Cablegate: Tokyo Media Reaction - Kosovo

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PP RUEHFK
DE RUEHKO #5499 3440703
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P 100703Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0156
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RUHBANB/OKINAWA FLD OFC US FORCES JAPAN CP BUTLER JA PRIORITY
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INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 4855
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 8521
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0538
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2006
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 6578
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 7335
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC

UNCLAS TOKYO 005499

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR,
EAP/J, EAP/P, PM;
USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI;
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA;
CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE;
PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA
SUBJECT: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - KOSOVO

LEAD STORIES: There were no papers published on Monday
morning due to a press holiday. Broadcasters reported
Monday morning on senior Japanese government officials'
public addresses on Sunday, during which they called
for public understanding and support for the enactment
of the new antiterrorism legislation.

"Failed Mediation in Kosovo" The liberal Mainichi's
correspondent report stated (12/9): "In response to the
submission on Friday to UN Secretary-General Ban of a
report compiled by the U.S., Russia, and the EU
concerning the final status of Serbia's Autonomous
Province of Kosovo, the people of Kosovo urged their
government on Saturday to declare independence.... They
hope that independence will bring about economic
recovery and may eventually help Kosovo to join the
EU.... As if in anticipation of the Kosovan people's
desire for independence, British Foreign Minister
Miliband on Friday in Brussels stressed the need for
the EU to work together on Kosovo, saying: 'Kosovo is
in Europe's backyard, and the time has come for
European nations to exercise true leadership.' The EU
will face a tough test, as it needs to prevent a
conflict from re-erupting while making sure not to
betray residents' hopes."

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