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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 002629 
 
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 09/24/08 
 
Index: 
 
Aso leaps into action: 
1) President Bush, welcoming the election of Taro Aso as prime 
minister, would like to meet him as soon as possible  (Yomiuri) 
2) Will Aso's be the shortest cabinet on record? All expecting Diet 
dissolution and a snap election soon after his government is formed 
(Tokyo Shimbun) 
3) Extraordinary Diet session opens today, with three hot issues, 
including tainted rice supplies, for the DPJ to attack the ruling 
camp  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
4) Cabinet selection today: Nakasone likely to be foreign minister 
(Mainichi) 
5) Prime Minister Aso to tackle revision of controversial medical 
care system for the elderly; Most of Cabinet names already known 
before formal selection today  (Nikkei) 
6) Based on names leaked to the press, Aso Cabinet seems filled with 
friends and cronies and lacks superstars  (Nikkei) 
 
7) After a spotty year in office as prime minister, Yasuo Fukuda 
quietly melts away today  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
8) New Komeito reelects Ota as its party president  (Mainichi) 
 
War on terror: 
9) U.S. special envoy in July came to Tokyo to urge Fukuda 
government to reconsider decision to put off SDF dispatch to 
Afghanistan  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
10) In speech at UNGA, Aso to focus on UN contributions to the war 
on terror, environmental issue  (Yomiuri) 
 
11) UN Africa conference: Japan to stress achievements in ODA 
disbursements  (Asahi) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) Bush wants to see Aso early 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 24, 2008 
 
NEW YORK-U.S. President Bush met with former Prime Minister Mori, 
now visiting the United States, at a New York City hotel on the 
evening of Sept. 22 (yesterday morning Japan time). In the meeting, 
Bush told Mori that he welcomes Liberal Democratic Party President 
Aso as Japan's new prime minister. 
 
Mori explained that Aso will be elected prime minister in an 
extraordinary session of the Diet today. "I called Mr. Aso a little 
while ago, and he asked me to send his best regards to President and 
Mrs. Bush," Mori told Bush. He added, "Mr. Aso shares your view of 
the international situation." In response, Bush also asked Mori to 
send his best regards to Aso. "Prime Minister Aso is wonderful," 
Bush said, "and I want to see him as soon as possible." 
 
2) Aso may become shortest-serving prime minister if LDP falls into 
opposition 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
September 24, 2008 
 
Newly elected Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President Taro Aso will 
 
TOKYO 00002629  002 OF 010 
 
 
be named prime minister today. Aso may dissolve the House of 
Representatives in early October at the earliest. It is 
unprecedented for a prime minister to resort to this last gasp 
measure as his first task after taking office. The possibility is 
strong that Aso will dissolve the Lower House in the record shortest 
period of any prime minister. 
 
Under the present Constitution, Ichiro Hatoyama was the prime 
minister who dissolved the Lower House in the shortest period after 
taking office in 1955. He dissolved the Lower House only 46 days 
after he was named prime minister, aiming at departing from the 
minority ruling party. 
 
Yoshiro Mori, who suddenly assumed office in April 2000 following 
the death of then Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, was the prime 
minister who dissolved the Lower House in the second-shortest period 
on June 2, 2000, setting the election date for June 25, Obuchi's 
birthday. 
 
The dominant view in the LDP is that the Lower House should be 
dissolved while the Aso cabinet is enjoying popularity. 
 
Should Aso dissolve the Lower House in early October immediately 
after questioning sessions by party representatives at the 
forthcoming extraordinary Diets session, Aso would dissolve the 
lower chamber about ten days after he was named prime minister. 
 
However, it is a dangerous game because he will have to step down if 
the ruling coalition fails to secure a majority of the Lower House 
seats in a general election. 
 
Under the present Constitution, the Hata cabinet ran for only 64 
days, the shortest period. If the LDP falls into the opposition in a 
general on Oct. 26, or on Nov. 2 or 9, Aso will become the 
shortest-serving prime minister. 
 
3) Extra Diet session opens today; DPJ ready to attack government, 
ruling coalition on three issues, including tainted rice 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
September 24, 2008 
 
With the extraordinary Diet session to be convened today, the main 
opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) is waiting expectantly to 
debate the supplementary budget bill for this fiscal year that 
includes a package of emergency economic stimulus measures. Although 
the DPJ has suggested, as a condition for its cooperation in 
enacting the budget, dissolution of the House of Representatives 
through mutual talks, the party wants to give itself a boost as it 
goes into a general election by pursuing the ruling Liberal 
Democratic Party (LDP), led by its new president, Taro Aso, on three 
issues: the tainted rice scandal, pension-record mess, and financial 
crisis. 
 
DPJ Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Kenji Yamaoka stressed in a 
speech last evening in Saitama City his party's stance of 
cooperating with the ruling camp to pass the supplementary budget 
bill: "For the sake of the public, we will approve the supplementary 
budget even if we are not fully satisfied with it." 
 
The ruling coalition plans to prioritize deliberations on the 
supplementary budget over Lower House dissolution. Aso has sought to 
 
TOKYO 00002629  003 OF 010 
 
 
constrain the opposition, saying: "It is unthinkable from a 
common-sense standpoint to prevent the supplementary budget from 
clearing the Diet." DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama has taken a 
flexible stance by indicating the possibility of his party 
responding to talks to revise the budget bill. 
 
Noting that the budget bill includes funds for supporting small to 
medium-sized companies, DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa made this 
critical comment: "Even if funds are increased, there is no system 
to lend that money to small companies." It thus seems difficult for 
the DPJ to find common ground in revision talks with the ruling 
camp. 
 
Should the Lower House be dissolved without reaching an agreement in 
the revision talks, the ruling coalition would then accuse the DPJ 
of having "killed" the supplementary budget. 
 
The DPJ has been cooperative on enacting the budget bill because it 
wants to give the public the impression that the ruling camp instead 
is being uncooperative. 
 
The largest opposition party has many issues to attack the 
government and ruling camp on, such as the resale of tainted rice, 
the falsification of average index monthly earnings that are the 
base for employee pension payments, and the financial crisis that 
started in the United States. DPJ head Ozawa will open the party's 
attack at representative interpellations in the Lower House -- the 
first time he has led that charge since January last year. 
 
Ozawa expressed his confidence to a senior party member in driving 
the Aso administration into a corner, saying: "It's a piece of cake. 
Soon or later (the Aso government) will collapse." 
 
4) Aso cabinet to be launched today; Former Education Minister 
Hirofumi Nakasone likely to become foreign minister 
 
MAINICHI (Top play) (Abridged) 
September 24, 2008 
 
LDP President Aso Taro, 68, is expected to be named the 92nd prime 
minister, or the 59th person to assume the post, in the 
extraordinary Diet session that will be convened today. Aso is 
expected to form a new cabinet later in the day. A meeting was held 
between Aso and New Komeito Representative Akihiro Ota in Tokyo 
yesterday in which the two leaders agree to maintain the LDP-New 
Komeito coalition and concluded a 19-item coalition government 
accord, including a review of the medical insurance system for 
people 75 and older. As for the new cabinet, coordination is 
underway to appoint former Education Minister Hirofumi Nakasone, 62, 
as foreign minister and former Policy Research Council Chairman 
Shoichi Nakagawa, 55, as finance minister. It has already been 
decided to appoint former Education, Science and Technology Minister 
Takeo Kawamura as chief cabinet secretary. 
 
Aso has also informally decided to reappointment five ministers: 
Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Toshihiro Nikai, 69; Consumer 
Administration Minister Seiko Noda, 48; Economy and Fiscal Policy 
Minister Kaoru Yosano, 70; Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Yoichi 
Masuzoe, 59; and Environment Minister Tetsuo Saito, 56. Former 
Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who ran in the LDP presidential 
race along with Yosano, is likely to become the next agriculture, 
forestry and fisheries minister. There is a high likelihood that 
 
TOKYO 00002629  004 OF 010 
 
 
former Justice Minister Kunio Hatoyama, 60, will receive the justice 
portfolio and that former METI Minister Akira Amari, 59, will become 
the next internal affairs and communications minister. Former deputy 
defense chief Yasukazu Hamada, 52, is being mentioned as the new 
defense minister. 
 
In determining the top four LDP executives on Sept. 22, Aso tried to 
strike a balance among factions, as seen in his appointment of 
Hiroyuki Hosoda of the Machimura faction, the largest in the party, 
as secretary general. In forming his cabinet, Aso plans to generate 
a clear "Aso imprint" irrespective of a factional balance for the 
sake of the next Lower House election. 
 
The administrative agreement reached between Aso and Ota specifies 
the steady implementation of a comprehensive economic stimulus 
package including a flat-sum tax cut, the fundamental reform of the 
food production and distribution system and amendments to 
legislation for ensuring food safety, in addition to a review of the 
medical insurance system for people 75 and older. 
 
The two houses of the Diet are scheduled to hold plenary sessions in 
succession starting at one o'clock this afternoon to name the next 
prime minister. The LDP and New Komeito are expected to name Aso as 
the prime minister in the Lower House session. In the Upper House 
session, DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa is expected to be named the 
prime minister as a result of a runoff between the top two 
contestants following the first ballot in which no one will win a 
majority of votes. Even though the joint committee of both houses is 
likely to hold a meeting as a result, Aso is certain to become the 
next prime minister because the Lower House's choice prevails under 
the Constitution. 
 
5) Aso to be picked prime minister today: To review public health 
insurance scheme for elderly people aged 75 or older; Agreement 
reached on LDP-New Komeito coalition; Review organ to discuss 
regional bloc system to be set up 
 
NIKKEI (Top Play) (Full) 
September 24, 2008 
 
After being designated prime minister in the extraordinary Diet 
session to be convened today, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 
President Taro Aso will launch his cabinet. During a meeting with 
New Komeito President Akihiro Ota on the evening of the 23rd, he 
confirmed the party's stance of continuing its coalition government 
with that party. Both leaders agreed to take a second look at the 
public health insurance scheme for elderly people aged 75 or older. 
In forming his cabinet, Aso will appoint former Research Council 
Chairman Shoichi Nakagawa as finance minister and former Education 
Minister Hirofumi Nakasone, an Upper House member, as foreign 
minister. State Minister for Economic and Fiscal Policy Kaoru Yosano 
will remain in his post. 
 
Regarding the health insurance system for people aged 75 or older, 
the agreement with the New Komeito on the forming of a coalition 
government mentions that giving consideration to the feelings of 
elderly people, the new government will make changes to the system 
to make it better by speeding up the current timetable for revising 
the system in five years' time, as stipulated by law. The points of 
contention up for revision will likely be the current system of 
uniformly drawing a demarcation line for elderly people aged 75 or 
older, regardless of their health condition, and the automatic 
 
TOKYO 00002629  005 OF 010 
 
 
deduction of premiums. 
 
Aso and Ota also agreed that the system under the current public 
pension scheme that reduces payouts to pensioners who are still 
employed should be revised. The agreement also includes measures to 
address those who do not receive pensions and those whose pension 
benefits are very low, by shortening the pension system contribution 
period required to become eligible for pension benefits and 
extending the additional contribution period required to become 
eligible for benefits. The aim of the two parties is to demonstrate 
a stance of tackling reform of the social security system just prior 
to the upcoming Lower House election. 
 
Concerning the doshu regional bloc system, Aso and Ota confirmed a 
policy of setting up a review organ within the cabinet to pave the 
way for enacting a basic law. As to the tainted-rice problem, they 
took a stance that the issue must be addressed immediately and 
properly in order to strengthen the system for ensuring food 
safety. 
 
Referring to three postal services, they said that improvements must 
be made in order to boost consumer convenience. They drew a line 
from the stance of those wishing to review the privatization of 
postal services. 
 
President Aso is expected to be designated the 92nd prime minister 
once the Diet votes at plenary sessions of the both chambers. He 
will be the 59th person to be elected as prime minister. Aso 
immediately will start forming his cabinet. The lineup of the new 
cabinet is set to be fixed by the evening. He informally selected 
Takeo Kawamura as chief cabinet secretary, a key post in the 
cabinet. Akira Amari is expected to be picked as internal affairs 
minister responsible for revitalizing local districts. Kunio 
Hatoyama will return as justice minister. Shigeo Ishiba will head 
the Agriculture Ministry. 
 
First-time ministers are Eisuke Mori as education minister and 
Yasukazu Hamada as defense minister. Attaching importance to the 
impact of the U.S.-induced turmoil in the financial markets, 
coordination is under way with the possibility of having finance 
minister Nakagawa, who can take part in meetings of finance 
ministers and central bank governors from the Group of Seven nations 
(G-7), double as state minister for financial policy. 
 
Concerning the timetable for the next Lower House election, the 
ruling parties are now undergoing final coordination with focus on 
two possibilities: (1) official announcement on October 21 and 
voting on November 2; and (2) official announcement on October 28 
and voting on November 9. They will speed up efforts to pave the way 
for a confrontation with the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or 
Minshuto) with reigns of government on the line. 
 
List of persons whose entry into cabinet has been firmed up 
 
Internal affairs minister 
 Akira Amari (59) 
 
Justice minister 
 Kunio Hatoyama (60) 
 
Foreign minister 
 Hirofumi Nakasone (62) 
 
TOKYO 00002629  006 OF 010 
 
 
 
Finance minister 
 Shoichi Nakagawa (55) 
 
Education minister 
 Eisuke Mori (60) 
 
Welfare minister 
 Yoichi Masuzoe (59) 
 
Agriculture minister 
 Shigeru Ishiba (51) 
 
Economy, trade and industry minister 
 Toshihiro Nikai (69) 
 
Land and transport minister 
 Sadakazu Tanigaki (63) 
 
Environment minister 
 Tetsuo Saito (56) 
 
Defense minister 
 Yasukazu Hamada (52) 
 
Chief cabinet secretary 
 Takeo Kawamura (65) 
 
State minister for economic and fiscal policy 
 Kaoru Yosano (70) 
 
State minister for consumer administration 
 Seiko Noda (48) 
 
indicates "second term in the same post" 
 
6) Aso puts close ties ahead of flashiness in appointing party 
executives and cabinet ministers 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
September 24, 2008 
 
New LDP President Taro Aso has decided to give major cabinet and 
party executive posts to lawmakers who are close to him. Clearly 
intending to contain destabilizing factors in the party, Aso even 
tried to persuade former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori to take the 
post of secretary general. The plan fell through, however. In order 
to face off with DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa in the next Lower House 
election, Aso clearly wants to achieve monolithic unity in his 
administration. 
 
Aso especially struggled in determining how to treat the Machimura 
faction. Aso, who heads his own faction, believes that his 
administration could not stand without the backing of the Machimura 
faction, the largest in the party. Deeming Mori was the only person 
who could control the Machimura faction, Aso approached the former 
prime minister via a Machimura faction executive to convince him to 
take on the post of secretary general. 
 
Mori rejected the offer, and Aso then turned to Hiroyuki Hosoda. Aso 
highly values Hosoda's unassuming and dependable style to get the 
job done. Although some urged Aso to make Hosoda the new Diet 
 
TOKYO 00002629  007 OF 010 
 
 
Affairs Committee chairman, the new LDP president insisted on giving 
the secretary general post to the Machimura faction. 
 
It had been widely believed in the Machimura faction that Chief 
Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura - the head of the faction that 
for the most part supported Aso instead of Yuriko Koike in the LDP 
presidential race -- would become the next secretary general. But a 
person close to Aso said: "Mr. Aso does not get along well with Mr. 
Machimura." 
 
Aso reportedly told a veteran lawmaker close to him: "I followed Mr. 
Mori's advice regarding the post of secretary general, and I will 
handle the cabinet posts as I like." 
 
Except for the post of secretary general, Aso hardly tampered with 
the party executives for the sake of the looming Lower House 
election. 
 
As for the chief cabinet secretary post, Aso first sounded out Diet 
Affairs Committee Chairman Tadamori Oshima. Although there a variety 
of speculations about the Oshima plan that did not materialize, 
Oshima told those around him: "I did not turn down the offer. There 
is no one but me who can handle Diet affairs at a time like this." 
 
Aso's trend to give posts to close friends is even clearer when the 
list of cabinet ministers is considered: such persons as Takeo 
Kawamura has informally been picked as chief cabinet secretary, 
Shoichi Nakagawa will be finance minister, and Akira Amari will 
become internal affairs and communications minister. All are known 
for their close ties with Aso. The cabinet lineup also includes some 
education policy specialists, such as Kawamura and Hirofumi 
Nakasone, who is likely to become the next foreign minister. 
 
Contrary to Aso's words to give consideration to the next election, 
the lineup is a far cry from an all-star cabinet. "Mr. Aso should be 
only one who will stand out," an Aso aide explained. But there is 
discontent in the party, with one saying: "Mr. Aso picked only those 
who have close ties with him. He does not seem really eager to fight 
the next election." 
 
LDP executives 
 
Secretary general 
 Hiroyuki Hosoda (Machimura faction) 
 
General Council chairman 
 Takashi Sasagawa (Tsushima faction) 
 
Policy Research Council chairman 
 Kosuke Hori (Tsushima faction) 
 
Election Strategy Council chairman 
 Makoto Koga (Koga faction) 
 
Senior deputy secretaries general 
 Nobuteru Ishihara (Yamasaki faction) 
 Motoo Hayashi (Yamasaki faction) 
 
Policy Research Council deputy chairman 
 Hiroyuki Sonoda (Koga faction) 
 
Election Strategy Council deputy chairman 
 
TOKYO 00002629  008 OF 010 
 
 
 Yoshihide Suga (Koga faction) 
 
 denotes reappointment. 
 
7) Monthly report by reporters: Prime Minister Fukuda resigns today; 
no change in his condescending attitude 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
September 24, 2008 
 
By Kei Sato 
 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda today hands over power just one year 
after taking office to Taro Aso. He yesterday moved out from the 
prime minister's official residence and returned to his private 
residence. This column, started in late April, will end with this 
issue. 
 
Fukuda suddenly announced his resignation on the night of Sept. 1. 
When he was told by a reporter at an emergency press conference that 
he spoke as if describing someone else's problem, Fukuda responded 
in a strong tone: "I can see myself objectively. I am different from 
you." 
 
I wonder whether Fukuda really could see himself objectively. He 
refused the regular press meeting which used to be held twice a day. 
The reason for his refusal was that "unnecessary background noise 
should not be created." 
 
However, when he encountered criticism by some members of his 
government, he reluctantly resumed the press meetings on Sept. 8. 
Even the failure of the U.S. major securities firm Lehman Brothers 
hit during a "political vacuum," for he irregularly met the press. 
So, it is difficult to say that he has fulfilled his 
accountability. 
 
When Agriculture Minister Seiichi Ota and Administrative Vice 
Minister Toshiro Shirasu resigned to take responsibilities for the 
tainted-rice scandal, Fukuda reacted as if it had nothing do to with 
him. 
 
Fukuda carried out his duties to the last moment. This may be 
different from former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who spent last days 
of his administration in bed. But Fukuda lacked the ability to talk 
to the public. 
 
I was a reporter attached to the Prime Minister's Official Residence 
when Fukuda announced his resignation. Although his catch phrase was 
"to match the public's thinking," I felt everyday his condescending 
attitude. 
 
8) New Komeito convention approves Ota's reelection 
 
MAINICHI (Page 1) (Full) 
September 24, 2008 
 
The New Komeito held a party convention at a Tokyo hotel yesterday 
and formally approved the reelection of Akihiro Ota, 62, as party 
head. Ota had been reelected by the party on Sept. 16. The 
convention also decided to reappoint the party leadership, including 
Secretary General Kazuo Kitagawa, 55. The party also determined the 
first group of candidates for the next Lower House election: 8 for 
 
TOKYO 00002629  009 OF 010 
 
 
single seats and 27 for the proportional representation segment. Ota 
said, "The LDP and New Komeito now have a matured relationship 
allowing them to say what they want to say to each other." Ota also 
indicated that his party would aim for over 31 seats, its current 
strength, in the next Lower House election. 
 
9) U.S. envoy urged Japan in July to reconsider putting off SDF 
Afghan dispatch 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Full) 
September 24, 2008 
 
It was learned yesterday that a special envoy from U.S. President 
Bush visited Japan in late July to ask the government to reconsider 
its once-dropped plan to send the Self-Defense Forces to Afghanistan 
as another approach to assist with that country's reconstruction. 
"Among the major countries excluding Russia, only Japan has yet to 
send troops to Afghanistan," the envoy noted. With this, the envoy 
indicated that Japan's refueling activities in the Indian Ocean 
alone are insufficient. 
 
The U.S. envoy's visit to Japan was revealed by a source connected 
to Japan-U.S. relations. On July 6, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda met 
with Bush in the Hokkaido town of Toyako. On that occasion, Fukuda 
told Bush that Japan had given up on the option of sending SDF 
troops to Afghanistan. After that, the envoy was sent to Japan, 
evidence that the U.S. government was highly dissatisfied. 
Meanwhile, Liberal Democratic Party President Aso will make his 
debut as Japan's new prime minister, launching his cabinet today. 
Washington will likely call on the new prime minister to consider 
sending SDF troops to Afghanistan. 
 
According to the source, the presidential envoy was Deputy Assistant 
Secretary of Defense for Central Asia Bobby Wilkes. He met with 
senior officials from the Foreign Ministry and the Defense Ministry 
and expressed dissatisfaction over the Japanese government's 
decision to drop its SDF Afghan dispatch. He then asked the Japanese 
government to consider a new role for the SDF to assist 
Afghanistan. 
 
10) Aso to pledge contribution to war on terror in U.N. address 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 24, 2008 
 
Liberal Democratic Party President Aso, who takes office as prime 
minister today, has decided to address the United Nations General 
Assembly in New York. In his U.N. speech, Aso will explain Japan's 
course of action regarding antiterror measures, global warming, and 
U.N. reforms. He is also expected to touch on North Korea's 
abduction of Japanese nationals. Japan's prime minister will address 
the UNGA for the first time since Prime Minister Koizumi did in 
¶2005. 
 
Aso's U.N. speech is to take place on the afternoon of Sept. 25 
local time (on the morning of Sept. 26 Japan time). It will be the 
first diplomatic event for Aso as Japan's new prime minister. 
 
Aso met with Administrative Vice Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka 
and others at LDP headquarters yesterday afternoon to discuss what 
to put in his U.N. speech. 
 
 
TOKYO 00002629  010 OF 010 
 
 
In connection with antiterror measures, Aso will clarify that Japan 
will continue its contribution to the war on terror. When it comes 
to the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling activities in the 
India Ocean, Aso will avoid declaring its continuation because a 
government-planned bill to amend the new Antiterrorism Special 
Measures Law cannot be expected to clear the Diet. 
 
On the issue of global warming, Aso will propose expediting 
discussions for the Conference of Parties to the U.N. Framework 
Convention on Climate Change to be held late next year, based on the 
results of this summer's Group of Eight (G-8) summit in the Hokkaido 
town of Toyako. 
 
Meanwhile, Aso, given a substantial increase in the number of U.N. 
members, will suggest the need to reform the U.N. Security Council. 
In addition, he will also call on U.N. members to support Japan's 
bid for a permanent seat on the UNSC. 
 
11) UN African Union meeting: Japan stresses its achievements 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 24, 2008 
 
The UN on September 22 held a high-level meeting to confer on 
African development. Responding to Secretary General Ban Ki Moon's 
call, representatives of about 140 countries, mainly leaders of 
African nations, took part in the meeting. Former Prime Minister 
Mori attended the meeting from Japan. He reported on the results of 
the 4th Tokyo International Conference on African Development 
(TICAD4), which Japan hosted. 
 
At the outset of the meeting, Ban cited the adverse effects of 
global warming and the food crisis on the development of African 
nations. He stressed, "If the situation is left unattended, no 
country will be able to achieve all the Millennium Development Goals 
(MDGs)." He sought the implementation of the G-8's commitment made 
at the Gleneagles Summit in Britain to double their government's ODA 
to Africa by 2010. 
 
Former Prime Minister Mori underscored, "Japan released a set of aid 
measures at TICAD4 designed to double ODA to Africa and investment 
by the private sector." Citing the dispatch of a government/private 
sector delegation for the promotion of trade with and investment to 
Africa this month, Mori stressed Japan's efforts to extend aid that 
meets the real needs of Africa. 
 
In response, Tanzanian President Kikwete, chair of the African 
Union, expressed gratitude for aid from the G-8. However, he 
complained that the pace of the increase in ODA is slow. He called 
for cooperation, saying, "It will be too late unless they deliver on 
their promise now." The meeting closed, adopting a political 
statement noting the need to strengthen aid to Africa. 
 
SCHIEFFER