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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 12 TOKYO 001864 
 
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 07/08/08 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's G-8 Summit schedule  (Nikkei) 
 
G-8 Summit diplomacy: 
4) First day of Hokkaido Toyako Summit focuses on Africa aid 
(Yomiuri) 
5) Japan's proactive stance toward African assistance motivated by 
desire for UNSC permanent seat, securing natural resources  (Nikkei) 
 
6) Japan's African contribution lacks a human presence, with PKO 
strategy going nowhere  (Sankei) 
7) Prime Minister Fukuda, as chair of the Toyako Summit, faces 
difficult task of persuading U.S. to accept long-term target for 
greenhouse gas reduction  (Sankei) 
8) Coordination for setting a long-term target for reduction of 
greenhouse gases reaching final stage, but setting the base year may 
slip  (Nikkei) 
9) Summit's joint statement on terrorism to denounce abductions 
(Nikkei) 
10) G-8 leaders all offer written hopes for the future on Tanabata 
Festival tree  (Asahi) 
11) Fukuda has bilateral meetings with South African president and 
other leaders  (Yomiuri) 
12) Fukuda in meetings with British, German leaders confirms 
cooperation on climate change policy  (Asahi) 
 
Korean Peninsula issues: 
13) Tokyo Shimbun's exclusive interview with ROK President Lee: 
Promises cooperation on resolving abduction issue  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
14) Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura says next U.S. administration 
will back Japan on the abduction issue, as well  (Mainichi) 
15) Urgent meeting of association of families of abductees calls for 
public to raise voices in support of resolving abduction issue 
(Sankei) 
 
16) Overseas rush of Japanese lawmakers: 150 over next couple of 
months  (Yomiuri) 
 
Defense and security: 
17) Plan readied in outline to dispose of Self-Defense Forces stock 
of cluster munitions next fiscal year under international agreement 
(Yomiuri) 
18) Final report on Defense Ministry reform bogs down  (Mainichi) 
 
19) Influential LDP lawmaker Makoto Koga sees Diet dissolution and a 
snap election either next January or next spring  (Nikkei) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
African leaders urge G-8 to step up assistance to deal with soaring 
food prices 
 
Mainichi & Sankei: 
G-8 agrees to expand assistance to Africa 
 
Yomiuri: 
 
TOKYO 00001864  002 OF 012 
 
 
G-8 vows coordinated assistance on food, farm technology for Africa 
 
Nikkei: 
G-8 to include call for ending food export restrictions in 
statement 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
ROK President Lee: Leaders of Japan, China, South Korea will discuss 
environmental issues in September 
 
Akahata: 
African leaders urge G-8 to resolve rising food prices 
 
2)EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Zimbabwe: President Mugabe's oppression cannot be ignored 
(2) Reform of archive system: Make Kasumigaseki transparent 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) G-8 Toyako Summit: Make the G-8 summit starting point for 
African self-reliance 
(2) Teacher hiring scandal: Thorough investigation necessary to 
teach students morals 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) G-8 summit: Cooperation vital to control food prices 
(2) Dispatch of day workers: Calm discussion needed before stepping 
up restrictions 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) G-8 must respond to anxiety of financial markets 
(2) Strengthening taxi regulations questionable 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Assistance for Africa: Need to shift policy from quantity to 
quality 
(2) Teacher hiring scandal: End collusion 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) G-8 Toyako Summit: Africa first test for G-8 
(2) Convenience stores' voluntary closing during late night hours: 
Good chance to reconsider lifestyles 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Crime committed by former Japan Highway Public Co. vice 
president: Amakudari must be banned in order also to eradicate bid 
rigging 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, July 7 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
July 8, 2008 
 
10:30 
Met with British Prime Minister Brown at the Windsor Hotel Toya. 
 
11:30 
Met with German Chancellor Merkel. 
 
 
TOKYO 00001864  003 OF 012 
 
 
12:56 
Working lunch with participants from G-8 nations, various African 
nations and international agencies. Photo session. 
 
14:30 
Meetings with leaders of G-8 nations, African countries and 
international agencies. 
 
16:30 
Met with Sough African President Mbeki. 
 
17:06 
Met with Algerian President Bouteflika, followed by Nigerian 
President Yar'Adua. 
 
19:04 
Summit reception. 
 
20:05 
Dinner party hosted by him and his wife. Stayed the hotel overnight. 
 
 
4) G-8 to coordinate assistance on food, farm technology for Africa 
 
YOMIURI (Top Play) (Excerpts) 
July 8, 2008 
 
The leaders of the Group of Eight summit and seven African countries 
took part in an "extended talks" yesterday afternoon. They exchanged 
views on the serious impact of soaring global food and oil prices on 
African countries. The African leaders expressed strong concern 
about the soaring prices and urged the G-8 leaders to strengthen 
their assistance that would lead to improving the productivity of 
agricultural products, as well as to display leadership in curbing 
prices through talks with oil-producing countries, including the 
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). In response, 
the G-8 leaders vowed a policy of providing African countries with 
agricultural assistance. 
 
At the beginning of the conference, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, 
chair of the G-8 summit, briefed the members on Japan's policy of 
doubling its official development assistance (ODA) to Africa by 
2012, which he had promised in the fourth round of the Tokyo 
International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV) held in 
May in Yokohama. One African leader voiced appreciation, saying: "I 
highly value that Japan fulfilled leadership in doubling investment, 
focusing on infrastructure improvement." 
 
5) Japan plays up pro-Africa policy, eyeing UNSC permanent seat, 
abundant resources 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
July 8, 2008 
 
In expanded talks participated by the leaders of the Group of Eight 
(G-8) nations and African countries yesterday, Prime Minister Yasuo 
Fukuda underscored his eagerness to help African development. Behind 
this approach is a desire to win support from African countries, a 
strong voting base in the United Nations, for Japan's bid for a 
permanent seat on the UN Security Council. But Japan's conventional 
aid-oriented diplomatic approach is facing financial difficulties. 
Representatives from African countries also presented requests and 
 
TOKYO 00001864  004 OF 012 
 
 
complaints of the present state of assistant measures pledged by the 
G-8 nations. 
 
The expanded talks lasted for about three hours starting from around 
13:00. Delivering a speech at the outset of the talks, Fukuda, 
taking advantage of his role as the chair of the G-8 Summit, 
explained Japan's assistant measures for Africa. He said: "Japan 
plans to double official development assistance (ODA) disbursements 
to the region by 2012. The government will also advance assistance 
programs that will lead to doubling private direct investment." 
 
Fukuda briefed on the assistance measures he pledged to implement in 
the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in 
late May and then said: "Based on these measures, Japan would like 
to help Africa develop in cooperation with you." African leaders 
expressed their gratitude, with one participant saying: "I offer my 
thanks to you for inviting us to the Lake Toya Summit. TICAD ended 
in great success." 
 
As the talks proceeded, however, one request after another was 
presented from African leaders. They posed questions about the state 
of implementation of the aid plans pledged (by the G-8 nations). 
They complained that some of the plans committed to by the G-8 
nations have ended up as just lip service. 
 
Fukuda met separately with African leaders, including South African 
President Thabo Mubeki, after the expanded talks. Mubeki told Fukuda 
in the meeting: "We want you to hold a follow-up discussion (on the 
pledged aid) with the other G-8 leaders." 
 
Some representatives from Africa expressed hope for Japan's 
technological cooperation. Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika 
stressed in a meeting with Fukuda: "Our nation has natural 
resources, so we can form a full partnership with other countries. 
We want to learn Japan's technologies and know what brought success 
to Japan." Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua indicated his 
enthusiasm to lure Japanese companies into his country, remarking: 
"We are making efforts to create an environment for investment. In 
particular, we would like to improve public security on a priority 
basis." 
 
There are two major reasons Japan spent many hours to emphasize its 
pro-Africa policy on the first day of the summit. One is a desire to 
win over African votes for its bid for a UNSC permanent seat. 
Another is to secure abundant resources in Africa by deepening 
relations with the region. 
 
6) Japan's PKO strategy going nowhere 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Abridged) 
July 8, 2008 
 
Poverty drives civil wars and tribal disputes in Africa. Prime 
Minister Yasuo Fukuda advocated his "peace cooperative nation" 
initiative in his January policy before the Diet, clarifying Japan's 
stance of contributing to the international community in the area of 
United Nations peacekeeping operations. The Group of Eight (G-8), 
now in session with its leaders meeting at Lake Toya in Hokkaido, 
discussed aid to Africa in its expanded meeting held yesterday. 
However, there was no scene to allow Fukuda to display his 
leadership on the issue of building peace. 
 
 
TOKYO 00001864  005 OF 012 
 
 
The government plans to send two persons this September from the 
Self-Defense Forces to the headquarters of the United Nations 
Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) deployed in the southern part of Sudan in 
Africa. Japan will participate in PKO in Africa for the first time 
in 13 years since the SDF sent personnel to the headquarters of 
United Nations Operations in Mozambique (ONUMOZ) in 1993-1995. 
 
Fukuda began early this year to study where to send SDF personnel 
for Japan's PKO contribution. The area on his mind was Africa, which 
was expected to be on the agenda for the G-8 summit. Then, the 
government, centering on the Foreign Ministry, chose Sudan, where 
most of the G-8 members have sent troops to settle the Darfur war, 
which is called the worst crisis to humanity in history. 
 
The Foreign Ministry explored the possibility of sending Ground 
Self-Defense Force engineering troops to the southern part of Sudan 
for such missions as repairing roads and removing landmines. With 
the G-8 summit timetabled, the Foreign Ministry pushed ahead with 
its idea of sending GSDF members to Sudan. This, however, upset the 
Defense Ministry, which was concerned about how to ensure the safety 
of GSDF members. Subsequently, the government forwent its GSDF 
dispatch plan for the time being. Instead, the government decided to 
send personnel to UNMIS headquarters in Sudan's capital city of 
Khartoum. 
 
This course of action was finalized within the government on June 
26, with the G-8 summit soon to open. On June 30, Fukuda met with 
U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon. On that occasion, Fukuda told 
Ban that Japan would send SDF personnel to UNMIS headquarters. 
However, Ban urged Fukuda to send SDF troops to Sudan, suggesting 
the need for Japan to step up the SDF's role in the areas of 
airlift, land transportation, and supply. 
 
7) Lake Toya Summit: Japan, host nation, at crucial juncture in 
persuading U.S. over long-term target for cutting greenhouse gas 
emissions 
 
SANKEI (Page 3) (Excerpts) 
July 8, 2008 
 
Participants in the G-8 summit (Lake Toya Summit in Hokkaido) will 
today discuss global warming measures. Since Japan will lead 
discussions on a post-Kyoto Protocol framework for preventing global 
warming from 2013, it is being called upon to achieve progress. The 
focus of discussions is how to deal with the long-term goal of 
cutting global greenhouse gas emissions by 50 PERCENT  by 2050. 
Prime Minister Fukuda intends to persuade the U.S. to agree on this 
goal. However, Chairman Connaughton of the U.S. government's Council 
on Environmental Quality yesterday said, "Cutting greenhouse gas 
emissions is an issue for all major economies." As such, since the 
U.S. remains cautious about the idea of setting a long-term goal, it 
is unclear whether there will be as much progress on the matter as 
Japan would like to see. 
 
In an effort to create a post-Kyoto Protocol framework led by the 
UN, Japan intends to call for participation of all major emitters, 
approval for not only top-down reduction goals but also for a 
variety of flexible approaches, as well as balancing environmental 
preservation with economic development. 
 
To achieve those ends, Japan as the host nation wants to lead 
discussions on a post-Kyoto framework, thereby sending a message to 
 
TOKYO 00001864  006 OF 012 
 
 
the world that Japan is proactive on global warming. As part of that 
effort, it will propose a sector-specific approach that would apply 
reduction targets for various industrial sectors. It wants to 
incorporate the proposal in the declaration of leaders of the G-8 
nations. 
 
Japan aims at upgrading the treatment of the proposal from 
"seriously consider," as was adopted last year, to "agreement." To 
this end, it is necessary to persuade the U.S., which has not joined 
the Kyoto Protocol and remains cautious about setting a long-term 
goal, to agree on the idea. President Bush has indicated a 
possibility of making a concession but still remains cautious. 
 
If Japan leans toward European countries, which are positive about 
setting a long-term goal, the U.S. will not be persuaded. However, 
if it is overly deferent to the U.S., it will lose support from 
European countries. Prime Minister Fukuda as the chairman of the 
meeting will surely have to walk a fine line in the discussions. 
 
8) Global warming measures: Coordination on long-term targets 
reaches final stage; Decision on base year for emissions cuts to be 
put off 
 
NIKKEI (Page 3) (Abridged slightly) 
July 8, 2008 
 
Coordination of views of various countries on long-term targets for 
cutting greenhouse gas emissions, the major issue among global 
warming measures, has reached its final stage. Japan, the G-8 summit 
host nation, is trying to secure approval from various countries on 
the inclusion in a chairman's statement of a goal of cutting 
greenhouse gas emissions by 50 PERCENT  by 2050. Reaching a decision 
on the adoption of a base year will likely be put off. With leading 
countries wide apart on long-term targets, tough negotiations are 
continuing. 
 
A senior official of the European Commission of the European Union 
(EU) yesterday warned that the long-term target of cutting 
greenhouse gas emissions by 50 PERCENT  by 2050 should not suffer a 
setback at the summit this time. He said: "We already discussed the 
target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 50 PERCENT  by 2050 at 
the G-8 last year. We must move forward this year." 
 
This official also pointed out: "We should slash carbon emissions by 
60 PERCENT  to 80 PERCENT  from the perspective of a scientific 
approach. 50 PERCENT  is the minimum level." He thus underscored 
that reaching an agreement on a 50 PERCENT  reduction is a 
nonnegotiable line. 
 
Concerning the long-term target, participants in the Heiligendamm 
summit held in Germany last year agreed to seriously consider 
cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 50 PERCENT  by 2050. Japan is 
aiming at including in a G-8 statement wording saying that moving 
forward that agreement is the supreme task. 
 
However, the U.S. stance is stubborn, as it seeks the involvement of 
such major emitters as China and India as well. Chairman Connaughton 
of the U.S. government's Council on Environmental Quality 
underscored during a press conference yesterday: "President Bush 
said that cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 50 PERCENT  by 2050 is 
valuable and necessary. He, however, categorically noted that all 
emitters must share this target." 
 
TOKYO 00001864  007 OF 012 
 
 
 
Regarding a numerical target for cutting greenhouse gas emissions, 
Connaughton said, "If major economies set realistic targets, they 
can produce major results." He thus indicated a view that it would 
be desirable to adopt a framework of setting achievable 
nation-specific goals. 
 
Commenting on a base year for emissions, the same senior EC official 
yesterday revealed his stance of not seeking an agreement. He said, 
"It is all right to discuss this matter after the G-8." The base 
year of the Kyoto Protocol is 1990. Japan is calling for making 2005 
the base year in a post-Kyoto Protocol framework. Its stance is at 
odds with that of the EU, which considers 1990 to be the appropriate 
year. 
 
9) G-8 joint statement to criticize abductions, terrorism as 
"impermissible" 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
July 8, 2008 
 
The draft of a joint statement on antiterrorism measures to be 
adopted at the Group of Eight (G-8) Summit (Lake Toya Summit) was 
released yesterday. The draft defines all terrorist acts as crimes 
and criticizes abductions, hostage-taking, and suicide bombings as 
"impermissible." It specifies: "Disputes or poverty cannot be used 
to justify terrorism." The draft mentions the G-8 nation's "firm 
support" for the antiterrorism measures by the United Nations, 
pledging G-8 nations' strengthened cooperation in fighting 
terrorism. 
 
Specifically, the draft emphasizes that the nations will cooperate 
in preventing the smuggling of cash and the flow of terrorists' 
funds via charity organizations. The draft also proposes taking 
steps to cope with biological, chemical, and radiological terrorism, 
terrorism against information and communications, and other types of 
threats. 
 
10) Prime Minister Fukuda makes summit debut on Tanabata 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Excerpts) 
July 8, 2008 
 
The G-8 Lake Toya Summit opened on July 7. Timed with Tanabata (a 
Japanese star festival), an event was held at the summit hall 
yesterday in which G-8 participants hung paper strips with their 
wishes written on bamboo branches. 
 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's paper strip read: "Learn lessons from 
the past -- open a bright future by learning from human wisdom." 
President George W. Bush's paper strip read: "I want to see a world 
free from any kind of oppression, including poverty and illness." 
 
The message of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the chair of last 
year's summit, read: "May a good star shine upon the G-8 summit. May 
each one of us have a sense of responsibility." 
 
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's wished: "An end to poverty; an 
end to terrorism on the third anniversary of the July 7, 2005, 
London bombings." EU Chairman Barroso's paper strip simply read 
"peace" in kanji. 
 
 
TOKYO 00001864  008 OF 012 
 
 
11) Premier meets with South African president and other African 
leaders 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
July 8, 2008 
 
Prime Minister Fukuda met with the presidents of South Africa, 
Algeria and Nigeria at the venue of the G-8 Lake Toya Summit in 
Hokkaido. 
 
Referring to the climate change issue, the prime minister during the 
meeting with South African President Mbeki sought cooperation from 
his nation, a major greenhouse gas emitter, noting: "I would like to 
hold close talks for the setting of an effective post-Kyoto Protocol 
framework to prevent global warming from 2013. It is important to 
set numbers that are convincible in technical and scientific 
terms." 
 
President Mbeki simply replied, "I would like to discuss this issue 
at the meeting of major emitters on July 9." 
 
The three leaders expressed to Fukuda their support for Japan's bid 
for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. 
 
12) Fukuda reaffirms cooperation with British and German leaders 
 
MAINICHI (Page 4) (Full) 
July 8, 2008 
 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda met with British Prime Minister Gordon 
Brown and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in succession ahead of the 
opening of the Lake Toya Summit in Hokkaido yesterday. In discussing 
the issue of climate change in the meetings with the two leaders, 
both sides agreed to cooperate to produce valuable results at the 
Summit. Merkel, who chaired the Heiligendamm Summit last year, 
expressed hopes that a joint statement to be adopted this year will 
take a step forward from the one of last year, saying: "Various 
positive moves have been seen since the Heiligendamm Summit." 
 
13) South Korean President Lee in interview with Tokyo Shimbun 
president reveals plan to upgrade Japan-China-South Korea 
environmental ministerial to trilateral top-level talks in 
September, expresses eagerness to cooperate to resolve abduction 
issue 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Top play) (Excerpts) 
July 8, 2008 
 
Eiji Tsukiyama, Seoul 
 
South Korean President Lee Myung Bak gave an interview on July 7 at 
the Blue House, the presidential office, for about an hour to 
Chunichi Shimbun and Tokyo Shimbun President Torao Oshima and others 
ahead of his attendance at an expanded G-8 Lake Toya summit meeting 
in Hokkaido. In the interview, the president indicated that he would 
discuss joint efforts to fight against global warming in East Asia 
at a Japan-China-South Korea summit to be held in Japan in 
September. The president also indicated that he would work strongly 
upon North Korea in connection with the abduction of Japanese 
nationals by the North, saying: "If North Korea is to come out to 
the international community after its nuclear issue is resolved, it 
is important to settle this (abduction issue)." 
 
TOKYO 00001864  009 OF 012 
 
 
 
President Lee also revealed a plan to present specific figures 
regarding greenhouse gas emissions, such as a mid-term reduction 
target up to 2020, in 2009. He also said about China, the world's 
second largest CO2 emitter, "The fact that coal is its major energy 
source is also a problem." He also indicated that Japan, China, and 
South Korea would discuss joint efforts at the trilateral summit in 
September by upgrading the trilateral environmental ministerial to 
top-level talks. 
 
About North Korea's declaration on June 26 of its nuclear programs 
and activities, the president said: "Although I can positively 
evaluate it, it is insufficient because information on nuclear 
weapons is not included." 
 
He expressed his resolve, saying: "The goal must be achieved without 
fail by convincing North Korea that abandoning nuclear programs 
would serve its own interests." 
 
As reasons of ongoing protest rallies against the resumption of U.S. 
beef imports, the president cited an increased public interest in 
food safety and a lack of correct information on BSE. He also noted: 
"Power has been shifted from innovative forces to conservative 
forces after a lapse of 10 years and a political slogan has also 
circulated. But because a large number of people have begun to 
understand the crux of the matter, I don't think (the turmoil) will 
grow any further." 
 
14) Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura expects next U.S. 
administration will support Japan's efforts to resolve abduction 
issue 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
July 8, 2008 
 
Referring to the statements of the top leaders of Japan and the 
United States in their summit meeting on July 6 stressing 
cooperation on resolving the issues of North Korea's nuclear 
programs and abductions of Japanese nationals, Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Nobutaka Machimura told the press yesterday: "It was 
meaningful." Based on the fact that the term of President George W. 
Bush will end next January, Machimura expressed his anticipation 
that the U.S. stance of supporting Japan to resolve the abduction 
issue would continue in the next administration, as well. He stated: 
"It is not good for superpower like the United States to shift its 
policy whenever an administration changes." 
 
(08070804kn) Back to Top 
 
 
15) SANKEI (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) 
July 8, 2008 
 
The Association of the Families of Victims of Kidnapped by North 
Korea (AFVKN) and other organizations held an emergency meeting 
yesterday at the Servo Kankan Hall in Nagata-cho, Chiyoda Ward, 
Tokyo. The Japanese government has announced that it will partially 
lift sanctions against North Korea even though there has been no 
progress on the abduction issue. The United States, too, has begun 
taking steps to delist North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism. 
Frustrated with the series of concessions by the government, AFVKN 
members urged Tokyo not to lift sanctions easily and called for a 
 
TOKYO 00001864  010 OF 012 
 
 
stronger national voice. 
 
AFVKN representative Shigeo Iizuka, 70, who is the older brother of 
Yaeko Taguchi, who was abducted at the age of 22, expressed a sense 
of crisis at the meeting, saying: "We are losing the major 
bargaining chip of economic sanctions. We are worried that the 
government is using its diplomatic cards for nothing." 
 
Teruaki Masumoto, 52, the younger brother of Rumiko Masumoto, who 
went missing at the age of 24, also called for cooperation, saying: 
"If the Japanese government does not raise its voice about (the 
United States' decision to take the North off its list of terrorism 
blacklist), then we would like to see the general public raise their 
voices." 
 
Kyoko Nakayama, prime ministerial advisor on the abduction issue, 
also called for public support, saying: "We are frustrated. 
Concessions must not be made easily. We need the public's help so 
that the Japanese government will take a firm stance." 
 
16) About 150 lawmakers planning overseas trips 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Excerpts) 
July 8, 2008 
 
A rush of Diet members' overseas junkets has already begun. About 
150 lawmakers from both Diet chambers are expected to travel abroad 
mostly in July and August. The 150 members account for more than 70 
PERCENT  of all Diet members. They appear to have decided to hurry 
to make overseas trips because the outlook for the political 
situation has become fluid, given the possibility of dissolution of 
the House of Representatives for a snap election after the end of 
the next extraordinary Diet session. 
 
Of the 138 Lower House members planned to visit overseas, about 100 
will have wound up their itineraries by early August. Usually many 
lawmakers go abroad before an ordinary Diet session in January, but 
the Diet members were unable to do so because the last extraordinary 
session went straight through the New Year from last year for the 
first time in 14 years. Reportedly, they did not go abroad during 
the consecutive holidays (Golden Week) from late April to early May; 
so, many lawmakers planned their overseas trips for the summer. 
 
17) Defense Ministry to work out cluster bomb disposal plan next 
year 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
July 8, 2008 
 
The Defense Ministry set a basic course yesterday to dispose of the 
Self-Defense Forces' stock of cluster munitions. The ministry will 
outline a disposal plan next fiscal year. In addition, the ministry 
will also make a budget request for that purpose. Scrapping the 
cluster munitions will cost 20-30 billion yen, so the ministry will 
retrench the disposal cost through such measures as reusing cluster 
bombs as single warhead bombs. 
 
The government has now agreed on a cluster bomb banning treaty and 
is expected to sign it late this year. The Defense Ministry has 
therefore studied its responses. If the treaty comes into effect, 
Japan will be required to dispose of the SDF's cluster munitions, 
worth 27.6 billion yen, within eight years. Japan has no know-how to 
 
TOKYO 00001864  011 OF 012 
 
 
dispose of cluster bombs, so the Defense Ministry will first outline 
a plan to remove bomblets from cluster bombs and defuse these 
bomblets. After that, the ministry will consider setting up a new 
workshop for cluster disposal and redeploying cluster bomblets, 
which are mounted on weapons like multiple launch rocket systems 
(MLRS), as single warhead munitions. 
 
18) Defense Ministry facing difficulties in finalizing reform plan 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Abridged) 
July 8, 2008 
 
A government advisory panel discussing how to reform the Defense 
Ministry was expected to work out a final report in late June. 
However, the panel has yet to finalize its report, facing 
difficulties in compiling opinions from its members. The Defense 
Ministry is going to partially integrate its internal bureaus' 
officials and the Self-Defense Forces' staff officers. However, the 
Defense Ministry still remains unable to coordinate what to do about 
civilian control after its organizational integration of bureaucrats 
and SDF staff officers. 
 
The reform panel was set up in the wake of scandals, such as former 
Administrative Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya's bribery case. 
In February, Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba came up with a radical 
restructuring plan that features a drastic reorganization of the 
Defense Ministry's internal bureaus and the SDF's staff offices. 
Then, the panel focused its discussion on restructuring the Defense 
Ministry. 
 
In mid-June, the advisory panel's secretariat, including Assistant 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Kyoji Yanagisawa, who is from the Defense 
Ministry, presented a draft plan for personnel exchanges between the 
Defense Ministry's internal bureau officials and the SDF's staff 
officers. However, Ishiba rejected the draft plan intended to 
maintain the Defense Ministry's current system as is. In this case, 
Ishiba thought to himself that SDF personnel cannot be above 
division director in the Defense Ministry's internal bureaus. In the 
end, the advisory panel's secretariat will fully rewrite its draft 
plan, basing it on a proposal that came this May from National 
Defense Academy President Makoto Iokibe, an influential member of 
the advisory panel. 
 
Iokibe's proposal is to basically retain the Defense Ministry's 
current organizational setup that consists of its internal bureaus 
and the SDF's staff offices. Meanwhile, Iokibe has also proposed 
mixing internal bureau officials and SDF staff officers. His idea 
paves the way for the Defense Ministry to appoint SDF staff officers 
to senior posts that have been occupied by those in the Defense 
Policy Bureau and other internal bureaus. Compared with the 
secretariat's draft plan, Iokibe's proposal is going further to 
integrate the Defense Ministry's bureaucracy and the SDF's brass. 
 
19) LDP Koga predicts dissolution of Lower House "next January or 
spring" 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
July 8, 2008 
 
Delivering a speech in Fukuoka yesterday, Makoto Koga, chairman of 
the Election Committee of the Liberal Democratic Party, said about 
timing for dissolution of the House of Representatives for a snap 
 
TOKYO 00001864  012 OF 012 
 
 
election: "It is conceivable that the government will make the 
decision after it submits a bill related to revenues and 
expenditures at the outset of the ordinary Diet session (next 
January) or in late March or early April after the bill is 
enacted." 
 
Koga said: "The Lower House should not be dissolved this year. If 
that were the case, (the LDP) would be defeated (in the general 
election)." He added that in the election to be held in September of 
next year following the expiration of the Lower House members' term, 
"There is a high possibility that the LDP will be driven into a 
corner by the opposition camp. Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's right 
to dissolve the Lower House might be restricted." 
 
SCHIEFFER