Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287
Articles
Brazil
Sri Lanka
United Kingdom
Sweden
00. Editorial
United States
Latin America
Egypt
Jordan
Yemen
Thailand
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
2011/05/13
2011/05/14
2011/05/15
2011/05/16
2011/05/17
2011/05/18
2011/05/19
2011/05/20
2011/05/21
2011/05/22
2011/05/23
2011/05/24
2011/05/25
2011/05/26
2011/05/27
2011/05/28
2011/05/29
2011/05/30
2011/05/31
2011/06/01
2011/06/02
2011/06/03
2011/06/04
2011/06/05
2011/06/06
2011/06/07
2011/06/08
2011/06/09
2011/06/10
2011/06/11
2011/06/12
2011/06/13
2011/06/14
2011/06/15
2011/06/16
2011/06/17
2011/06/18
2011/06/19
2011/06/20
2011/06/21
2011/06/22
2011/06/23
2011/06/24
2011/06/25
2011/06/26
2011/06/27
2011/06/28
2011/06/29
2011/06/30
2011/07/01
2011/07/02
2011/07/04
2011/07/05
2011/07/06
2011/07/07
2011/07/08
2011/07/10
2011/07/11
2011/07/12
2011/07/13
2011/07/14
2011/07/15
2011/07/16
2011/07/17
2011/07/18
2011/07/19
2011/07/20
2011/07/21
2011/07/22
2011/07/23
2011/07/25
2011/07/27
2011/07/28
2011/07/29
2011/07/31
2011/08/01
2011/08/02
2011/08/03
2011/08/05
2011/08/06
2011/08/07
2011/08/08
2011/08/10
2011/08/11
2011/08/12
2011/08/13
2011/08/15
2011/08/16
2011/08/17
2011/08/19
2011/08/21
2011/08/22
2011/08/23
2011/08/24
2011/08/25
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Antananarivo
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Alexandria
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embasy Bonn
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Brazzaville
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangui
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Belfast
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Cotonou
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chiang Mai
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Chengdu
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
DIR FSINFATC
Consulate Dusseldorf
Consulate Durban
Consulate Dubai
Consulate Dhahran
Embassy Guatemala
Embassy Grenada
Embassy Georgetown
Embassy Gaborone
Consulate Guayaquil
Consulate Guangzhou
Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Hong Kong
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kolonia
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Krakow
Consulate Kolkata
Consulate Karachi
Consulate Kaduna
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Lusaka
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Lome
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy Libreville
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Leipzig
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Mission Geneva
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Mogadishu
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maseru
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Merida
Consulate Melbourne
Consulate Matamoros
Consulate Marseille
Embassy Nouakchott
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Nuevo Laredo
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Consulate Nagoya
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Praia
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Moresby
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Podgorica
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Ponta Delgada
Consulate Peshawar
REO Mosul
REO Kirkuk
REO Hillah
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Surabaya
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy Tirana
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
Consulate Thessaloniki
USUN New York
USMISSION USTR GENEVA
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Mission CD Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
US Delegation FEST TWO
UNVIE
UN Rome
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vientiane
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AF
ADANA
ASEC
AFIN
AMGT
AE
AORC
AID
AR
AO
AU
ASEAN
AGOA
AFGHANISTAN
AFFAIRS
AMED
APER
ASECARP
APEC
AEMR
AS
AA
ANET
AFLU
ABLD
AL
ASUP
AJ
APECO
AMER
ABUD
AODE
AM
AFSN
AESC
AND
AG
ALOW
AROC
AVIANFLU
ATRN
ACOA
AEGR
AMGMT
AADP
AFSI
ACABQ
APRM
AZ
AIDS
ASE
AGAO
ADCO
ABDALLAH
ARF
AIDAC
ACOTA
ASCH
AC
ASEG
AGR
ACS
AMCHAMS
AN
AMIA
ASIG
ADPM
ADB
ANARCHISTS
ALOWAR
ARM
AUC
AINF
AINT
AORG
AY
AVIAN
AMEDCASCKFLO
AK
ARSO
ARABBL
ASO
ANTITERRORISM
ARABL
AOWC
AGRICULTURE
ALJAZEERA
AMTC
AFINM
AOCR
ABER
ARR
AFPK
ASSEMBLY
ASSK
AZE
AORCYM
AINR
AGMT
AEC
ACKM
APRC
AIN
ASCC
AFPREL
ASED
APERTH
ASFC
ASECTH
AFSA
AOMS
AORCO
ANTXON
ARC
AFAF
ADIP
AIAG
AFARI
AEMED
AORL
AX
ASECAF
AOPC
ASECAFIN
AFZAL
APCS
AMB
AGUIRRE
AEMRASECCASCKFLOMARRPRELPINRAMGTJMXL
AIT
ARCH
AMEX
ALI
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
AORCD
AVIATION
ARAS
AINFCY
ACBAQ
AOPR
AREP
ALEXANDER
ATRD
AEIR
AOIC
ABLDG
ASEX
AFR
ASCE
ATRA
ASEK
AER
ALOUNI
AMCT
AVERY
APR
AMAT
AEMRS
ASPA
AFU
AMG
ATPDEA
ALL
AECL
ACAO
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AORD
AFL
AME
ADM
ASECPHUM
AGIT
ABT
ASECVE
AGUILAR
AT
ABMC
ALZUGUREN
ANGEL
ASR
ANTONIO
BMGT
BEXP
BM
BG
BL
BA
BR
BTA
BO
BY
BBSR
BLUE
BK
BF
BTIO
BELLVIEW
BE
BU
BN
BH
BD
BC
BTC
BILAT
BT
BX
BRUSSELS
BP
BB
BRPA
BUSH
BURMA
BMENA
BESP
BIT
BBG
BGD
BMEAID
BAGHDAD
BEN
BIO
BMOT
BWC
BLUNT
BURNS
BUT
BGMT
BAIO
BCW
BOEHNER
BFIF
BOL
BASHAR
BIMSTEC
BOU
BIDEN
BZ
BFIN
BTRA
BI
BHUM
BOIKO
BERARDUCCI
BOUCHAIB
BORDER
BEXPC
BTIU
BTT
BIOS
BEXB
BGPGOV
BOND
BLR
CE
CG
CH
CVR
CASC
CU
CI
CD
CO
CDG
CB
CJAN
CPAS
COM
CVIS
CMGT
CT
CENTCOM
CNARC
CTERR
COUNTER
CHIEF
CDC
CTR
CBW
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
CY
CA
CM
CS
CWC
CN
CITES
CF
CWG
CIVS
CFIS
CASCC
CROATIA
CONS
COUNTERTERRORISM
CASA
COE
CJ
CHR
CODEL
CR
CBC
CACS
CHERTOFF
CAS
CONTROL
CONDITIONS
CONDOLEEZZA
CITEL
CV
CLINTON
CHG
CZ
CON
CTBT
CEN
CRIMES
COMMERCE
CLOK
CRISTINA
CFED
CARC
CND
CTM
CARICOM
COUNTRYCLEARANCE
CBTH
CHINA
CSW
CICTE
CJUS
CYPRUS
CW
CAMBODIA
CENSUS
CIDA
CRIME
CBG
CBE
CMGMT
CAIO
CEC
CARSON
CPCTC
CEDAW
COMESA
CVIA
CWCM
CEA
COSI
CAPC
CGEN
COPUOS
CGOPRC
COETRD
CKGR
CFE
CQ
CITT
CIC
CARIB
CVIC
CLO
CAFTA
CVISU
CHRISTOPHER
CACM
CIAT
CDB
CIS
CUL
CHAO
CNC
CL
CSEP
COMMAND
CENTER
COL
CAN
CAJC
CUIS
CONSULAR
CLMT
CIA
CBSA
CEUDA
CAC
CROS
CIO
CPUOS
CKOR
CVPR
CONG
CONTROLS
CEPTER
CVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGKIRF
CDCE
DPOL
DEMARCHE
DHS
DR
DA
DISENGAGEMENT
DEMOCRATIC
DEFENSE
DJ
DY
DARFUR
DHRF
DEA
DTRO
DPRK
DO
DARFR
DOC
DRL
DK
DOJ
DTRA
DOMESTIC
DAC
DOD
DEAX
DIEZ
DEOC
DELTAVIOLENCE
DCOM
DMINE
DRC
DCG
DPKO
DOMESTICPOLITICS
DE
DB
DOT
DEPT
DOE
DHLAKAMA
DHSX
DS
DKEM
DAO
DCM
DANIEL
DEM
DAVID
DCRM
ETRD
EAGR
ETTC
EAID
ECON
EFIN
ECIN
EINV
ELAB
EAIR
ENRG
EPET
EWWT
ECPS
EIND
EMIN
ELTN
EC
ETMIN
EUC
EZ
ET
ELECTIONS
ENVR
EU
EUN
EG
EINT
ER
ECONOMICS
ES
EMS
ENIV
EEB
EN
ECE
ECOSOC
EK
ENVIRONMENT
EFIS
EI
EWT
ENGRD
ECPSN
EXIM
EIAD
ERIN
ECPC
EDEV
ENGY
ECTRD
EPA
ESTH
ECCT
EINVECON
ENGR
ERTD
EUR
EAP
EWWC
ELTD
EL
EXIMOPIC
EXTERNAL
ETRDEC
ESCAP
ECO
EGAD
ELNT
ECONOMIC
ENV
ETRN
EIAR
EUMEM
ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID
EREL
ECOM
ECONETRDEAGRJA
ETCC
ETRG
ECONOMY
EMED
ETR
ENERG
EITC
EFINOECD
EURM
EENG
ERA
EXPORT
ENRD
ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC
EGEN
EBRD
EVIN
ETRAD
ECOWAS
EFTA
ECONETRDBESPAR
EGOVSY
EPIN
EID
ECONENRG
EDRC
ESENV
ETT
EB
ENER
ELTNSNAR
ECHEVARRIA
ETRC
EPIT
EDUC
ESA
EFI
ENRGY
ESCI
EE
EAIDXMXAXBXFFR
EETC
ECIP
EIAID
EIVN
EBEXP
ESTN
EING
EGOV
ETRA
EPETEIND
ELAN
ETRDGK
EAIDRW
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
EPEC
ENVI
ELN
EAG
EPCS
EPRT
EPTED
ETRB
EUM
EAIDS
EFIC
EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM
EAIDAR
ESF
EIDN
ELAM
EDU
EV
EAIDAF
ECN
EDA
EXBS
EINTECPS
ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ
EPREL
EAC
EINVEFIN
ETA
EAGER
EINDIR
ECA
ECLAC
ELAP
EITI
EUCOM
ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID
EARG
ELDIN
EINVKSCA
ENNP
EFINECONCS
EFINTS
ECCP
ETC
EAIRASECCASCID
EINN
ETRP
EAIDNI
EFQ
ECOQKPKO
EGPHUM
EBUD
ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ
ENERGY
ELB
EINDETRD
EMI
ECONEFIN
EIB
EURN
ETRDEINVTINTCS
EIN
EFIM
ETIO
ELAINE
EMN
EATO
EWTR
EIPR
EINVETC
ETTD
ETDR
EIQ
ECONCS
EPPD
ENRGIZ
EISL
ESPINOSA
ELEC
EAIG
ESLCO
EUREM
ENTG
ERD
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EEPET
EUNCH
ECINECONCS
ETRO
ETRDECONWTOCS
ECUN
EFND
EPECO
EAIRECONRP
ERGR
ETRDPGOV
ECPN
ENRGMO
EPWR
EET
EAIS
EAGRE
EDUARDO
EAGRRP
EAIDPHUMPRELUG
EICN
ECONQH
EVN
EGHG
ELBR
EINF
EAIDHO
EENV
ETEX
ERNG
ED
FR
FREEDOM
FINREF
FJ
FI
FRELIMO
FOREIGN
FAA
FETHI
FAS
FTAA
FRB
FAO
FCS
FINANCE
FWS
FTA
FEMA
FDA
FLU
FRANCISCO
FBI
FORCE
FO
FARC
FK
FT
FCSC
FAC
FM
FMGT
FINV
FCSCEG
FARM
FERNANDO
FINR
FIN
FINE
FIR
FDIC
FOR
FOI
FCUL
FKLU
FMLN
FISO
FIXED
GM
GMUS
GG
GR
GE
GAZA
GT
GH
GZ
GJ
GLOBAL
GV
GABY
GOI
GA
GCC
GB
GY
GATT
GC
GUAM
GEORGE
GTIP
GOV
GOMEZ
GUTIERREZ
GL
GKGIC
GF
GU
GWI
GARCIA
GTMO
GN
GANGS
GIPNC
GAERC
GREGG
GUILLERMO
GASPAR
GERARD
GI
HK
HR
HUMANR
HUMAN
HO
HA
HUMANRIGHTS
HU
HHS
HIV
HUM
HRKAWC
HILLEN
HILLARY
HDP
HUMRIT
HSTC
HUMANITARIAN
HCOPIL
HADLEY
HURI
HL
HRETRD
HOURANI
HG
HARRIET
HESHAM
HI
HNCHR
HARRY
HRECON
HRC
HOSTAGES
HEBRON
HUMOR
HSWG
HYMPSK
HECTOR
HN
HYDE
HUD
HRPGOV
HIGHLIGHTS
ID
ILC
IS
IZ
ICAO
IMO
ITU
IR
IAEA
ICRC
IPROP
IT
IBRD
ISRAELI
IRAQI
ISSUES
ITRA
IV
IO
IGAD
IRAQ
IN
IMF
ICTR
ISCON
IADB
IDB
IEA
INR
IWC
ICCAT
ILO
INMARSAT
IOM
ICJ
IQ
ISPA
ITRD
IPR
INTELSAT
ISN
IAHRC
INTERNAL
IFAD
IICA
IHO
IRAN
IL
IRCE
IC
INTELLECTUAL
IRM
IE
ICTY
IDLI
IFO
ISCA
INF
INL
ISRAEL
INV
IBB
INFLUENZA
ISPL
ITER
ITIA
INRA
ISAF
IACHR
INTERPOL
IFR
IRS
INRB
IEF
ISAAC
ICC
INDO
IIP
IATTC
INAUGURATION
IND
INS
IZPREL
IACI
IEFIN
INNP
ILAB
IA
IMTS
ITALY
ITALIAN
IFIN
IRAJ
IX
ICG
IF
ITPHUM
ITA
IP
IACW
IK
IUCN
IZEAID
IRPE
IDA
ISLAMISTS
ITF
INRO
IBET
IDP
IRC
ISO
ICES
IRMO
ITPGOV
IQNV
IMSO
IRDB
IMET
INCB
IFRC
JA
JO
JP
JM
JCIC
JOHN
JE
JEFFERY
JS
JUS
JN
JOHNNIE
JAMES
JKUS
JOSEPH
JML
JAWAD
JSRP
JIMENEZ
JOSE
JKJUS
JK
JAPAN
KMDR
KPAO
KPKO
KJUS
KCRM
KGHG
KFRD
KWMN
KDEM
KTFN
KHIV
KGIC
KIDE
KSCA
KNNP
KHUM
KIPR
KSUM
KISL
KIRF
KCOR
KRCM
KPAL
KWBG
KN
KS
KOMC
KSEP
KFLU
KPWR
KTIA
KSEO
KMPI
KHLS
KICC
KSTH
KMCA
KVPR
KPRM
KE
KU
KZ
KFLO
KSAF
KTIP
KTEX
KBCT
KOCI
KOLY
KOR
KAWC
KACT
KUNR
KTDB
KSTC
KLIG
KSKN
KNN
KCFE
KCIP
KGHA
KHDP
KPOW
KUNC
KDRL
KV
KPREL
KCRS
KPOL
KRVC
KRIM
KGIT
KWIR
KT
KIRC
KOMO
KRFD
KUWAIT
KG
KFIN
KSCI
KTFIN
KFTN
KGOV
KPRV
KSAC
KGIV
KCRIM
KPIR
KSOC
KBIO
KW
KGLB
KMWN
KPO
KFSC
KSEAO
KSTCPL
KSI
KPRP
KREC
KFPC
KUNH
KCSA
KMRS
KNDP
KR
KICCPUR
KPPAO
KCSY
KTBT
KCIS
KNEP
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KNNB
KGCC
KINR
KPOP
KMFO
KENV
KNAR
KVIR
KDRG
KDMR
KFCE
KNAO
KDEN
KGCN
KICA
KIMMITT
KMCC
KLFU
KMSG
KSEC
KUM
KCUL
KMNP
KSMT
KCOM
KOMCSG
KSPR
KPMI
KRAD
KIND
KCRP
KAUST
KWAWC
KTER
KCHG
KRDP
KPAS
KITA
KTSC
KPAOPREL
KWGB
KIRP
KJUST
KMIG
KLAB
KTFR
KSEI
KSTT
KAPO
KSTS
KLSO
KWNN
KPOA
KHSA
KNPP
KPAONZ
KBTS
KWWW
KY
KJRE
KPAOKMDRKE
KCRCM
KSCS
KWMNCI
KESO
KWUN
KPLS
KIIP
KEDEM
KPAOY
KRIF
KGICKS
KREF
KTRD
KFRDSOCIRO
KTAO
KJU
KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW
KEN
KO
KNEI
KEMR
KKIV
KEAI
KWAC
KRCIM
KWCI
KFIU
KWIC
KCORR
KOMS
KNNO
KPAI
KBWG
KTTB
KTBD
KTIALG
KILS
KFEM
KTDM
KESS
KNUC
KPA
KOMCCO
KCEM
KRCS
KWBGSY
KNPPIS
KNNPMNUC
KWN
KERG
KLTN
KALM
KCCP
KSUMPHUM
KREL
KGH
KLIP
KTLA
KAWK
KWMM
KVRP
KVRC
KAID
KSLG
KDEMK
KX
KIF
KNPR
KCFC
KFTFN
KTFM
KPDD
KCERS
KMOC
KDEMAF
KMEPI
KEMS
KDRM
KEPREL
KBTR
KEDU
KNP
KIRL
KNNR
KMPT
KISLPINR
KTPN
KA
KJUSTH
KPIN
KDEV
KTDD
KAKA
KFRP
KWNM
KTSD
KINL
KJUSKUNR
KWWMN
KECF
KWBC
KPRO
KVBL
KOM
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KEDM
KFLD
KLPM
KRGY
KNNF
KICR
KIFR
KM
KWMNCS
KAWS
KLAP
KPAK
KDDG
KCGC
KID
KNSD
KMPF
KPFO
KDP
KCMR
KRMS
KNPT
KNNNP
KTIAPARM
KDTB
KNUP
KPGOV
KNAP
KNNC
KUK
KSRE
KREISLER
KIVP
KQ
KTIAEUN
KPALAOIS
KRM
KISLAO
KWM
KFLOA
LE
LU
LH
LA
LG
LO
LY
LANTERN
LI
LABOR
LORAN
LTTE
LT
LAS
LAB
LAW
LVPR
LARREA
LEBIK
LAURA
LS
LOTT
LOVE
LR
LEON
LAVIN
LGAT
LV
LAOS
LOG
LN
LB
MOPS
MO
MARR
ML
MASS
MZ
MR
MNUC
MX
MV
MCC
MY
MEDIA
MTCRE
MG
MCAP
MOPPS
MP
MI
MK
MC
MD
MA
MU
MASC
MW
MT
MEPP
MN
MTCR
MH
MEPI
MIL
MNUCPTEREZ
MMAR
MICHAEL
MUNC
MDC
MPOS
MONUC
MAR
MGMT
MAS
MEPN
MENDIETA
MARIA
MONTENEGRO
MOOPS
MSG
MARITIME
MURRAY
MUKASEY
MOTO
MCA
MFO
MEX
MRSEC
MMED
MACP
MAAR
MINUSTAH
MCCONNELL
MAPP
MGT
MARQUEZ
MANUEL
MNUR
MCCAIN
MF
MOHAMMAD
MOHAMED
MNU
MFA
MILITANTS
MINORITIES
MTS
MLS
MILI
MIAH
MEETINGS
MERCOSUR
MED
MARAD
MNVC
MINURSO
MNUCUN
MIK
MARK
MBM
MPP
MILITARY
MAPS
MNUK
MILA
MTRRE
MACEDONIA
MICHEL
MASSMNUC
MUCN
MQADHAFI
MPS
MARRGH
MRCRE
MTRE
MORALES
MAP
MCTRE
MHUC
MOPSGRPARM
MOROCCO
MCAPS
NL
NU
NS
NI
NPT
NATO
NO
NG
NATEU
NSF
NZ
NAS
NP
NDP
NLD
NGO
NEPAD
NAFTA
NASA
NEA
NGUYEN
NIH
NK
NIPP
NONE
NR
NANCY
NEGROPONTE
NRR
NERG
NSSP
NSG
NSFO
NE
NATSIOS
NFSO
NATIONAL
NTDB
NT
NCD
NTSB
NRC
NELSON
NAM
NH
NPG
NEC
NSC
NFATC
NMFS
NATOIRAQ
NAR
NZUS
NARC
NCCC
NA
NC
NEW
NRG
NUIN
NOVO
NATOPREL
NEY
NV
NICHOLAS
NPA
NW
NARCOTICS
NORAD
NOAA
NON
NTTC
NKNNP
NMNUC
NUMBERING
ODIP
OIIP
OPRC
OSCE
OREP
OTRA
OPET
OSCI
OVIP
OECD
OCII
OUALI
OPDC
OEXC
OFPD
OPIC
OFDP
OPCW
OECV
OAS
OM
OMIG
ODAG
OPREP
ORA
OIC
OEXCSCULKPAO
OIG
OASS
OFFICIALS
ORTA
OSAC
OIL
OIE
OEXP
OPEC
OPDAT
OMS
OES
OHI
OMAR
OCRA
OFSO
OCBD
OSTA
OAO
ONA
OTP
ORC
OAU
OXEC
OA
ODPC
OPDP
OVIPPRELUNGANU
OASC
OSHA
OPCD
OTR
OPPI
OPCR
OF
OFDPQIS
OSIC
OHUM
OSTRA
OASCC
OBSP
OFDA
OPICEAGR
OIM
OGAC
OTA
OTRAORP
OPPC
OESC
OCEA
OVP
ON
OPAD
OTAR
OCS
ODC
OTRD
OCED
OSD
ORUE
OREG
PHUM
PINR
PTER
PGOV
PREL
PREF
PL
PM
PHSA
PE
PARM
PINS
PK
PUNE
PO
PALESTINIAN
PU
PBTS
PROP
PTBS
POL
POLI
PA
PGOVZI
POLMIL
POLITICAL
PARTIES
POLM
PD
POLITICS
POLICY
PAS
PMIL
PINT
PNAT
PV
PKO
PPOL
PERSONS
PING
PBIO
PH
PETR
PARMS
PRES
PCON
PETERS
PRELBR
PT
PLAB
PP
PAK
PDEM
PKPA
PSOCI
PF
PLO
PTERM
PJUS
PSOE
PELOSI
PROPERTY
PGOVPREL
PARP
PRL
PNIR
PHUMKPAL
PG
PREZ
PGIC
PBOV
PAO
PKK
PROV
PHSAK
PHUMPREL
PROTECTION
PGOVBL
PSI
PRELPK
PGOVENRG
PUM
PRELKPKO
PATTY
PSOC
PRIVATIZATION
PRELSP
PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ
PMIG
PREC
PAIGH
PROG
PSHA
PARK
PETER
POG
PHUS
PPREL
PS
PTERPREL
PRELPGOV
POV
PKPO
PGOVECON
POUS
PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN
PWBG
PMAR
PREM
PAR
PNR
PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO
PARMIR
PGOVGM
PHUH
PARTM
PN
PRE
PTE
PY
POLUN
PPEL
PDOV
PGOVSOCI
PIRF
PGOVPM
PBST
PRELEVU
PGOR
PBTSRU
PRM
PRELKPAOIZ
PGVO
PERL
PGOC
PAGR
PMIN
PHUMR
PVIP
PPD
PGV
PRAM
PINL
PKPAL
PTERE
PGOF
PINO
PHAS
PODC
PRHUM
PHUMA
PREO
PPA
PEPFAR
PGO
PRGOV
PAC
PRESL
PORG
PKFK
PEPR
PRELP
PREFA
PNG
PGOVPHUMKPAO
PRELECON
PINOCHET
PFOR
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
PRELC
PREK
PHUME
PHJM
POLINT
PGOVPZ
PGOVKCRM
PGOVE
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PECON
PEACE
PROCESS
PLN
PRELSW
PAHO
PEDRO
PRELA
PASS
PPAO
PGPV
PNUM
PCUL
PGGV
PSA
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PGIV
PRFE
POGOV
PEL
PBT
PAMQ
PINF
PSEPC
POSTS
PHUMPGOV
PVOV
PHSAPREL
PROLIFERATION
PENA
PRELTBIOBA
PIN
PRELL
PGOVPTER
PHAM
PHYTRP
PTEL
PTERPGOV
PHARM
PROTESTS
PRELAF
PKBL
PRELKPAO
PKNP
PARMP
PHUML
PFOV
PERM
PUOS
PRELGOV
PHUMPTER
PARAGRAPH
PERURENA
PBTSEWWT
PCI
PETROL
PINSO
PINSCE
PQL
PEREZ
PBS
RS
REFUGEES
RW
RP
RELFREE
RO
REGIONAL
RIGHTS
REACTION
REPORT
RU
RENAMO
RIGHTSPOLMIL
REFORM
RM
REFUGEE
REL
RELATIONS
ROW
RREL
REGION
RATIFICATION
RBI
RICE
ROOD
RODENAS
RUIZ
RODHAM
ROBERT
RGY
ROY
REUBEN
RELIGIOUS
RUEHZO
RODRIGUEZ
RUEUN
RELAM
RSP
RF
RSO
RCMP
REO
ROSS
RPTS
RENE
REID
RUPREL
RMA
RI
REMON
RPEL
RFE
RFIN
RA
RAFAEL
RAY
RUS
RPREL
ROBERTG
RECIN
RAMONTEIJELO
SNAR
SP
SN
SMIG
SL
SOCI
SU
SG
SF
SENV
SZ
SOE
SCUL
SY
SO
SR
SYR
SE
SA
SW
SIPDIS
SCIENCE
SADC
SI
SCI
SOCIETY
SC
SAARC
STR
SECRETARY
SANC
SSH
ST
SNA
SGWI
SEP
SOCIS
SETTLEMENTS
SPECIALIST
SK
SHUM
START
STET
SCVL
SREF
SCHUL
SCUIL
SYRIA
SECURITY
SPCE
SYAI
SMIL
SOWGC
STEPHEN
SNRV
SKCA
SENSITIVE
SECI
SNAP
SPP
SCUD
SOM
SPECI
SMIGBG
SENC
SCRM
SGNV
SECTOR
SENVEAGREAIDTBIOECONSOCIXR
SENVSXE
SASIAIN
SACU
SENVSPL
SWMN
STEINBERG
SOPN
SOCR
SCOI
SCRS
SILVASANDE
SWE
SARS
SNARIZ
SUDAN
SENVQGR
SM
SNARKTFN
SAAD
SD
SAN
SIPRNET
STATE
SENS
SUBJECT
SFNV
SECSTATE
SSA
SPCVIS
SOI
SOFA
SCULKPAOECONTU
SPTER
SKSAF
SENVKGHG
SHI
SEVN
SANR
SPSTATE
SMITH
SCOM
SH
SNARCS
SNARN
SIPRS
SNARM
SIPDI
SCPR
SNIG
SELAB
SULLIVAN
SENVENV
SECDEF
SOLIC
SOIC
SPAS
SASC
SOSI
SEC
SEN
SENVCASCEAIDID
TU
TH
TW
TSPA
TRGY
TPHY
TBIO
TIFA
TS
TZ
TX
TSPL
TT
TK
TC
TINT
TERFIN
TERRORISM
TIP
TURKEY
TI
TECHNOLOGY
TNGD
TRSY
TRAFFICKING
TOPEC
TPSL
TP
TD
TR
TA
TIO
TREATY
TO
THPY
TECH
TRADE
TPSA
TG
TAGS
TF
TRAD
THKSJA
TVBIO
TNDG
TN
TBIOZK
TWI
TV
TWL
TRT
TWRO
TSRY
TTPGOV
TAUSCHER
TRBY
TRBIO
TL
TPKO
TIA
TGRY
TSPAM
TREL
TNAR
TBI
TFIN
TPHYPA
TWCH
THOMMA
THOMAS
TERROR
TRY
TBID
TPP
TE
THANH
TJ
TBKIO
UNGA
USUN
UN
UG
UNSC
UK
UP
US
UNCTAD
UNVIE
UNHRC
USTR
UNAMA
UNCRIME
UNESCO
UV
UNDP
UNHCR
UNCSD
UNCHR
UZ
USAID
UNEP
UNO
UNPUOS
UY
UNDC
UNCITRAL
UNAUS
UNCND
UA
UNMIK
USTDA
USEU
USDA
UNICEF
UR
UNFICYP
USNC
USTRRP
UNODC
UNRWA
UNOMIG
USTRPS
USAU
USCC
UNEF
UNGAPL
UNFPA
UNSCE
USSC
UGA
UEU
UNMIC
UNTAC
UNION
UNCLASSIFIED
USPS
UNA
UMIK
USOAS
UNMOVIC
UNFA
UNAIDS
UNCHC
USGS
UNSE
UNRCR
UNTERR
USG
UE
UAE
UNWRA
UNCSW
UNSCR
UNCHS
UNDESCO
UNPAR
UNC
UB
UNSCS
UKXG
UNGACG
UNREST
UNHR
USPTO
UNFCYP
USCG
UNIDROIT
UNSCD
UPU
UNBRO
UNECE
USTRUWR
UNCC
UNESCOSCULPRELPHUMKPALCUIRXFVEKV
VM
VE
VT
VETTING
VN
VZ
VIS
VC
VTPREL
VIP
VTEAID
VTEG
VOA
VA
VTIZ
VANG
VISIT
VO
VENZ
VAT
VI
VEPREL
VEN
WFP
WTO
WHO
WTRO
WBG
WMO
WIPO
WA
WI
WSIS
WHA
WCL
WE
WMN
WEBZ
WS
WAR
WZ
WMD
WW
WILLIAM
WEET
WAEMU
WM
WWBG
WWT
WWARD
WITH
WMDT
WTRQ
WCO
WEU
WALTER
WRTO
WB
WHTI
WBEG
WCI
WEF
WAKI
WHOA
WGC
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 07TOKYO1800, The Japan Economic Scope - April 20, 2007
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #07TOKYO1800.
| Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07TOKYO1800 | 2007-04-24 00:57 | 2011-08-25 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Tokyo |
VZCZCXRO4370
RR RUEHFK RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #1800/01 1140057
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 240057Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2964
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
INFO RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 5440
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 0826
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 0113
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 3273
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 4362
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 TOKYO 001800
SIPDIS
PARIS PLEASE PASS TO USOECD
STATE PLEASE PASS TO USTR
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD ECON JA ZO EAGR
SUBJECT: The Japan Economic Scope - April 20, 2007
Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly.
¶1. (U) This cable contains the Japan Economic Scope from April 20,
¶2007.
2.(SBU) Table of Contents
¶3. Japan joins China/IPR WTO case as third party
¶4. ANRE's Mochizuki Discusses East China Sea, G8 Summit, IEA
¶5. Japan Issues Annual Report on Trade Compliance, U.S. Remains
Top of List with China Second
¶6. Hokkaido's Largest Supermarket Chain Resumes U.S. Beef Sales
¶7. Japan Agriculture Gets Hit by JFTC Guidelines
¶8. Muted Reaction in Japan to U.S. Court Ruling on BSE Testing
¶9. Keep Up the Pressure - More Views on Regulatory Reform
¶10. Kyushu Welcoming Foreign Trainees to Offset Shrinking
Workforce
¶11. Japan Post to Outsource Mgmt of Customer Data to
Salesforce.com
¶12. UA to Suspend KIX -- Honolulu Route in October 2007
¶13. ANA and Kitakyushu's Star Flyer to code-share Kitakyushu -
Tokyo flights
¶14. Hyogo No. 1 In New Plants; Kobe No. 1 In Foreign Business
Growth (U)
¶15. Former Wakayama Governor Kimura To Admit Bid-Rigging (SBU)
¶16. Colony Capital Sells Fukuoka's Hawks Town to Singapore Govt.
Firm
¶3. (SBU) Japan joins China/IPR WTO case as third party
-------------------------------
Trade Minister Amari announced on April 20 that Japan will join
the United States as a third party in a WTO complaint against
China on IPR prosecutions. The GOJ is worried about the Chinese
reaction and will be monitoring it closely. Chinese customs and
copyright officials warned Japanese Trade Ministry officials
visiting China the week of April 9-13 that there might be a
severe reaction if Japan were to join the U.S. complaint.
Japanese press commentary acknowledges that Japan must keep up
the pressure on China to improve IPR protection, but urges the
GOJ to be cautious and not upset the dialogue and cooperation it
has been able to forge with Chinese officials.
Japan's decision to join the WTO complaint as a third party
appears to be an attempt to demonstrate to both China and the
United States that it is serious about the IPR problem in China,
while hoping not to damage relations with either government.
(ECON: Marilyn Ereshefsky)
¶4. (SBU) ANRE's Mochizuki Discusses East China Sea, G8 Summit,
IEA
---
Although PM Abe and Chinese Premier Wen were all smiles last week
when discussing energy issues, working level discussions on the
East China Sea dispute over joint development of oil and gas
reserves remain contentious, METI's Agency for Natural Resources
and Energy Director General Toshifumi Mochizuki told EMIN during
a meeting on April 16. Talks will continue, however, he said,
and the next round is expected to take place in Beijing in May.
Mochizuki noted that the Japanese government had already begun to
focus on the 2008 G-8 Summit to be held in Japan, that energy and
the environment are likely to be priority issues, and the
meetings likely would be held in Hokkaido. Given that energy is
expected to be a main topic at next year's Summit, he divulged
that there was a desire to avoid hosting them in Kyoto because of
the city's connection to the climate change protocol.
Mochizuki also indicated that METI Minister Amari would attend
next month's International Energy Agency (IEA) board meeting in
Paris following stops in Tashkent and Riyadh, and that the
Japanese government hoped Energy Secretary Bodman would also
attend and be available for a bilateral session. (ECON: Joan
Siegel)
¶5. (U) Japan Issues Annual Report on Trade Compliance, U.S.
Remains Top of List with China Second
-------------------------------
Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry released its
TOKYO 00001800 002 OF 006
annual Report on Compliance by Major Partners this week. The
United States leads the way in the report, with METI citing it
for 35 problematic trade practices of 112 overall.
Some 12 of the total compliance issues the report cites are
classified as "high priority," including four related to the
United States, one more than last year. All target U.S. anti-
dumping practices, including the Byrd Amendment. The amendment
was repealed, but METI remains concerned that distribution of
duties is scheduled to continue through October 2007.
The Compliance report directs considerable attention at China's
trade practices, including over its lack of IPR enforcement, its
inadequate transparency measures, and over-generous subsidies.
For the English announcement and summary, please click here.
(ECON: Ryoko Nakano)
¶6. (SBU) Hokkaido's Largest Supermarket Chain Resumes U.S. Beef
Sales
-----
Arks Group, the Sapporo-based supermarket conglomerate that
operates Hokkaido's largest and fast-growing supermarket chain
Ralse, announced that it will resume sales of U.S. beef on April
19 at all 167 of its stores. In addition, Arks Group president,
Kiyoshi Yokoyama, explained that the company will gradually
switch from selling all Australian beef to selling all American
because "U.S. beef is more agreeable with the Japanese palate."
Other Hokkaido supermarket chains also decided to resume U.S.
beef sales this month. The Lucky supermarket chain will begin
selling U.S. beef on April 28 at its 30 stores. Hokuno
Supermarket already began sales of U.S. beef on April 13 at its
seven stores.
The announcements collectively represent a significant change in
attitude among local suppliers toward U.S. beef. Until now, the
discount store Cowboy was the only supermarket willing to sell
American beef in Hokkaido since the importation ban was lifted in
September 2006. (Sapporo: Ian Hillman/Yumi Baba)
¶7. Japan Agriculture Gets Hit by JFTC Guidelines
-------------------------------
Under a cabinet order issued last year, the Japan Fair Trade
Commission (JFTC) publicly announced guidelines April 18 on
activities carried out by Japan Agricultural Cooperatives (JA)
that could possibly be regarded as violations to the Anti-
Monopoly Act. JA is known to have violated the Act a couple of
times since 1999, in which they are said to have forced farmers
to purchase farming material or to sell their livestock /
commodities through the organization in exchange for financial or
other services.
As a result, for example, a large portion of fertilizers,
pesticides and farming machinery are still distributed through
the organization. The Prime Minister's advisory council - the
Council for the Promotion or Regulatory Reform - had been
instrumental in paving the way for this guideline.
In relation to this move, a report issued by the Agriculture
Ministry this April on measures to reduce distribution costs for
food, has also urged food related organizations to refrain from
activities that would distort free and fair competition. (ECON:
Ryoko Nakano)
¶8. (U) Muted Reaction in Japan to U.S. Court Ruling on BSE
Testing
-------
On April 18, the Japan Agriculture News reported on a U.S.
federal district court ruling that allows the U.S. meat packer
Creekstone to test for BSE. USDA currently controls the use of
BSE test kits and has until the end of June to appeal. The
article noted that while the ruling could be "devastating" for
USDA it probably would not have much impact on trade because,
under the current beef trade agreement, blanket testing is not a
requirement for exports to Japan.
The danger is that, if individual U.S. suppliers are allowed to
blanket test for BSE, this could be adopted by Japanese importers
as a de facto import standard, further limiting the available
volume of U.S. beef that is eligible for export to the Japanese
TOKYO 00001800 003 OF 006
market. Adding to the problem is that some U.S. exporters may
not be in a position like Creekstone to conduct blanket testing.
So far the Embassy has not received inquiries from Japanese
authorities on the Creekstone ruling. (ECON: Nicholas Hill)
¶9. (SBU) Keep Up the Pressure - More Views on Regulatory Reform
-------------------------------
Outside pressure (gaiatsu), particularly from the United States,
is vital for continued progress in regulatory reform, said
Council for the Promotion of Regulatory Reform (CPRR) member
Professor Hideo Fukui during an April 10 meeting with EMIN.
As the CPRR's lead on the council's labor task force, Fukui
believes the Labor Contract Law recently adopted by the Cabinet
does not go far enough to introduce flexibility into the labor
market. Specifically, labor contracts should be based on company
need and not governed by sweeping regulations, he said.
The limits placed on companies' ability to fire ineffective
employees, which has been reinforced by several Supreme Court
cases, has a cascade effect in that companies only want to hire
graduates from "brand name" schools. This, in turn, fuels the
income gap, Fukui hypothesized.
Fukui stated he is wary of overarching regulations that may have
unintended consequences on the very population they are meant to
protect. For example, if the Government legislates mandatory
childcare leave for women, companies may refrain from hiring
women all together.
So while measures must be taken to bring women back into the
workforce to address the falling birth rate, the Government must
be careful not to take short-term measures that would have a
long-term, negative impact, he said.
Fukui echoed the opinion that there will be great resistance to
reform efforts ahead of the July Upper House elections. He
speculated that the white collar labor law that would exempt
white collar workers from overtime pay may be taken up again
after those elections.
In addition to labor reform, Fukui lamented that changes were
also needed in the education, medical and social services sectors.
He highlighted the medical sector in particular saying that
Japanese patients have little choice in their medical care and
suffered from low quality at a high cost.
Bio Note: Professor Fukui currently teaches at the National
Graduate Institute for Policy Studies. He previously taught
political science for one year at the University of Minnesota and
as St. Olaf College. In the CPRR, he leads two task forces --
Education and Research and Labor -- and one working group on
Innovation and Productivity. See attached memcon for more
information. (ECON: Sally Behrhorst and Masumi Ono)
¶10. (SBU) Kyushu Welcoming Foreign Trainees to Offset Shrinking
Workforce
---------
Over the past five years, the number of participants in Japan's
Industrial Training and Technical Internship Programs has more
than doubled in the Kyushu/Yamaguchi area. Although these
programs were set up to provide opportunities for foreign
trainees to acquire skills they could use to promote local
industries in their home countries, they are often used as a
source of menial labor, especially in rural areas with shrinking
workforces.
With Kyushu's population decline expected to be more severe than
the national average in the future, local business leaders are
seeking to expand both programs to offset the looming labor
crisis. For more details see Fukuoka 0021. (Fukuoka: Yuriko
Funakoshi/James Crow)
¶11. (U) Japan Post to Outsource Mgmt of Customer Data to
Salesforce.com
--------------
Press reports state that Japan Post has decided to hire
Salesforce.com to manage customer data for the planned subsidiary
TOKYO 00001800 004 OF 006
entrusted with post offices' storefront operations -- a move that
will drastically reduce the unit's system costs.
As part of the privatization process, set to begin in October,
Japan Post will become a holding company overseeing four separate
business units, including the post office unit. In addition to
handling over-the-counter post office operations, the unit will
sell products on behalf of the banking and insurance businesses.
Unlike major banks, Japan Post does not own an advanced system
capable of handling a vast amount of data on customers' assets,
family structures and investment histories -- information that is
vital to effective marketing.
Developing its own system would require an upfront investment of
about 2.5 billion yen and a running cost of 500 million yen every
18 months. By outsourcing customer data management to California-
based firm Salesforce.com, system costs will be reduced to only
250 million yen for an 18 month-period.
Initially, about 4,200 post offices will manage data for 20
million customers via Salesforce.com's three data centers.
Contacts at Salesforce.com stated the deal has been in
negotiations for over ten months. (ECON: Sally Behrhorst)
¶12. (U) UA to Suspend KIX -- Honolulu Route in October 2007
------------------------------
United Airlines (UA) will suspend its KIX -- Honolulu route
starting October 1. According to an official at United in Osaka,
despite the decent load factor, it was hard to make a profit due
to the low airfares in the Kansai market.
After UA's suspension, Northwest and JAL will be the only
airlines servicing the KIX - Honolulu route. The company
official told us that UA had a harder time competing with Asian
discount carriers on the Honolulu route due to falling prices.
UA has some high demand flights serving Narita, but KIX is left
with only one UA route to San Francisco. The KIX -- San Francisco
route continues to be profitable.
The official also said that code sharing with ANA has not worked
well on the KIX - Honolulu route. UA provides the aircraft and
staff. ANA sells most of the seats and UA compensates ANA. But
cheap Honolulu fares have made it difficult for UA to make a
profit, given the razor-sharp margins, and aircraft costs borne
by UA are the costliest part of the equation.
A senior official at ANA Osaka told us that ANA would not pick up
the Honolulu route. Both ANA and UA said that airlines have
begun to concentrate on Narita for U.S. routes and KIX for Asian
routes.
The airlines operating at KIX expected business executives in
western Japan to use more first class and business class seats
from KIX to the U.S. But too often, the UA official said,
business people use Narita instead of KIX. He complained that
local executives tend to talk up KIX while using Narita and Itami
Airports for their business trips.
KIX officials have made the same complaint to us.
(Osaka-Kobe POL/ECON: Phil Cummings / Naomi Shibui)
¶13. (SBU) ANA and Kitakyushu's Star Flyer to code-share
Kitakyushu -Tokyo flights
-------------------------
On April 12, Kitakyushu-based startup carrier Star Flyer (SF) and
ANA announced plans to begin code-sharing on flights between
Haneda (Tokyo) and Kitakyushu starting June 1. Under the
agreement ANA will put its flight code (NH) on 10 out of 11 daily
SF-operated round trip flights and purchase up to 25 percent of
the round trip seats.
SF President Takaaki Hori told the media that he anticipates the
ANA tie-up to help SF boost its load factor to 69 percent in
fiscal year 2007. SF's lack of name recognition in the Tokyo
area had made it difficult for the newcomer airline to go beyond
a load factor of 58.5 percent in JFY06.
According to Kitakyushu Airport contacts, SF had been seeking a
code-sharing agreement with ANA since its March 2006 inauguration.
TOKYO 00001800 005 OF 006
In fact, as early as February 2006, the two airlines had been
sharing the same reservation system and training facilities.
Airport officials added that ANA agreed to the code-share
arrangement as a result of SF's better-than-expected first year
performance and ANA's own interest in further expanding its
domestic flight network. ANA has a strong track record of
turning around other struggling regional airlines (e.g.,
Miyazaki-based Skynet Airways and Hokkaido International
Airlines) through business alliances.
Post's contacts expect the area's travelers to benefit from the
fierce competition anticipated between SF-ANA and JAL (4 round
trips a day) on Kitakyushu-Haneda flights. (Fukuoka: Yuko
Nagatomo/James Crow)
¶14. (U) Hyogo No. 1 In New Plants; Kobe No. 1 In Foreign
Business Growth
---------------
According to METI Kansai, Hyogo Prefecture was the top prefecture
nationwide in new plant starts in JFY 2006 (April 2005 -- March
2006) for the first time in 21 years. Hyogo had 115 new cases,
up 35 cases, a growth of 43.8 percent from the previous year,
when Hyogo was ranked number four.
New plant starts in the six prefectures of the Kansai region also
increased 16.3 percent. A Hyogo prefecture official gave as
reasons 1) more -- and cheaper -- land in private hands; and 2)
cheap industrialized zones like Amagasaki and Himeji with good
water and port access, which are useful for new plants.
Kobe City, the capital of Hyogo, also had the highest rate of
growth in foreign business starts from 2000 to 2005, tied with
Yokohama and beating large foreign commercial concentrations such
as Tokyo's Minato or Shibuya wards. (Osaka-Kobe POL/ECON: Phil
Cummings/Naomi Shibui)
¶15. (SBU) Former Wakayama Governor Kimura To Admit Bid-Rigging
-------------------------------
Former Wakayama Governor Yoshiki Kimura pleaded guilty to charges
of bid-rigging and accepting bribes of 10 million yen (830,000
USD).
Current Governor Yoshinobu Nisaka commented that the prefecture
would sue Kimura and other defendants for damages. A prefectural
official added that Wakayama is launching new measures to prevent
bid-rigging, including a new bid system. The official said he is
not sure how well the measures will deter future malfeasance. She
also mentioned that bid-rigging reform did not emerge as a major
election issue in prefectural assembly races. (Osaka-Kobe
POL/ECON: Phil Cummings / Naomi Shibui)
¶16. (SBU) Colony Capital Sells Fukuoka's Hawks Town to Singapore
Govt. Firm
----------
On April 12, L.A.-based equity firm Colony Capital officially
announced its March 8 sale of the commercial complex, Hawks Town,
to the Government of Singapore Investment Corp (GIC).
While the sales price has not been made public, it is estimated
at around Yen 100 billion ($840 million). Colony acquired the
Fukuoka hotel/baseball stadium/shopping mall complex from the
bankrupt Daiei Corp. in March 2004 at Yen 65 billion ($546
million). Over the past three years, Colony invested another Yen
15-20 billion ($126-$168 million) to upgrade the complex's
facilities.
A Colony official told post that the firm had done business with
GIC on many occasions. As a result, even though there were more
attractive offers from other companies, Colony considered GIC the
best choice due to its financial stability and long-term interest
in owning the complex.
GIC has announced no immediate plans to restructure Hawks Town's
operations, and the head of Colony's Japan operations will
continue to serve as the president of Hawks Town. In line with
its reputation for maintaining good community relations, GIC has
invited three local business leaders to serve as outside
directors. (Fukuoka: Yuko Nagatomo/James Crow)
TOKYO 00001800 006 OF 006
SCHIEFFER