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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 13 TOKYO 001159 
 
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: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 04/28/08 
 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's weekend schedule (Nikkei) 
 
Yamaguchi-2 Lower House by-election: 
4) Democratic Party of Japan-backed candidate Hiraoka wins by a big 
majority in Lower House by-election in Yamaguchi 2  (Asahi) 
5) DPJ after Yamaguchi win: We've now got the people's will behind 
us  (Asahi) 
6) Shock of losing Yamaguchi Lower House seat rocks Liberal 
Democratic Party'  (Sankei) 
7) Nikkei exit poll in Yamaguchi election: 70 PERCENT  of 
unaffiliated voters went for DPJ candidate  (Nikkei) 
8) Exit poll by Yomiuri shows key issues were pensions and medical 
care service; Japanese Communist Party supporters also a factor 
(Yomiuri) 
9) Asahi exit poll found 70 PERCENT  of Yamaguchi voters against 
reinstating the gasoline tax  (Asahi) 
10) Kyodo exit poll in Yamaguchi election found even LDP supporters 
going over to the opposition candidate  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
11) Prime Minister Fukuda rules out an early cabinet shuffle 
(Nikkei) 
 
North Korea-Syria nuclear cooperation: 
12) Ambassador Schieffer meets foreign minister, chief cabinet 
secretary on North Korea-Syria nuclear cooperation issue, which 
 
SIPDIS 
"still continues today"  (Yomiuri) 
13) Government insists that North Korea-Syria nuclear cooperation 
will not damage Six-Party Talks  (Mainichi) 
 
Tibet issue: 
14) Olympic torch relay in Nagoya results in six protesters arrested 
 (Tokyo Shimbun) 
15) Tokyo feels its efforts to persuade Beijing to open dialogue 
with the Dalai Lama are paying off  (Yomiuri) 
 
Prime Minister Fukuda in Moscow: 
16) Japan and Russia in summit meeting agree to Siberian development 
survey, press forward with talks on northern territories issue 
(Yomiuri) 
17) Text of Fukuda-Putin exchange in their summit meeting  (Nikkei) 
 
18) President Putin promises cooperation in resolving Japan's 
abduction issue with the DPRK  (Sankei) 
 
Host-nation support agreement: 
19) U.S. base workers' labor union calls the DPJ's rejection of 
host-nation support agreement, which contains their pay, "truly 
regrettable"  (Asahi) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi, Mainichi, Yomiuri, Nikkei, Sankei & Tokyo Shimbun: 
DPJ-backed candidate wins in by-election for Lower House seat in 
Yamaguchi 2nd District 
 
Akahata: 
 
TOKYO 00001159  002 OF 013 
 
 
Two JCP-backed candidates win in two single-seat constituencies - 
one for by-election in Saitama prefectural assembly and one in the 
Joetsu City Assembly election 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) LDP loses by-election in Yamaguchi 2nd District amid public 
criticism of "revote" 
(2) 3 years after derailment accident: JR must keep the accident in 
mind 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) DPJ wins by-election: Prime minister needs to be fully aware of 
public's anger 
(2) Japan-Russia summit: Expansion of cooperative ties must be used 
as leverage to promote Northern Territories talks 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) By-election in Yamaguchi 2nd District affected by the eldery's 
concern 
(2) Japan-Russia summit: What is necessary to upgrade bilateral 
relations to higher level ones? 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) LDP's defeat in by-election may herald political turmoil 
(2) Don't put aside Northern Territories talks 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Lower House by-election: A detailed account of revote should 
have been given 
(2) Japan-Russia summit: Territory issue must be put high on agenda 
at G-8 Toyako Summit 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Public's will reflected in DPJ's victory in by-election 
(2) Chinese patriotic fever a double-edged sword 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Permanent legislation for overseas dispatch of SDF is nothing 
more than for Japan to participate in warfare automatically 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, April 25 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 26, 2008 
 
08:31 
Attended a cabinet meeting in Diet. 
 
08:54 
Met with Cabinet Intelligence Director Mitani at Kantei. 
 
10:15 
Met with Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura. 
 
10:33 
Arrived at Kantei residence. 
 
12:24 
 
TOKYO 00001159  003 OF 013 
 
 
Left Haneda Airport aboard a government plane to visit Russia. 
 
Local time 
 
Evening 
Arrived at Vnukovo Airport in Moscow, Russia. Stayed at Hotel 
Metropole 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, April 26 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 27, 2008 
 
Morning 
Visited the Japanese Language Education Festival held at 1535 School 
in a suburb of Moscow. Responded to interviews with Russian press 
companies, including Itar-Tass. 
 
Noon 
Met with reporters accompanying him at Hotel Metropole. 
 
Afternoon 
Met with President Putin at the president's residence. Attended a 
working lunch with Putin. Met with president-elect Medvedev at the 
President's Guest House. 
 
Evening 
Arrived at Hotel Metropole. 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, April 26 & 27 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 28, 2008 
 
Night 
Left Vnukovo Airport in Moscow aboard a government plane. 
April 27 
 
12:10 
Arrived at Haneda Airport. 
 
12:42 
Made a return home report at Imperial Palace. 
 
12:56 
Met with Machimura at Kantei residence. 
 
21:54 
Met with LDP Secretary General Ibuki. 
 
4) DPJ overwhelmingly wins Lower House by-election in Yamaguchi 
Prefecture 
 
ASAHI (Top Play) (Lead excerpts) 
April 28, 2008 
 
The main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) yesterday 
overwhelmingly won a House of Representative seat in the Yamaguchi 
No. 2 district by-election, recapturing the seat from the ruling 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) During the election campaign, issues 
that mainly attracted attention were the newly introduced health 
insurance system for people aged 75 and over and the government's 
 
TOKYO 00001159  004 OF 013 
 
 
road policy. The government and ruling parties will reinstate on 
April 30 provisional gasoline tax rates in the Lower House by 
resorting an overriding vote.  The DPJ, however, intends to put up 
do-or-die resistance and it has now launch coordination on the 
timing for submitting a censure motion against Prime Minister Yasuo 
Fukuda with an eye also on the political situation in May. 
 
In Sunday's Lower House by-election, DPJ candidate Hideo Hiraoka, 
54, a former Lower House member elected under the proportional 
representation electoral system, who was recommended by the small 
opposition party, the Social Democratic Party (SDP), defeated LDP 
candidate Shigetaro Yamamoto, 59, a former official of the Land, 
Infrastructure and Transport Ministry, who was recommended by the 
New Komeito, the LDP's coalition partner. Hiraoka received about 
20,000 more votes than Yamamoto. Voter turnout was 69 PERCENT 
(72.45 PERCENT  in the previous general election), with 308,017 
voters going to the polling stations. The by-election took place to 
fill a seat that had fallen vacant after Yoshihiko Fukuda of the 
LDP, who had defeated Hiraoka in the 2005 general election, ran for 
the Iwakuni mayoral election, after quitting his Lower House seat. 
The Japanese Communist Party did not field its own candidate, 
leaving the LDP and DPJ candidates to battle it out. 
 
Hiraoka attacked the government and ruling coalition over their 
road-construction policy, the pension-records mess, and the 
controversial health care system for the elderly. The government 
began withholding medical insurance premiums from the pension 
benefits of those 75 and over on April 15, when the official 
campaign for the Lower House by-election kicked off. This became 
driving force for Hiraoka's campaign. The fact that the government 
and ruling camp decided on a policy of reinstating the provisional 
tax rates immediately before the election day appears to have 
invited a backlash from voters. 
 
5) LDP candidate's loss in Lower House by-election to deal blow to 
Prime Minister Fukuda, with DPJ stepping up offensive 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
April 28, 2008 
 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda (president of the ruling Liberal 
Democratic Party) has suffered a blow with the LDP candidate losing 
the House of Representatives by-election in Yamaguchi Prefecture, 
the first national election since Fukuda took office. Since his grip 
on the party will now unavoidably be weakened, the prime minister 
will find it more difficult to manage his administration. The 
government and ruling parties will likely be forced to review their 
political scenario as to when the next general election should be 
held and under whose leadership. 
 
Many in the ruling coalition believe that the new health care system 
for the elderly was the main reason for the loss. As the government 
started withholding medical insurance premiums from the pension 
benefits of those 75 and over on April 15, when the official 
campaign for the Lower House by-election kicked off, voters became 
increasingly distrustful of the government and ruling camp. LDP 
Policy Research Council Chairman Sadakazu Tanigaki has said that it 
is impossible to change drastically the policy direction, but a 
former party executive said: "Unless we revise the system, we will 
not be able to win future elections." The opposition camp intends to 
gear up to go on the offensive, calling for scrapping the system. 
 
 
TOKYO 00001159  005 OF 013 
 
 
LDP Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Tadamori Oshima said: "There is 
no change in our policy of taking an overriding vote on April 30 in 
the Lower House" on a tax system-related bill regardless of what the 
election outcome was. The government and ruling camp plan to readopt 
on May 12 also a bill amending the Road Construction Revenues 
Special Exemption Law in the Lower House. However, some junior and 
mid-level lawmakers may criticize it, saying that taking an 
overriding vote on the bill amending the special exemption law 
contradicts the prime minister's policy. 
 
Fukuda and Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura confirmed on 
April 27 that they would decide in a cabinet meeting on the policy 
of integrating the special account from road-related tax revenues 
into the general account budget starting in fiscal 2009. Fukuda will 
meet today with New Komeito leader Akihiro Ota. He will then explain 
to the public specific measures for the shifting the special 
road-related revenues to the general account in a press conference 
after the overriding vote is taken on April 30. 
 
6) DPJ gains momentum with victory in Yamaguchi by-election: "We 
have the will of the people" 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
April 28, 2008 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan's (DPJ) candidate won a House of 
Representatives seat in the Yamaguchi Constituency No.2 by-election 
yesterday, which marked the 10th anniversary of the establishment of 
the DPJ. The victory is likely to boost President Ichiro Ozawa's 
strong hold on the party. Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Kenji 
Yamaoka said: "We won a one-on-one fight. An overwhelming number of 
people now rest their hopes on our party. The election result shows 
that this is the beginning of the end of the Liberal Democratic 
Party's reign." The main opposition party is now poised to 
underscore a confrontational stance toward the Fukuda 
administration, interpreting the victory in the by-election as the 
voters' support for its views in debates with the LDP over the 
provisional gasoline tax rate and the use of road-related tax 
revenues for general spending, as well as its call for abolishing 
the new health insurance system for people aged 75 or older. 
 
In a party executive meeting this afternoon, the DPJ will decide not 
to submit a censure motion against Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda 
immediately after the LDP takes an override vote in the House of 
Representatives scheduled for April 30 to revive the provisional tax 
rates. Although the DPJ won the by-election, the party has yet to 
determine the best timing for submitting a censure motion. The main 
opposition intends to pour its energy into attacking the government 
and the ruling coalition in the Diet session for the time being. 
 
The DPJ is now very self-confident. Diet Affairs Committee Chairman 
Yamaoka told reporters last night: "The government and the ruling 
coalition should take the election result seriously and immediately 
drop the health insurance system for people aged 75 or older. They 
also should withdraw their plan to take an override vote in the 
Lower House on the 30th to raise gasoline prices, because they 
expressed their opposition to it." 
 
Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama proudly said in a press conference 
 
SIPDIS 
last night: "We have come closer to launching an Ozawa government." 
He added: "We now have more options in hand (to corner the Fukuda 
administration). We will pursue the government and the ruling camp 
 
TOKYO 00001159  006 OF 013 
 
 
in the Diet over the health insurance system for very old patients, 
the pension record-keeping fiasco, and the issue of road-related 
taxes. While keeping in mind the possibility of submitting a censure 
motion at the best timing, we will take action." 
 
6-2) LDP suffers blow from defeat in Yamauchi by-election but still 
intends to hold override revote on tax revenues-related bills 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 28, 2008 
 
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) candidate was crushingly defeated 
in the by-election in Yamaguchi 2nd District for a House of 
Representatives seat yesterday, dealing a fresh blow to the LDP. But 
the party still intends to hold a revote at the Lower House on April 
30 over bills related to tax revenues. The LDP, however, is likely 
to fail to present a united front. The party leadership may be 
pressured to make a difficult response. 
 
Election Committee Chairman Makoto Koga and other LDP executives 
arrived at party headquarters one after another a little past 19:30, 
when the defeat of the LDP candidate became almost certain through 
exit polls by news companies. Secretary General Bunmei Ibuki showed 
up few minutes after 20:00. NHK had just reported the LDP 
candidate's defeat. 
 
Ibuki grumbled with a serious look: "The responsibility does not lie 
only with Mr. Koga," and he then entered his office with Koga and 
others. Appearing before reporters again before 22:00, Ibuki said 
that the main reason for the defeat was "a lack of sufficient, 
appropriate explanation about the new health insurance system for 
people aged 75 or older." 
 
All senior members of the LDP and the New Komeito attributed the 
defeat to the new health insurance system in an apparent attempt to 
throw the blame on former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who had 
decided to introduce the new system. 
 
Some LDP members attributed responsibility to the media. Ibuki 
emphasized: "(The media) reported on the system in a distorted way. 
That was the main cause of our defeat." Chief Cabinet Secretary 
Nobutaka Machimura also commented: "Biased reporting also was one of 
the key factors." Koga said: "The margin is within what we had 
expected. I think there will no be effect on national politics." 
 
Even under such circumstances, it is impossible for the LDP to put 
off a revote on the tax revenues-related bill. A mid-ranking 
official was overheard saying in a tone of self-mockery: "Let's 
leave a matter to chance." 
 
7) Exit poll: 70 PERCENT  of unaffiliated voters cast for Hiraoka 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 28, 2008 
 
According to an exit poll conducted by Kyodo News of voters in 
yesterday's by-election for the House of Representatives in 
Yamaguchi Prefecture's District 2, Hideo Hiraoka, who won the 
by-election as a candidate from the leading opposition Democratic 
Party of Japan (Minshuto), won over 84.6 PERCENT  of votes from 
those who support the Japanese Communist Party, which gave up on 
running its own candidate, with only 15.4 PERCENT  of them voting 
 
TOKYO 00001159  007 OF 013 
 
 
for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's Shigetaro Yamamoto. 
 
The JCP is expected to field candidates in about 140 of the nation's 
300 single-seat constituencies in the next general election for the 
House of Representatives. As far as the outcome of the exit poll is 
concerned, the JCP's election strategy of narrowing down its 
candidates is highly likely to work to the DPJ's advantage. However, 
many of the JCP's supporters are also expected to abstain from 
voting. 
 
In the last election for the lower chamber, ruling ticket candidates 
and DPJ candidates faced off in 288 electoral districts. To simply 
add votes won by JCP candidates to those obtained by DPJ candidates, 
the DPJ outstrips the ruling parties in 44 districts. The JCP has 
yet to field its own candidates in 16 of these districts. 
 
Hiraoka won over 94.4 PERCENT  of votes from DPJ supporters and 70.5 
PERCENT  of votes from the electorate's voting population with no 
particular party affiliation. Among LDP supporters, 23.5 PERCENT 
also cast their votes for Hiraoka. 
 
Meanwhile, Yamamoto got 76.5 PERCENT  of votes from LDP supporters 
and only 29.5 PERCENT  of votes from the unaffiliated voters. 
 
8) Exit poll: Voters concerned about pension, medical care vote for 
Hiraoka 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
April 28, 2008 
 
The Yomiuri Shimbun carried out an exit poll of voters in 
yesterday's by-election for the House of Representatives in 
Yamaguchi Prefecture's District 2, in which 38 PERCENT  of the 
electorate were concerned about "pension and medical care" as a 
campaign issue. Among them, 67 PERCENT  voted fro Hideo Hiraoka, who 
won the by-election as the candidate of the leading opposition 
Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto), with only 29 PERCENT  voting 
for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's Shigetaro Yamamoto. 
Voters' dissatisfaction with the government's newly introduced 
medical care system for the elderely seems to have led to support 
for Hiraoka. 
 
The LDP and its coalition partner, New Komeito, are going to restore 
the now-expired provisional gasoline tax rate. The exit poll asked 
voters if they supported this course of action. In response to this 
question, 31 PERCENT  answered "yes," with 62 PERCENT  saying "no." 
Among those who answered "no," 79 PERCENT  voted for Hiraoka. As 
seen from these figures, a majority of the electorate's voting 
population were negative about the idea of restoring the provisional 
gas surcharge. This resulted in boosting votes for Hiraoka. 
 
Among LDP supporters, 72 PERCENT  voted for Yamamoto but 25 PERCENT 
voted for Hiraoka. Among New Komeito supporters, nearly 80 PERCENT 
voted for Yamamoto, with 21 PERCENT  casting their votes for 
Hiraoka. 
 
Among DPJ supporters, 95 PERCENT  voted for Hiraoka. 
 
Among those unaffiliated with any political party, 73 PERCENT  voted 
for Hiraoka, with 21 PERCENT  for Yamamoto. 
 
In the by-election this time, the Japanese Communist Party did not 
 
TOKYO 00001159  008 OF 013 
 
 
field its own candidate. More than 90 PERCENT  of JCP supporters 
voted for Hiraoka. 
 
9) Exit poll: 70 PERCENT  opposed to gas tax restoration 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
April 28, 2008 
 
The Asahi Shimbun conducted an exit poll of voters in yesterday's 
by-election for the House of Representatives in Yamaguchi 
Prefecture's District 2 to ask if they supported the idea of 
restoring the now-expired provisional rate of taxation on gasoline 
for road-related tax revenues, 70 PERCENT  of all those polled 
answered "no," with 25 PERCENT  saying "yes." Among those who 
support the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and New 
Komeito as well, more than 50 PERCENT  answered "no." Among those 
who support the leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan 
(Minshuto), about 90 PERCENT  answered "no." 
 
10) Exit poll: 65 PERCENT  opposed to restoring provisional gas tax 
rate 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
April 28, 2008 
 
According to an exit poll conducted by Kyodo News of voters in 
yesterday's by-election for House of Representatives in Yamaguchi 
Prefecture's District 2, 65.8 PERCENT  were against restoring the 
now-expired rate of provisional taxation on gasoline, with only 34.2 
PERCENT  supporting it. The government and the ruling coalition are 
going to take a vote again on a tax reform bill in the House of 
Representatives on Apr. 30 to restore the provisional gas tax rate. 
However, the results of the by-elections show that many of the 
voters have rejected the plan to take a second vote to restore the 
provisional gas tax rate. 
 
The leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) has been 
insisting on abolishing the provisional gas tax rate. Among its 
supporters, 84.3 PERCENT  answered "no" when asked if they supported 
the idea of restoring the provisional gas tax rate, with 15.7 
PERCENT  saying "yes." Among the supporters of other parties, "no" 
came from 83.3 PERCENT  of those who support the Japanese Communist 
Party and from 62.5 PERCENT  from those who support the Social 
Democratic Party. 
 
Meanwhile, the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and 
New Komeito is insisting on restoring the provisional gas tax rate. 
Among LDP supporters, 53.0 PERCENT  answered "yes," with 47.0 
PERCENT  saying "no." Among New Komeito supporters, "no" came from 
61.0 PERCENT . 
 
Among those with no particular party affiliation, 76.1 PERCENT 
answered "no," with 23.9 PERCENT  saying "yes." According to the 
exit poll, 70.5 PERCENT  of the unaffiliated voters cast their votes 
for the DPJ's Hideo Hiraoka, who won the by-election. Their 
opposition to restoring the provisional gas tax rate backed him. 
 
11) Prime Minister Fukuda says there will be no cabinet reshuffle at 
an early date 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 27, 2008 
 
TOKYO 00001159  009 OF 013 
 
 
 
Shin Nakayama, Moscow 
 
Visiting Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda met with reporters accompanying 
him in a Moscow hotel at noon of April 26 (evening of the same day, 
Japan time). When asked about a cabinet reshuffle, which some in the 
ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) are calling for, Fukuda 
expressly rejected it, noting, "I am not thinking about it." Asked 
how he would deal with a case where a censure motion against the 
prime minister is adopted in the Upper House by a majority of votes 
from the major opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) and other 
opposition parties, Fukuda said: "I'll make a decision at the time. 
It will depend on a political situation at the time." At the same 
time he noted: "Given that the ruling bloc fails to hold a majority 
in the Upper House, there will be great meaning in (the censure 
motion)." 
 
Some in the ruling parties are voicing the need to reshuffle the 
cabinet even before the Group of Eight (G-8) Toyako Summit in July 
in order to boost his cabinet as its approval ratings have been 
hovering at low levels. When asked about his views of a cabinet 
reshuffle, Fukuda said, "I can't answer a hypothetical question," 
making it clear that he has no intention of reshuffling the cabinet 
for the present. 
 
A bill amending the Special Taxation Measures Law is now expected to 
be readopted in the Lower House on April 30. Speaking of this 
outlook, Fukuda emphasized: "For what purpose does the Upper House 
exist?"  Its' raison d'etre will be questioned. Isn't it that it 
exists to come out with a conclusion?" Fukuda rapped the DPJ, which 
is trying to delay taking a vote on the bill in the Upper House. DPJ 
President Ichiro Ozawa has been calling for an early dissolution of 
the Lower House for a snap election. Referring to this call, Fukuda 
noted: "I hear a variety of views exist in the DPJ." 
 
12) U.S. Ambassador to Japan in meetings with foreign minister, 
chief cabinet secretary says North Korea, Syria nuclear "still 
continue nuclear cooperation" 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 26, 2008 
 
U.S. Ambassador to Japan Schieffer on April 25 met with Chief 
Cabinet Secretary Machimura and Foreign Minister Koumura in 
succession to brief them on the U.S. government's announcement on 
April 24 that North Korea and Syria are engaging in nuclear 
cooperation. After the meeting, Foreign Minister Koumura revealed 
the contents of the briefing from the Ambassador, who had said, 
"(Nuclear cooperation between North Korea and Syria) continues 
today." In addition, the foreign minister told the press corps: 
"North Korea has no choice but to admit the truth (with evidence of 
nuclear cooperation), and we will press the North to report on this 
issue." 
 
In the two meetings, Japan and the United States reconfirmed their 
intention to cooperate in pressing the North "for a full and 
accurate report of its nuclear programs." 
 
A senior Foreign Ministry official, commenting on the U.S. 
statement, gave this assessment: "With this, it has become 
impossible for the U.S. to easily remove North Korea from the list 
of states sponsoring terrorism." On the other hand, regarding the 
 
TOKYO 00001159  010 OF 013 
 
 
impact on Six-Party Talks on the North Korean nuclear problem, the 
official expressed concern: "There also is fear that North Korea now 
will harden even more its stand, that the stalemate will get even 
worse." 
 
The government plans to bring up the North Korea-Syria 
nuclear-cooperation issue at the G-8 Summit at Toyako in July. 
 
13) North Korea's nuclear assistance to Syria: Government insists 
issue will not harm the Six-Party Talks 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Excerpt) 
April 26, 2008 
 
In response to the U.S. government's announcement that North Korea 
is suspected of providing nuclear technological cooperation to 
Syria, the government has stressed the enormity of the issue, one 
senior Foreign Ministry official stating, "This is not a thing of 
the past; it is serious because it is going on now." However, at the 
same time, Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura at a press conference 
on April 25 said: "It is critical that the (suspected cooperation) 
be made clear through (the North's) report to the Six-Party Talks." 
He expressed his view that the issue would not damage the Six-Party 
Talks. 
 
14) Torch relay in Nagano: Six protesters arrested 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Abridged) 
April 27, 2008 
 
A number of clashes between Chinese supporters and pro-Tibet 
demonstrators occurred during the Olympics torch relay in Nagano 
City yesterday, injuring four. Six men were arrested for trying to 
obstruct the event. Eighty runners ran the 18.7-kilometer course 
under tight security. The torch arrived at the terminus of the 
Japanese leg of the Olympic torch relay four hours later, about 15 
minutes behind the original schedule. 
 
The last runner, Athens Olympics marathon gold-medalist Mizuki 
Noguchi, arrived at the Wakasato Park a little past 12:00 and lit 
the large flame. Noguchi said: "I ran as I wished for peace," 
adding: "The Olympics is a big event held once every four years. It 
is regrettable to see the Olympics intertwined with political 
motives." 
 
Police arrested four on suspicion of forcible obstruction of 
business and one for violent acts during the relay. Further a 
33-year-old company employee from Yokohama was arrested for riotous 
conduct and violating the Traffic Control Law, while an Asian man 
was apprehended after trying to charge the torch. Eggs and tomatoes 
were also thrown. 
 
(Kaname Fukuda, Seoul) 
 
The Olympic torch arrived in Seoul by air in the early morning of 
April 27. The about 24-kilometer relay will start in the downtown of 
Seoul in the afternoon of the same day. 
 
15) China adopts pose of accepting dialogue with the Dalai Lama, 
setting conditions: Japanese government welcomes it as "fruit of 
Japan's persuasive efforts" 
 
 
TOKYO 00001159  011 OF 013 
 
 
YOMIURI (Page 3) (Abridged) 
April 26, 2008 
 
The Japanese government has welcomed "as a fruit of Japan's 
persuasive efforts" the Chinese government's indication that it 
intends to engage the 14th generation Dalai Lama in dialogue. 
Foreign Minister Koumura on the evening of April 24 told the press 
corps: "We hope the dialogue will have substantive meaning and will 
be successful. Above all, it is a first step (toward progress on the 
Tibetan problem)." 
 
The government was informed about the dialogue decision around 4:00 
pm on April 24 by the Chinese government before the official Xinhua 
press carried the story. Japan and the United States were informed 
before European countries were. The predominant view in the 
government is that the Chinese government gave consideration to the 
Beijing Olympics' torch being carried through Japan on April 26. If 
severe protest movements and turmoil occurred, it would cast a dark 
cloud on the visit to Japan by President Hu Jin Tao, only 10 days 
later. 
 
Prime Minister Fukuda entrusted a letter to Liberal Democratic Party 
Secretary General Ibuki addressed to President Hu when Ibuki visited 
 
SIPDIS 
Beijing in mid-April. In it, Fukuda urged a dialogue be started with 
the Dalai Lama. A Japanese government source stressed: "The Prime 
Minister's message was heard by China's leaders. A good trend has 
started prior to the Japan visit of President Hu. 
 
16) Japan, Russia agree to explore oil and gas fields in Siberia, 
advance Northern Territories talks 
 
YOMIURI (Top play) (Excerpts) 
April 27, 2008 
 
Tatsuya Fukumoto, Moscow 
 
Prime Minister Fukuda on the afternoon of April 26 (night of the 
same day, Japan time) met with Russian President Putin at the 
presidential residence in the outskirts of Moscow. The two leaders 
agreed to move talks on the Northern Territories issue forward. They 
also decided to implement bilateral cooperation in the areas of 
energy, transportation, and the environment. As part of energy 
cooperation, the Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation 
(JOGMEG) is scheduled to embark on an exploration of oil and gas 
fields in Siberia in cooperation with Irkutsk Oil Company, a Russian 
private-sector firm. 
 
The first summit meeting between Fukuda and Putin lasted for some 
two hours including a lunch. Japan and Russia last summit was 
between Prime Minister Abe and Putin in Sydney last September. 
 
On the Northern Territories issue, Fukuda noted: "In order to 
upgrade Japan-Russia relations to a higher level, I think it is 
essential to have concrete progress bilateral negotiations." In 
response, Putin said: "Based on the result of the past negotiations, 
I want to promote talks. In order to advance the talks, I want to 
expand bilateral ties overall. Whatever may occur in internal 
affairs, I will continue the talks." The two leaders decided that 
the two countries would continue talks with the aim of seeking to 
reach a resolution, and that they would instruct their respective 
foreign affairs officials to promote negotiations. 
 
 
TOKYO 00001159  012 OF 013 
 
 
17) Japan-Russia summit 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 27, 2008 
 
The following are major views exchanged between Prime Minister Yasuo 
Fukuda and President Putin. 
 
Northern Territories issue 
 
Fukuda: I think it is essential to move negotiations forward in 
concrete terms in order to upgrade Japan-Russia relations to a 
higher level. 
 
Putin: I am aware of the difficulties the two countries are facing. 
Based on the results of the past talks, I will continue talks from 
now on as well. In order to make progress on the talks, I want to 
advance bilateral ties overall. 
 
Japan-Russia cooperation 
 
Both leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation in the Asia-Pacific 
region while promoting reciprocal cooperation in a broad range of 
areas. 
 
Climate change 
 
Both leaders agreed to work together to create a new framework to 
prevent global warming. 
 
Putin: It is important for China, India, and the United States to 
take part in (a post-Kyoto framework). Russia is willing to work 
together in this regard. 
 
North Korea issue 
 
Fukuda: (The nuclear issue) has reached a difficult phase. I think 
it is necessary for the six-party talks to pressure North Korea to 
come out with the whole truth about its nuclear programs. 
 
Putin: Let's work together in the six-party talks from now on as 
well. I will cooperate on dealing with the abduction issue. 
 
Exchanges of leaders 
 
Fukuda: I hope you will visit Japan even after you step down from 
your post. 
 
Putin: I love Japan. It would be a pleasure to visit  your country. 
 
18) Russian president indicates cooperation to move the abduction 
issue forward 
 
SANKEI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
April 27, 2008 
 
Keiichi Takagi, Moscow 
 
Visiting Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on the afternoon of April 26 
(night of the same day, Japan time) met with President Putin, who is 
to retire from the post on May 7, at the president's residence in a 
suburb of Moscow. The two leaders agreed to pressure North Korea 
 
TOKYO 00001159  013 OF 013 
 
 
through the six-party talks and other fora to come out with a 
complete and accurate declaration of its nuclear programs, including 
its cooperation on nuclear development toward Syria. On the 
abduction issue, Fukuda told Putin, "I'd like you to exercise your 
influence on North Korea." In response, Putin said, "I will 
cooperate." 
 
On talks on a peace treaty, Fukuda said firmly, "It is indispensable 
to advance the talks," But Putin simply noted, "I will go ahead with 
the talks from now on as well based on the results of the past 
negotiations." The two leaders went no further than confirming that 
the two countries would continue talks. 
 
19) With Upper House rejection of the sympathy budget, workers' 
union at U.S. bases react sharply 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Excerpts) 
April 26, 2008 
 
Although the special measures agreement extending for three years 
Japan's host-nation support (sympathy budget) for U.S. forces 
stationed in Japan was adopted in the afternoon by the Lower House 
under a constitutional provision regarding treaties, that morning, 
the full session of the Upper House rejected the agreement. This was 
the first time for both houses not to have approved an international 
treaty. This was because the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), which 
until now had approved the special measures agreement, to switch to 
an opposing vote. 
 
However, in response to the DPJ's opposing stance, Zenchuro, the 
labor union to which approximately 16,000 Japanese employees of U.S. 
bases belong, reacted sharply. As a result, Upper House committee 
chairman Koshiishi of the DPJ visited the labor union's branch in 
Yamaguchi, prior to the by-election, and handed over a letter from 
DPJ head Ozawa addressed to the labor union members. The letter 
apologized for causing "worry and concern" to the union during Diet 
debate. 
 
SCHIEFFER