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RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 9297

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 000989 
 
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 04/10/08 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) Bank of Japan gets started under newly appointed Governor 
Shirakawa after three-week vacuum at top (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
(2) Independence of BOJ to be tested (Mainichi) 
 
(3) Ozawa's top-down decision to disapprove Watanabe's nomination as 
BOJ deputy chief creates strong discontent among DPJ members 
(Yomiuri) 
 
(4) Politics malfunctioning: (Part 1): Takeshi Sasaki, professor at 
Gakushuin University: Political parties relying on numbers have 
reached a dead end (Nikkei) 
 
(5) U.S. military cop admits involvement in Okinawa robbery 
(Yomiuri) 
 
(6) Futenma relocation council session held; Defense minister 
clearly tells for first time that government will reconsider 
elimination of risk factors (Ryukyu Shimpo) 
 
(7) Akamine blasts U.S. response (Ryukyu Shimpo) 
 
(8) U.S. military sweeps under the rug the fact that there are seven 
more deserters (FLASH) 
 
(Corrected copy) USAID Administrator Fore: Good balance between 
democracy and economic growth important for African development 
(Hokkaido Shimbun) 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Bank of Japan gets started under newly appointed Governor 
Shirakawa after three-week vacuum at top 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 9) (Full) 
April 10, 2008 
 
At a cabinet meeting yesterday evening, the government decided to 
promote Deputy Bank of Japan (BOJ) Governor Masaaki Shirakawa (58) 
to the position of governor and formally appointed him to the post. 
His term of office will be five years. The absence of a BOJ governor 
for the first time since the war had continued for three weeks since 
March 20, when former BOJ Governor Toshihiko Fukui retired from the 
position, but now, this unusual situation has been settled. Governor 
Shirakawa is scheduled to leave for the United States today and 
attend the Group of Seven (G-7) Finance Ministers and Central Bank 
Governors meeting in Washington that starts tomorrow. 
 
After his investiture, Shirakawa held a press conference at the BOJ 
head office and expressed his aspirations: "I will fulfill the BOJ's 
mission of keeping prices stable and maintaining orderly credit 
conditions and contribute properly to Japanese economic growth." 
 
Shirakawa, after serving as deputy governor for three weeks, was 
promoted to the governor when two candidates hailing from the 
Ministry of Finance (MOA) were each rejected in the Diet. When asked 
about this circumstance, Shirakawa said: "I refrain from making any 
comment on individual appointments because they are matters the 
government and the Diet decide. However, I was perplexed by the 
rapidly changing situation." 
 
TOKYO 00000989  002 OF 010 
 
 
 
The Policy Board is a panel to decide monetary policy. The 
government proposed to appoint former Vice Minister of Finance for 
International Affairs Hiroshi Watanabe (58), professor at 
Hitotsubashi University Graduate School, to the deputy governor, but 
this proposal was rejected in the Upper House plenary session; as a 
result, one of the two posts of the deputy governors will be left 
vacant. A successor to former Policy Board member Kiyohiko 
Nishimura, who has now assumed the post of deputy governor, has yet 
to be decided. The Policy Board consists of nine members, but at 
present, it is operating with two members lacking. 
 
Shirakawa wants to bring the Policy Board back to the normal 
condition as quickly as possible, saying: "A variety of views makes 
the Board powerful. I hope suitable persons will be appointed to the 
posts. 
 
Lack of communication channels with political circles 
 
With acting Governor Masaaki Shirakawa promoted to the governor's 
post yesterday, the BOJ ended an unusual three-week situation of 
having to tide over without anyone at the top. But of the two posts 
of deputy governors, one is still vacant. The Shirakawa-led BOJ is 
likely to face difficult tasks shortly, including building political 
ties. 
 
Important events await the BOJ governor, starting with the Group of 
Seven (G-7) Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting 
tomorrow. At the end of this month, the BOJ is scheduled to compile 
the "Outlook for Economic Activity and Prices," a report that shows 
the direction of monetary policy. 
 
In the Diet session yesterday, the government's proposal to appoint 
former Vice Minister of Finance for International Affairs Hiroshi 
Watanabe to the post of deputy governor was rejected by opposition 
from the major opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) and other 
parties. Although the governor's post has now been filled, this fact 
has led to concern over the lack of communication channels with 
political circles and the conformity of the BOJ's monetary policy 
with the government's fiscal policy, both of which are expected of 
the former Finance Ministry official. 
 
At his inaugural press conference, questions were focused on 
Shirakawa's lack of experience with Diet relations, as well as 
relations with the Ministry of Finance (MOF). 
 
Shirakawa frankly admitted, "In terms of external relations (for 
instance, relations with political circles), I don't have ample 
experience," but he indicated, "I will strive to make up for what I 
am lacking and move forward one or two steps at a time." 
 
How to secure the BOJ's independence is another important task, 
given that the BOJ was swayed by political motives over the 
appointment of its key positions. Shirakawa pointed out: "A correct 
policy decision will be more important than external 
communications." He said, "Confidence of the BOJ is supported by its 
correct policy decision. That will eventually improve relations with 
the government and politics." For that end, he revealed that he 
would step up the BOJ's ability to monitor matters. 
 
There is no mechanism to install an acting deputy governor to fill 
the vacancy, Shirakawa and Deputy Governor Kiyohiko Nishimura will 
 
TOKYO 00000989  003 OF 010 
 
 
operate the BOJ in harness together for a while. The monetary market 
has yet to emerge from the chaotic situation caused by the subprime 
mortgage issue, and due to the soaring crude-oil prices, there is a 
growing sense of crisis that the economy will further slow down. 
Faced with important tasks for the domestic economy, Shirakawa, as 
the top leader of the BOJ with its some 5,000 employees, is expected 
to do well in steering the Japanese economy. 
 
(2) Independence of BOJ to be tested 
 
MAINICHI (Page 8) (Abridged slightly) 
April 10, 2008 
 
At long last, the question of appointing new Bank of Japan governor 
and deputy governor was settled yesterday. Mainichi Shimbun 
interviewed former BOJ Deputy Governor Sakuya Fujiwara and 
University of Tokyo Professor Motoshige Ito to learn of their 
expectations of the new BOJ executive lineup and other matters. 
 
Former BOJ Deputy Governor Sakuya Fujiwara -- Absence of one deputy 
governor might hinder bank's operations 
 
The BOJ governorship was left vacant for some time, and for that, 
both the ruling and opposition parties should be held responsible. 
The BOJ governorship, which forms the foundation of the country's 
economic policy, was neglected because the state system is immature 
and dysfunctional. I cannot sense that politics and the economy will 
be easily improved. 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan has been calling for the separation of 
fiscal and monetary policymaking. An addition of retired Finance 
Ministry officials to the BOJ lineup will help the central bank 
change its thinking in a good sense. Monetary policymaking today 
requires both domestic and international insights. It is not 
appropriate to reject all former Finance Ministry officials. 
 
The Bank of Japan Law was amended in 1998, and the number of deputy 
governors has been increased to two as a result. The new law is 
characterized by the so-called troika leadership with the two deputy 
governors assisting the governor in dealing with the globalized 
monetary system. The absence of one deputy governor might undermine 
its significance. I am concerned that the spirit of the amended law 
is not being fully reflected. 
 
The BOJ's nine-member policy board is designed so that arbitrary 
decisions will not be made. Mr. Shirakawa is an impartial person 
with an extensive international network, so he is perfectly fit for 
the job. The bank's independence can be maintained by conducting 
thorough discussions at policy board meetings and fulfilling its 
accountability in defiance of occasional political interferences. 
 
The BOJ Law does not envision a divided Diet. Lessons learned from 
this episode must be used to enroot the amended law. 
 
University of Tokyo Graduate School Professor Motoshige Ito -- BOJ 
must transmit a clear message 
 
There is no doubt that the BOJ turmoil has undermined Japan's 
international credibility. 
 
Determining the central bank chief is tantamount to sending out an 
important message on directions of a country's monetary and economic 
 
TOKYO 00000989  004 OF 010 
 
 
policies. Legislators toyed with such an important post, and that 
has given the impression that the central bank governorship is 
regarded lightly (in Japan). 
 
Mr. Masaaki Shirakawa, who has now become the new BOJ governor, and 
I have often discussed monetary policy. My impression of (Mr. 
Shirakawa) is that he is a person who discusses matters extremely 
enthusiastically. 
 
Mr. Shirakawa, a former BOJ official who has been at the center of 
monetary policymaking, will probably aim at a direction not much 
different from his predecessor, Toshihiko Fukui's normalization of 
interest rates. 
 
Nevertheless, the economic situation is significantly different from 
that of the five years of the Fukui era. Given a slowdown in the 
global economy resulting from the subprime crisis and growing 
concerns due to surging crude oil prices, the BOJ is naturally 
required to take different steps. Growing inflation worries might 
result in calls for defending prices, and the bank might also be 
pressed for lowering interest rates depending on the trend of the 
real economy. 
 
The central bank is required to adjust the country's monetary policy 
in accordance with moves of the market. The bank must set forth a 
clear direction so that the market does not waver. 
 
Amid financial turmoil at home and abroad, President Shirakawa is 
required to play the role like a lighthouse that sends out a clear 
message to the market. 
 
(3) Ozawa's top-down decision to disapprove Watanabe's nomination as 
BOJ deputy chief creates strong discontent among DPJ members 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
April 10, 2008 
 
Some lawmakers of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) yesterday 
defied the party policy of opposing the government's nomination of 
Hiroshi Watanabe, a former vice finance minister for international 
affairs, as one of the two deputy governors of the Bank of Japan, at 
the plenary sessions of the two Diet houses. The DPJ exposed 
internal discord. As seen in the fact that some in the party are now 
openly criticizing President Ichiro Ozawa's decision to disapprove 
Watanabe's nomination, reversing the prevailing view in the party, 
dissatisfaction is growing in the largest opposition party. The 
dominant view in the party is that Ozawa's grip on the party will 
inevitably weaken as the September party leadership election 
approaches. 
 
Three House of Councillors members, including Hideo Watanabe, voted 
in favor of Watanabe's nomination. Four Upper House members, 
including Masaaki Sakurai, abstained from voting. Four House of 
Representatives members, including Motohisa Furukawa, failed to 
attend the Lower House plenary session. The party leadership intends 
to punish Watanabe and two other members who voted for the 
government's nomination of Watanabe. 
 
After the Upper House plenary session, however, Secretary General 
Yukio Hatoyama told the press: "It is regrettable that the three 
defied the party policy, but in consideration of the situation they 
had no choice but to do so." Hatoyama's remark indicates that many 
 
TOKYO 00000989  005 OF 010 
 
 
party members are growing dissatisfied with the party's decision to 
reject Watanabe's nomination. "(As long as we oppose everything,) 
the public will not want to entrust the DPJ with the reins of 
government," Hideo Watanabe told reporters. 
 
Upper House member Takashi Morita, an independent and a member of 
the DPJ-led parliamentary group, who had absented himself from the 
plenary session, severely criticized (Ozawa's top-down approach), 
saying: "The chamber of wisdom will die if all common sense is 
rejected by the top-down approach." 
 
Even DPJ members who followed the party policy have mixed feelings. 
Former President Seiji Maehara made this comment: "The policy of 
rejecting the nominations of all retired senior bureaucrats should 
be reviewed. The public may see that the DPJ has no mind for taking 
over the helm of government." 
 
DPJ legislators are increasingly dissatisfied with Ozawa's top-down 
decisions on the nominations of BOJ executive posts, as well as with 
the low support rate for the party. 
 
The view is quickly prevailing in the party that such 
dissatisfaction will affect on the party's presidential election. 
 
Hatoyama and Azuma Koshiishi, chairman of the DPJ caucus in the 
Upper House, have already expressed their support for Ozawa being 
elected for a third term. However since Hatoyama and Ozawa were at 
odds over Watanabe's nomination, a mid-level member sees that the 
bad blood between the two will remain. Therefore, Ozawa's political 
footing in the party may weaken. One of the mid-level lawmakers, who 
have distanced themselves from Ozawa, made this comment: "This is 
the beginning of the end. Everything will start moving with an eye 
on September." 
 
(4) Politics malfunctioning: (Part 1): Takeshi Sasaki, professor at 
Gakushuin University: Political parties relying on numbers have 
reached a dead end 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Full) 
April 7, 2008 
 
Under the divided Diet, delays in making decisions are now starting 
to stand out. In order to prevent the political system from 
malfunctioning, the newspaper interviewed experts to hear their 
views. 
 
-- How do you see the present political situation? 
 
Sasaki: The entire political and administrative systems have moved 
backward or headed toward dismantlement. Before forward-looking 
policies can be issued, problems have come out one after another. 
 
Last year, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and Democratic Party of Japan 
(DPJ) President Ichiro Ozawa held talks. They tried to resolve 
political issues by taking advantage of their superior numbers. It 
is true that decisions are made by a majority in democratic society. 
In Japan, however, lawmakers believe that if party numbers decrease, 
politics will not able to resolve issues. Forming a grand alliance 
was highly risky, and the talks ended in failure, as I had 
predicted. It seems to me that political parties have to pay the 
price for having been just satisfied with relying on numbers. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000989  006 OF 010 
 
 
-- Do you mean that there are problems with the political parties 
themselves? 
 
Sasaki: Political parties are poor at management, including managing 
their own members. Their management abilities are extremely low in 
terms of personnel and organizational matters. They can solve 
matters by steamrolling them with their superior numbers, but their 
management capability to boil down the contents of policies and the 
like remain immature. They cannot work out good manifestos (set of 
campaign pledges) that we have advocated. This is an indication of 
their lack of maturity. 
 
-- Do you mean that political parties can only push bills through 
the Diet by using their superior numbers? 
 
Sasaki: They now have to change to a different know-how. Taking tax 
revenues currently earmarked for road maintenance and construction 
and converting them into general spending funds is not the only 
issue. Although they have a mountain of issues to deal with at the 
Diet, they have been just standing at the door arguing over one 
thing or another. Government agencies have been busy dealing with 
scandals involving their senior officials. If worst comes to the 
worst, the Japanese political and bureaucratic systems might fall 
into turmoil of having no administrators. 
 
Reform of the pension and public servant systems that are common 
issues for both the ruling and opposition parties should be 
vigorously discussed in the committees of the two Diet chambers. If 
the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) takes over the reins of 
government, it will face similar issues. It should not be the 
government offices but the Diet that should set up a body where both 
chambers can deliberate what measures to take. 
 
-- It is necessary to sort policies out, isn't it? 
 
Sasaki: Politics needs to be able to sort out problems. Since such a 
capability has weakened, politicians do not know what to do. When 
two top leaders hold a meeting, the most important thing is to 
coordinate issues. Under the divided Diet situation, the ruling camp 
needs to talks about that point with the opposition bloc." 
 
-- Some criticize the failure of political reform aimed at creating 
a two-party system. 
 
Sasaki: We are confident about having created certain suitable 
systems. The reason for the political party system not working well, 
if you research it, is that there remains the nature of a party 
having an aspect of being one's own organization. The personal 
support groups and other aspects of political parties that were 
cultivated under the multiple-seat constituency system remain the 
biggest obstacle for reorganizing political parties. 
 
(5) U.S. military cop admits involvement in Okinawa robbery 
 
YOMIURI (Page 35) (Full) 
April 10, 2008 
 
In March, a taxi driver was hit and his money was stolen in Okinawa 
City, Okinawa Prefecture. In this incident, local police arrested 
four boys whose fathers are U.S. servicemen. The arrested teenagers 
told local police officers that they were masterminded by a 
22-year-old U.S. Air Force airman first class assigned to the 
 
TOKYO 00000989  007 OF 010 
 
 
military police at the Kadena base. This airman has now admitted to 
his involvement in the incident by telling the local police that he 
was there where the crime took place. 
 
The Okinawa Police Station will shortly send papers on the airman to 
prosecutors on suspicion of robbery resulting in inuring the taxi 
driver. The police will ask the U.S. military to hand over the 
suspect after he is indicted. However, the suspect has denied that 
he is not the mastermind, according to the police. 
 
The airman first class had totally denied his involvement, according 
to a senior official of the Okinawa prefectural police. However, the 
four boys told the police that the airman first class was waiting 
near the crime scene and drove his car to run away. 
 
The airman first class used to hang around with the four boys. One 
of the boys told the police that he could not refuse helping the 
airman first class' cab robbery attempt because he had "owed" the 
airman first class. 
 
(6) Futenma relocation council session held; Defense minister 
clearly tells for first time that government will reconsider 
elimination of risk factors 
 
RYUKYU SHIMPO (Page 1) (Full) 
April 10, 2008 
 
Tokyo 
 
The consultative council (chaired by Chief Cabinet Secretary 
Nobutaka Machimura) to discuss between Okinawa and the government 
the relocation of Futenma Air Station met for the seventh time at 
the Prime Minister's Office (Kantei) on the evening of April 9. In 
the session, Governor Hirokazu Nakaima indicated that the Ministry 
of Defense's (MOD) plan, presented last August, to review the flight 
paths in order to eliminate the dangerous nature of Futenma Air 
Station was insufficient. In response, Defense Minister Shigeru 
Ishiba clearly expressed his intention for the first time to review 
measures to eliminate risk factors, saying, "We would like to study 
what is technically possible." Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka 
Machimura also made a similar statement. 
 
Governor calls for venue to consider offshore option 
 
Nakaima urged the government to reveal its thinking about Okinawa's 
and Nago's request to move the planned replacement facility further 
offshore and called for establishing a framework to discuss the 
matter at the working level. In response, Machimura expressed the 
intention of discussing specifics possibly at the next council 
meeting, saying: "We would like to continue discussing the matter." 
 
In the fourth council session last November, Ishiba indicated 
difficulty considering additional measures to remove (risk factors), 
saying that a review of the flight paths "is the maximum step at 
this point in time." 
 
In a press conference after the council meeting, Nakaima underscored 
the need to establish a framework to discuss matters at the working 
level, with the offshore relocation option in mind. He said: 
"Although six ministers are lined up, working-level matters always 
remain ambiguous. In order to put matters together, involvement of 
engineers and working-level is necessary. The council is allowed to 
 
TOKYO 00000989  008 OF 010 
 
 
set up an executive board, but I also feel such a thing (framework) 
is necessary." 
 
In reaction to Nakaima's request for a framework, many (government 
members) expressed views to leave the matter to future talks. 
Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura, for instance, said, "We would 
like to consider it after hearing specifics." Ishiba noted, "It is 
also necessary to continue discussing how to proceed with future 
talks among participants." 
 
In regard to the MOD's review of the Futenma Air Station flight 
paths, Nakaima reiterated his call for improvements, saying: 
"Although some points merit high marks, we would like to see a 
desire to remove risk factors at an early date by the conducting of 
technical studies." 
 
(7) Akamine blasts U.S. response 
 
RYUKYU SHIMPO (Page 2) (Full) 
April 10, 2008 
 
Tokyo 
 
In the wake of a series of incidents by U.S. service members, House 
of Representatives member Seiken Akamine of the Japanese Communist 
Party filed a protest with the U.S. Embassy in Japan on April 8. 
Receiving Akamine, Raymond Greene, chief of security affairs of the 
Embassy's political section, reportedly emphasized, "The United 
States will work closely with Japan in conducting investigations." 
In response, Akamine assailed, "You are just shifting the focus of 
the matter." The lawmaker also sought a fundamental review of the 
Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement. In reply, Greene just 
repeatedly said, "It has been operated smoothly since its 
application was improved." Angry with the United States' response, 
Akamine later said, "Unlike Consul General for Okinawa Kevin Maher, 
(Greene's) response was tactful. Still, they share the same 
perception that incidents have been caused by a few bad apples among 
the U.S. soldiers." 
 
(8) U.S. military sweeps under the rug the fact that there are seven 
more deserters 
 
FLASH (pages 22-23) (Full) 
April 22, 2008 
 
"I heard a voice in my brain saying, 'Stab him.' I intended to stab 
anyone." Seaman Olatunboson Ugbogu (22) assigned to the Yokosuka 
U.S. Navy Base reportedly made this remark with regret during 
interrogations by Kanagawa prefectural police after being arrested. 
 
The murder of a taxi driver in Yokosuka City has now been settled 
with suspect Ugbogu having been handed over to Japanese authorities 
and arrested. But it was found that since 2005, there have been nine 
more deserters from the U.S. armed forces like him who are holed up 
somewhere in Japan. An official from the National Police Agency 
(NPA) said in his Diet replies at a session of the Lower House 
Committee on Foreign Affairs in March: "It is our understanding that 
there have been nine cases on which the U.S. military have asked the 
NPA since 2005 to arrest seven U.S. deserters." Of the nine 
deserters, two have been arrested, but the NPA has no idea about the 
remaining seven's whereabouts: whether they were captured or are 
still at large. Given this situation, there is a possibility that a 
 
TOKYO 00000989  009 OF 010 
 
 
second or third Ugbogu may emerge. 
 
Of the nine deserters, five belonged to U.S. military units in 
Okinawa. As for the remaining four, where they were assigned to is 
unknown, because the U.S. forces have yet to release information 
about them. 
 
In addition to those deserters, there seem to be a number of U.S. 
military personnel who continue to be AWOL or absent without leave 
or continue to leave their base without notice. It is unknown how 
many American military personnel are hiding out in the country. 
 
A foreign news agency correspondent said: 
 
"In the past, those who volunteered for military service (in the 
United States) were required as the minimum conditions to have an 
academic background of senior high school graduation or equivalent 
and have no criminal history of heinous crimes. However, with the 
prolonged Iraq war, anybody can volunteer for military service at 
present if they are green card holders. It is safe to say that a 
large number of rough characters from the cities have joined the 
U.S. military." 
 
In fact, suspect Ugbogu is a green-card holder of Nigerian 
nationality. Other deserters, as well, came from Mexico and other 
Latin American countries, Southeast Asia, and Africa. The U.S. 
military may be described in this sense as a multinational force. 
Tetsuo Maeda, a military critic, said: "Suspect Ugbogu is a deck 
hand on the Aegis-equipped USS Cowpens. His major job is to clean 
the deck, but most sailors of foreign nationality are low-level 
ranking, so their jobs are minor ones. Notwithstanding that, they 
are granted America's citizenship on a priority basis, so they 
volunteer for military service. Enrolling them as military personnel 
is an unavoidable choice for the U.S. to secure personnel, given 
that the U.S. has deployed 160,000 troops in Iraq." 
 
This weekly succeeded in making contact with one deserter on April 
¶5. He responded to the weekly's interview under the condition of 
absolute anonymity. He said: "There are dozens of deserters." He has 
married a Japanese woman, and he works for a security-related 
company. He said: 
 
"I came here as a U.S. serviceman, but my job in the military was 
not being a soldier but in effect a clerk. It was bad to have 
deserted from the military, but if I had planned to revisit Japan 
after retiring from the military and returning home, I would have to 
pay a huge traveling expense. What I did was walk out. 
 
"'Formal deserters are those who come here on some kind of mission 
but desert from the military. I keep contact with my friends in the 
U.S. forces, and the military police can arrest me anytime. But I am 
not an important military officer who would be tried by 
court-martial, so the U.S. military seems to leave me alone." 
 
The U.S. forces in Japan not only leave their deserters alone, they 
also do not disclose any information about them. Their arrogant 
attitude endangers the Japanese people. 
 
(Corrected copy) USAID Administrator Fore: Good balance between 
democracy and economic growth important for African development 
 
HOKKAIDO SHIMBUN (Page 5) (Full) 
 
TOKYO 00000989  010 OF 010 
 
 
April 9, 2008 
 
The G8 Development Ministers' Meeting that took place on April 5-6 
discussed the development of Africa that is enveloped in poverty. 
Newly industrializing countries also participated in the 
international conference. This newspaper interviewed the United 
States' representative to hear what the U.S. considers important in 
dealing with African development. 
 
Henrietta H. Fore, administrator of the U.S. Agency for 
International Development (USAID) and director of U.S. Foreign 
Assistance, responded as follows: 
 
In Africa in recent years, small-scale companies have become 
remarkably active. Unlike big companies, however, it is difficult 
for small to medium sized businesses to access international capital 
markets. The Group of Eight (G8) countries have a framework of 
cooperation between the public and private sectors. Through the 
private sector, the G8 countries can contribute to Africa's 
stability and prosperity. If doing so, young Africans, after 
graduating from school, should be able to stay in their own 
countries, start their own companies and carve out the future of 
their countries. 
 
Many countries on the African continent are now carrying out free, 
peaceful and democratic elections. Democracy brings about freedom, 
prosperity, and stability. 
 
Achieving economic growth and democracy simultaneously leads to 
building a stable world. It also provides a means to deal with 
terrorism and conflict. 
 
Everyone should be concerned about peace, security, and the fight 
against global terrorism. In order for African countries to protect 
their national security, activities that maintain peace through 
exercises are desirable. To that end, the role of international 
organizations, such as the United Nations, is important. 
 
President George W. Bush has placed special emphasis on the need for 
good (uncorrupted) governments, in addition to democracy and 
elections. To fight AIDS, the Bush administration has come up with a 
special program, and is asking Congress for a budget of 30 billion 
dollars over five years. I hope that priority will be given to 
health issues at the Hokkaido Lake Toya Summit in July. 
 
MESERVE