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UNCLAS TOKYO 000316 
 
SIPDIS 
 
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 - AFRICAN UNION SUMMIT, 
GLOBAL ECONOMY, AND AFGHAN RECONSTRUCTION 
 
 
¶1. LEAD STORIES: Wednesday morning's Sankei gave top 
coverage to Russian President Putin's letter to Prime 
Minister Fukuda, in which Putin allegedly agreed to 
Fukuda's earlier proposal to move bilateral ties to a 
higher level. 
 
¶2. "AU Must Demonstrate Will to Resolve Conflicts" The 
business-oriented Nikkei editorialized (2/6): "While 
the African Union held a summit over the weekend to 
discuss measures for enhancing its industrial base, the 
meeting was overwhelmed by the situations in Kenya and 
Chad. Strife also exists in other parts of Africa, 
including Darfur and Somalia. In order to make better 
use of Western aid, the AU will need to play an active 
role in resolving these conflicts.... Some within the 
AU believe the organization should aim for unification 
along the lines of the EU, including the creation of a 
united government. However, discussions about a central 
government without demonstrating a commitment to 
resolving conflicts on the continent would be 
meaningless." 
 
¶3. "G-7 Must Respond to Crisis" The liberal Tokyo 
Shimbun asserted (2/6): "Participants in the upcoming 
G-7 meeting of financial ministers and central bank 
governors in Tokyo need to share a sense of urgency and 
issue a strong message that they will act together to 
deal with the financial crisis. While the Fed and 
central banks in Europe coordinated closely to increase 
market liquidity at the end of last year, the Bank of 
Japan did not join them. This was because the financial 
losses incurred by Japanese financial institutions were 
not as bad as those of U.S. and European banks. 
However, Japanese banks have since then reported 
greater losses. Japan should join with the other G-7 
members at the coming meeting to put forward a 
coordinated approach to the crisis." 
 
¶4. "Time to Review Support for Afghan Reconstruction" 
The liberal Asahi stated (2/6): "It would be a stretch 
to say that the war on terrorism in Afghanistan and 
reconstruction efforts there are going smoothly. 
Against this backdrop comes an international conference 
in Tokyo, with Afghan Foreign Minister Spanta and 12 
other Afghan ministers participating. The meeting 
provides an opportunity to review progress on 
reconstruction and international aid.... Who is the 
real enemy in Afghanistan? How can military operations 
be combined with civilian support? Which country will 
play what role? The international community needs to 
coordinate anew. There should be a new, UN-centered 
framework." 
 
DONOVAN