Cablegate: Tokyo Media Reaction - Russia-Georgia

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UNCLAS TOKYO 002814

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 - RUSSIA-GEORGIA

1. LEAD STORIES: Lead items on Thursday morning were
concerted reductions in interest rates by six U.S. and
European central banks and the 2008 Nobel Prize in
chemistry awarded to three scholars, including a
Japanese scientist currently studying in Boston.

2. "Russia Completes Troop Pullout from Georgia" A
Moscow correspondent for the liberal Asahi wrote
(10/9): "Wednesday's orderly departure (of Russian
troops from Georgia) left the strong impression that
the Medvedev government is committed to complying with
a peace accord brokered by French President Sarkozy.
Moscow is now showing strong interest in what it can
obtain in return. Russia appears to be looking to seize
the leadership in the international conference to be
held on Friday in Geneva concerning security in South
Ossetia and Abkhazia with the goal of 'neutralizing'
Georgian military power. By demanding that
representatives from South Ossetia and Abkhazia be
allowed to participate in the planned confab, Moscow
hopes to build a fait accompli toward the independence
of the two renegade provinces. The EU's response will
be tested, as it insists on the territorial integrity
of Georgia."

SCHIEFFER

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