The two leaders undeniably 
differ in that respect since Abe suggested the possibility of taking 
tougher actions against the North under the Japan-US alliance. 
 
In an televised scene of their press conference, Bush called the 
prime minister "Shinzo" but seemed to look absent-minded as he 
spoke. Abe also called the president "George" but his words lacked 
spontaneity. Bush probably was more concerned about the issue of 
Iraq and the Democratic Party now in control of the Congress. Abe 
also seemed to be unable to measure up how to get along with the 
outgoing Bush administration. 
 
Under the Koizumi government, the Japan-US alliance certainly grew 
closer. It is desirable for Japan to keep up the momentum in that 
direction. However, the environment surrounding the alliance is 
certainly becoming even more complicated. The Abe-Bush summit 
meeting this time made me foresee a possible need for minutely 
detailed foreign-policy management between Japan and the US in the 
years ahead. 
 
(3) Mike Mochizuki: "No one has been convinced" about comfort women 
issue; Lambastes Abe's "apology" 
 
OKINAWA TIMES (Page 3) (Full) 
May 12, 2007 
 
George Washington University Associate Professor Mike Mochizuki, a 
Japan expert who is now in Japan, on May 11 harshly criticized Prime 
Minister Shinzo Abe for his recent "apology" to President Bush for 
the wartime "comfort women" issue while Abe was visiting Washington. 
Mochizuki noted, "It is black humor, for the president is not a 
comfort woman," indicating that except for the president and a 
handful of pro-Japanese officials, no one has been convinced. 
 
Mochizuki made the comment during a lecture hosted by the Tokyo 
American Center in Tokyo. His comments reflected the mood in 
Washington, which sees Abe's apology as being insufficient and may 
add momentum to deliberations on the US House of Representatives 
resolution calling on the Japanese government to apologize for the 
comfort-women issue. 
 
Mochizuki, noting the increasing number of joint sponsors of the 
resolution, which now tops 100, stated, "(Unlike past years), the 
resolution now might be adopted." He criticized as a "big political 
blunder" Abe's denial that there was "coercion in the narrow sense" 
in the recruitment of wartime comfort women 
 
(4) Comfort women: Private brokers responsible for recruiting, 
according to investigation by US Army: Former Japanese Imperial Army 
did not benefit 
 
TOKYO 00002158  005 OF 009 
 
 
 
SANKEI (Page 3) (Slightly abridged) 
May 12, 2007 
 
Washington, Yoshihisa Komori 
 
In connection with the issue of comfort women during World War II 
and the former Japanese Imperial Army, it has been revealed by a US 
Army report that Japan's private brokers on the Japanese side did 
the recruiting of comfort women by first making payment to the 
families of prospective candidates. The report noted that such 
brokers were directly involved in recruiting comfort women in Korea, 
the aim being to make profits on a commercial basis. The report has 
clarified the situation at the time, which is quite different from 
the claim by certain groups in the US that the former Imperial 
Japanese Army coercively recruited women in an organized way. 
 
The United States Office of War Information (OWI) Psychological 
Warfare Team attached to the U.S. Army in September 1944 issued the 
report, titled "Japanese Army brothels in frontline areas." The 
report mainly records the interrogation of a Japanese man (41 years 
old at the time) who ran a comfort station, who was picked up and 
held in custody by the US Army in Northern Burma, now Myanmar, that 
August. 
 
The US Army held the man in custody, along with his Japanese wife 
(38) and 20 Korean women. Another existing report contains the 
results of the questioning of the women. It has been referred to by 
both Japanese and US researchers, but there have been few occasions 
in which the report on the operator of the comfort station was 
openly examined. 
 
According to the report, the man and his wife had opened a 
restaurant in Seoul and earned a reasonable amount of money. 
However, when his business declined, he obtained approval from the 
Japanese Army Command to bring comfort women to Burma as a chance to 
earn more income. His proposal was reportedly transmitted by the 
military to Japanese businessmen residing in Korea. 
 
Regarding the recruiting of comfort women by this man, the report 
noted that he paid the families of 22 Korean women 300 yen to 1,000 
yen per person, depending on their character, appearance and age. 
The age of the 22 women ranged from 19 to 31. They became the 
property of that individual. The Japanese Army did not share in the 
profits from this venture. It issued a letter addressed to each 
command of the Japanese Army ordering them to give the individual 
necessary assistance, such as transportation, rations and medical 
services. 
 
The report also noted that in the process of recruiting comfort 
women, the Japanese Army was involved in the form of granting 
approval or proposing doing so. It also mentioned that in recruiting 
comfort women, the man first made payment to all individual 
applicants. It thus noted that the situation was totally different 
from the interpretation of the incident by the US Congress and the 
wording its resolution adopted: "The Japanese Army coercively 
recruited women in an organized manner and used them as sex 
slaves." 
 
According to the report, this Japanese operator left Pusan with his 
wife and the 22 Korean women on July 10, 1942, by ship and arrived 
in Rangoon (now Yangon), the capital of Burma, on August 20 via 
Taiwan and Singapore. 
 
TOKYO 00002158  006 OF 009 
 
 
 
The women were then reportedly sent to a comfort station for the 
114th regiment of the Japanese Army infantry in the Myitkyina area 
in the Northern part of Burma. 
 
(5) Defense Ministry to develop UUV, USV to prevent spies, 
terrorists from entering nation 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 14, 2007 
 
The Defense Ministry will soon launch technical research to develop 
an unmanned undersea vehicle (UUV) and an unmanned surface vehicle 
(USV) in an effort to prevent spies from entering Japan from the sea 
and suicide bombing by terrorists of naval vessels. The ministry 
plans to earmark approximately 2.6 billion yen for the research in 
its budget request for FY2008. The research project will last for 
six years and cost an estimated 6 billion yen. 
 
The ministry would like to make use of the planned UUV and USV, by 
networking them, to pursue armed spy ships, search and remove mines, 
explore the seabed, as well as to monitor guerillas attacking remote 
islands or spies intruding into the nation at harbors or in coastal 
areas. By introducing an unmanned system, the ministry aims to avoid 
personnel risk and perform duties more effectively. 
 
The Defense Ministry intends to develop technologies related to 
underwater telecommunications and self-contained navigation. It 
plans to complete the demonstration tests of such technologies by 
FY2012 and then deploy the new equipment under the Maritime 
Self-Defense Force (MSDF). 
 
The MSDF has installed the S-7 remote-control marine-disposal 
equipment on its unmanned undersea vessels. In the planned research, 
the ministry expects to significantly upgrade the equipment to make 
it capable of automatic underwater navigation and of recognizing the 
purpose, making a judgment, and launching an attack by using various 
censors, like a robot. 
 
(6) Minshuto President Ozawa: Prime Minister Abe has no basic 
philosophy 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 14, 2007 
 
Appearing on a TV Asahi talk show yesterday, Ichiro Ozawa, president 
of the main opposition party Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), 
criticized Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's political stance, saying: 
 
"I don't see that he has reached any conclusions on any issue, 
including the constitutional issue, based on his own principles and 
philosophy. He lacks a basic philosophy about how he would rebuild 
the country or how he would like it to be." 
 
Ozawa also pointed out: 
 
"(The prime minister thinks that) the Constitution isn't any good 
because it was made under the Occupation and that the exercise of 
the right of collective self-defense is necessary in order to 
cooperate with the United States. It is problem when a person like 
this is given the task of governing a country." 
 
(7) LDP's Koga faction splits in two: Some seeking cooperation with 
 
TOKYO 00002158  007 OF 009 
 
 
Tanigaki faction, others feeling out possibility of leaving the 
faction 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 14, 2007 
 
Many in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) have become 
increasingly interested in the notion of a merger between the Koga 
faction (a membership of 51) and the Tanigaki faction (16 members). 
Since the notion has a ring of the rallying together of "anti-Abe 
forces" in the Koga faction, LDP General Council Chairman Yuya Niwa 
and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki, who were given 
important posts by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, are strongly against 
the merger plan. The faction headed by Foreign Minister Taro Aso has 
been excluded from the merger. Chances are that the realignment of 
factions in the LDP will occur after the House of Councillors in 
July, parting company with Abe. 
 
Completely smash the notion 
 
In a meeting on the night of May 11 with Niwa, Aso expressed 
unhappiness with the moves between the Koga and Tanigaki factions 
toward merge, and he stated: "Though these are not significant 
moves, they should be completely smashed." He also revealed that Abe 
was aware of the notion of a factional merger. Shiozaki also 
reportedly took part in the meeting. 
 
Niwa, Shiozaki and Yoshihide Suga, minister of internal affairs and 
communications, belong to the Koga faction. All the more because the 
three got key posts as individuals instead of for their support for 
Abe in the party's presidential election last year, they have strong 
personal loyalty to the prime minister. Aso aims to become a 
candidate in the race to succeed Abe by supporting him. 
 
After his meeting with Aso, Niwa came into contact with Isao Iijima, 
secretary to former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. Iijima 
 
SIPDIS 
reportedly told Niwa: "With the Upper House drawing closer, should 
the LDP carry out a strategic alliance of its factions, it will 
decrease the number of its Upper House seats." In his speech in 
Niigata Prefecture on May 12, Niwa blasted former LDP Secretary 
General Koga, noting, "It is extremely regrettable that the merger 
notion came up before the Upper House election. As one of the three 
top LDP officials, I find it a great inconvenience." 
 
With eye on an Abe faction 
 
Shiozaki, who serves as government spokesman, has made no statement 
as Niwa has done. Last October when the Niwa-Koga faction was 
changed the name to the Koga faction, the distance between Niwa and 
Koga reportedly widened. Suga is the main member of the 
Parliamentary League to Support Second Chance. He stands at the 
center of the Abe government. 
 
Therefore, there is a view in the LDP if the Koga and Tanigaki 
factions merge, some Koga faction members will leave the faction to 
join the Aso faction. The outlook is that the Aso Machimura factions 
will move to form an Abe government. 
 
In a wedding ceremony yesterday for the oldest son of Koga, former 
Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, who is concerned about turmoil in the 
LDP, sought to constrain the merger of Koga and Tanigaki factions, 
saying, "I have no intention to mediate a merger between Mr. Koga 
and other group." 
 
TOKYO 00002158  008 OF 009 
 
 
 
(8) Pursuing the network of business, government and academic 
connected to Middle East assistance; Stream of delegations to the 
region 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 21) (Full) 
April 23, 2007 
 
The relationship between Japan and the Middle East is now entering a 
new phase. Japan's new aid plan to the Palestinian Authority is 
about to start. When Prime Minister Shinzo Abe tours five Middle 
Eastern countries in May, a delegation of over 170 business leaders 
will accompany him. This newspaper focuses on the key figures in 
various circles involved with implementing effective aid measures 
for the Middle East, taking advantage of Japan historically not 
having been part of that region's conflicts 
 
In mid-March, cabinet ministers of Israel, the Palestinian 
Authority, and Jordan came to Japan to attend quadrilateral talks 
hosted by Foreign Minister Taro Aso. The representatives of the four 
parties agreed to promote agricultural projects, based on the 
initiative of the Corridor for Peace and Prosperity. Before reaching 
the agreement, there were steady efforts by government envoy Tatsuo 
Arima, 73, and other officials. 
 
Arima served as ambassador to Germany. He has his own communication 
channels to the United States. He has been actively involved in 
Middle East affairs at each juncture since 1973, when the first oil 
crisis occurred. He was dispatched there as a special envoy of the 
government of then Prime Minister Takeo Miki to help Japan ensure a 
crude oil supply. Since 2002, he has had contacts with Israeli and 
Palestinian leaders, concurrently serving as government envoy for 
the Middle East peace process. 
 
In the four-party talks arranged by Arima, the Foreign Ministry's 
Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau Director General Norihiro 
Okuda, 54, and other working-level officials were able to persuade 
Israel, which had been reluctant to join the talks, by embroiling 
Jordan, which is one of the few Arab countries to have diplomatic 
ties with Israel. Looking back on his experiences, Okuda said: "The 
situation took a change for the better after we asked Jordan's King 
Abdallah II for his support during his Japan visit." 
 
Junichiro Koizumi proposed the concept of the Corridor for Peace and 
Prosperity when he visited the Middle East last summer as prime 
minister. The concept included the construction of an 
agricultural-products processing facility in Jericho on the west 
side of the Jordan River, as well as a water-quality management 
plan. 
 
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) actually 
implements the program. Juro Chikaraishi, 55, head of the JICA's 
Middle East and Europe Department, whom President Sadako Ogata 
trusts, said: "Since we have built our network of contacts over the 
last several years, we have now found it easier to do our business." 
He pins his hopes on efforts by Takeshi Naruse, 54, who heads the 
JICA Office in Gaza, which is responsible for building up the 
organization's networks of connections in Israel and the Palestinian 
community. 
 
 Prime Minister Abe will visit in May such oil producing countries 
as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Qatar. 
He aims at securing stable energy supplies in return for economic 
 
TOKYO 00002158  009 OF 009 
 
 
assistance and cooperation. He will be accompanied by an economic 
mission led by Japan Business Federation Chairman Fujio Mitarai, 71. 
NYK Line Honorary Chairman Jiro Nemoto, 78, will also join the 
mission. 
 
Nemoto stressed: "Regarding assistance to the Middle East, Japan 
should push forward with both development of human resources and 
economic aid." The Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle East 
(JCCME), which Nemoto chairs, has placed recently priority on 
cooperation in the education area. 
 
Yukiko Hirai, president of Selfwing Company, an educational contents 
provider for children, is one of those taking part in aid projects 
to the Middle East. Hirai has been teaching Saudi Arabian high 
school students since February about starting businesses and methods 
of commercial transactions. 
 
In academic circles, University of Tokyo professors Masayuki 
Yamauchi, 59, and Shin'ichi Kitaoka, 59, and New National Theater 
Tokyo President Atsuko Toyama, a former education minister, will 
visit the Middle East in June as the first delegation. Yamauchi has 
led so far three delegations to the Middle East. He has asserted 
that Japan should actively fulfill a role in consideration of the 
Japan-US alliance, by taking advantage of communication channels to 
Syria and Iran that the United States does not have. 
 
Naoki Tanaka, 61, president of the Center for International Public 
Policy Studies (CIPPS), which was set up in March, has the same view 
with Yamauchi in viewpoint of thinking about the Middle East in 
consideration of the relationship with the United States. The CIPPS 
founded by Toyota Motors looks for measures to contribute to the 
Middle East in order to help stability in East Asia. The 
organization underscores that there is enough room for Japan, which 
has no experience in involvement in Middle East disputes, unlike 
Europe and the United States, to contribute to the region in the 
form of supporting the US. 
 
Tanaka picked former Prime Minister Koizumi, advocator of the 
Corridor for Peace and Prosperity initiative, as advisor to the 
CIPPS. The organization will propose measures for the Middle East 
peace process and Iraq issue, while being supported by Koizumi, who 
enjoyed international reputation. 
 
In the Middle East, Israel and the Palestinian Authority have begun 
summit diplomacy and an international conference to stabilize Iraq 
has been started under the lead of the United States. These moves 
are aimed to prevent the chaos from expanding. The capabilities of 
the joint support system of Japan's business, government, and 
academia will now be put to the test. 
 
DONOVAN