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 08TOKYO82, DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 01/10/08
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. #08TOKYO82.
| Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08TOKYO82 | 2008-01-10 07:59 | 2011-08-25 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy Tokyo |
VZCZCXRO8455
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #0082/01 0100759
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 100759Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0867
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAWJA/USDOJ WASHDC PRIORITY
RULSDMK/USDOT WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5//
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI
RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA//
RHMFIUU/USFJ //J5/JO21//
RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA
RUAYJAA/CTF 72
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 7786
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 5391
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 9056
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 4079
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 6008
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1023
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 7091
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 7750
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 TOKYO 000082
SIPDIS
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: DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 01/10/08
INDEX:
(1) Civil servant reform panel's draft plan proposes establishing
personnel agency and banning civil servants from contacting
lawmakers in principle (Nikkei)
(2) Civil servant system reform: Government panel proposes
introduction of compensation system to deal with improprieties,
pursue responsibility of retired government officials (Sankei)
(3) Legislature: Part 1 (a): Opposition camp controls Upper House;
DPJ also facing policy dilemma (Yomiuri)
(4) New Komeito secretary general shows understanding for permanent
legislation (Nikkei)
(5) LDP's Upper House Caucus unhappy with ruling bloc's move to
abandon plan to first handle the gasoline tax (Tokyo Shimbun)
(6) UN recognizes greenhouse gas reductions generated by Japan's ODA
project in India as CERs (Yomiuri)
(7) Gist of funding mechanism to counter global warming (Nikkei)
(8) Possibility of April panic moves closer to reality; If
revenue-related bills expired, stock price would plunge and import
product prices would surge (Sankei)
(9) Japan, U.S. agree to build 3 helipads in Okinawa training area
(Okinawa Times)
(10) Gov't enters into full-fledged coordination with Okinawa for
Futenma assessment (Okinawa Times)
(11) MOJ to establish special team tasked to investigate immigrants
with "disguised visa status" (Mainichi)
ARTICLES:
(1) Civil servant reform panel's draft plan proposes establishing
personnel agency and banning civil servants from contacting
lawmakers in principle
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
January 10, 2008
It became clear yesterday that the government panel on the
comprehensive reform of the civil servant system, chaired by Toshiba
Chairman Tadashi Okamura, would produce a draft report later this
month with proposals that include the establishment of a cabinet
personnel agency to exclusively manage personnel affairs regarding
civil servants. The draft plan proposes establishing the post of
parliamentary affairs specialist to assist cabinet ministers with
Diet responses to prohibit civil servants from making direct
contacts with lawmakers. The aim is to break away from the current
bureaucratic sectionalism and eliminate collusive ties between
legislators and government officials.
Former Economic Planning Agency Director-General Taichi Sakaiya
played a central role in drafting the plan. The council will begin
discussions starting today based on the draft report. A strong
reaction is expected from the Kasumigaseki bureaucratic district
TOKYO 00000082 002 OF 011
that would lose interests. To what extent the draft plan will be
reflected in the planned final report remains to be seen.
At present, the National Personnel Authority, a third-party organ,
is responsible for making advice on hiring and salaries, the
Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry Personnel and Pension
Bureau for the management of retirement allowances, and the Finance
Ministry for the management of housing and the pension system. Under
the draft plan, such functions will be integrated into the envisaged
personnel agency, which will also be involved in the selection of
designated positions (above the councilor level) that are determined
independently by each government agency.
Parliamentary affairs specialists, along with cabinet ministers and
senior vice ministers, will offer explanations on bills to lawmakers
and do the spadework, which have been carried out by senior
government officials. Some ten parliamentary affairs specialists who
will be selected form civil servants in posts over the division
director level will be assigned to the personnel agency in
compliance with cabinet ministers' requests. Other public servants
will be prohibited from making contacts with lawmakers in
principle.
The post of national strategic staffer, a specialist on the level of
administrative vice-minister with high-level expertise and
experience, will also be established in the cabinet. The prime
minister will appoint about ten individuals from senior government
officials, academics, and the private sector in order to strengthen
the Prime Minister's Official Residence's (Kantei) ability to plan
and realize policies.
The first- and second-class employment examinations -- one of the
focuses -- will be abolished to introduce three types of tests:
general office worker, specialist, and managerial worker. The draft
also proposes appointing many general officer workers, specialists,
and mid-career workers as senior officials. The effort might end up
as no more than changing the sign boards. It is unclear whether the
measures can result in the abolition of the rigid career system.
Main points from the draft report by the civil servant system reform
council
? Establish a cabinet personnel agency to exclusively handle
personnel affairs
? Establish the post of parliamentary affairs specialist to assist
cabinet ministers with Diet responses.
? Establish the post of national strategic specialist to assist the
Kantei in policy planning.
? Prohibit civil servants other than parliamentary affairs
specialists from making direct contacts with lawmakers.
? Replace the existing employment examinations with three types of
tests: general office worker, specialist, and managerial worker.
? Actively appoint general office workers and mid-career workers as
senior officials.
(2) Civil servant system reform: Government panel proposes
introduction of compensation system to deal with improprieties,
pursue responsibility of retired government officials
SANKEI (Top play) (Excerpts)
January 10, 2008
TOKYO 00000082 003 OF 011
The government council on the comprehensive reform of the civil
servant system, chaired by Toshiba Chairman Tadashi Okamura, decided
yesterday to incorporate in its draft report a proposal for
establishing a system that will obligate retired government
officials, who are found to have committed irregularities, to return
their retirement allowances in compensation for inflicting damage on
the government. Under the current system, one is not required to
return his allowance even if he committed an irregularity that did
not escalate into a criminal case or when a penalty for it stopped
short of imprisonment. Calls for a review of the current system have
been growing in the government.
The pension record fiasco and the issue of hepatitis C by
contaminated blood products have caused heavy damage to the Social
Insurance Agency and the Health, Labor, and Welfare Ministry,
respectively. The panel's decision indicates that it takes those
issues seriously. The panel has decided that the government needs a
new system to pursue the responsibility of those who handled such
issues.
The panel is scheduled to meet today to discuss the draft report
with the aim of presenting it to Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda later
this month. After receiving the report, the government plans to
submit what is tentatively called a civil servant system reform
basic bill to the next regular Diet session, expected to open on
Jan. 18.
Specifically, in the event a retired government official is found to
have committed an irregularity during his tenure of office, the
envisaged system allows the government which suffered loss to seek
compensation from him and a court to determine the amount of damage
in view of his ability to pay. The system also envisages the return
of retirement allowances and the confiscation of assets to cover
shortfalls.
(3) Legislature: Part 1 (a): Opposition camp controls Upper House;
DPJ also facing policy dilemma
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Slightly abridged)
January 9, 2008
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) President Ichiro Ozawa
during an informal meeting with the Rengo (Japanese Trade Union
Confederation) local of Kumamoto held at a Kumamoto City hotel on
the evening of Dec. 27 slowly said: "The Upper House has adopted
bills covering the pension issue and agricultural policy. However,
in the Lower House, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the New
Komeito have not even deliberated on those bills. It is shameful.
However, nothing can be done because of an overwhelming difference
in the number of seats held by the ruling and opposition camps. It
is truly regrettable."
The Fukuda government and the ruling parties, which lost their
majority in the Upper House, and the DPJ, which is now the number
one party in the upper chamber, all feel blocked in their steering
of the Diet.
Ozawa spearheaded the move to submit DPJ-sponsored bills after the
Upper House election last July. However, blocked by the wall of
ruling camp members in the Lower House, Ozawa last fall even
searched for the possibility of forming a grand coalition with the
LDP, judging that if the DPJ were to hold policy talks with the LDP,
TOKYO 00000082 004 OF 011
it would become possible for it to follow through with its
commitments to the public.
However, he failed to obtain the understanding of the members of his
own party. His authority was damaged.
Officials of the Tax Bureau of the Finance Ministry were busy at
work on Jan. 2 despite it being the New Year's holidays. They were
drafting an amendment to the special taxation measures law in order
to extend the time limit of the provisional tax rate imposed on the
gasoline tax.
If the legislation fails to secure Diet approval by the end of
March, the provisional taxation would expire, cutting gasoline
prices by 25 yen per liter starting in April. Should that happen,
national tax revenues would drop 1.7 trillion yen a year. The result
would be a major shortfall in road construction funds.
Tax-related bills are usually submitted to the Diet in early
February. However, with the DPJ calling for a total abolition of the
provisional tax, there are no prospects for deliberations to take
place in the Upper House. The ruling coalition ordered the Finance
Ministry to prepare a bill as soon as possible.
Commenting on Diet deliberations on the draft fiscal 2008 budget,
Prime Minister Fukuda during his New Year's press conference on Jan.
4 noted, "There should not be an adverse effect on people's lives.
We must have ample opportunities for substantial talks with the DPJ,
the number one party in the opposition." If confusion affects the
passing of the budget, the administration would be driven into a
corner.
Bills submitted by the government and the ruling parties will not
clear the Upper House, while those introduced by the DPJ in Upper
House will be blocked in the Lower House. There is a possible danger
that the Diet, in which the upper and lower houses are controlled by
different parties, could become dysfunctional, since it would be
impossible key policy proposals to be adopted.
When the Fukuda administration came into office in September last
year, Ryuhei Ogawa (53), who is responsible for rating Japan's
long-term government bonds at U.S. rating company Standard and
Poors, noted in a report sent to clients: "As long as the opposition
remains in control of the Upper House, Japan faces a considerable
degree of policy risk. It is essential for it to promote structural
reforms. However, since a weakened coalition government could lead
to stalemate in steering the Diet, it could prevent us from
upgrading the ratings of long-term government bonds." Standard and
Poors had just upgraded the rating of Japan's government bonds in
April, giving high praise to Japan's progress in structural
reforms.
Prime Minister Fukuda has shown understanding about hiking the
consumption tax rate, saying, "We cannot afford to let the nation's
fiscal deficit increase any further." Ogawa took note of this
remark. However, even after his meetings with Ozawa, Fukuda was
unable to obtain any cooperation from the DPJ. Discussions on the
consumption tax issue by the government and the ruling parties have
also been put on the back-burner.
A fund manager from a certain country asked Ogawa at the Standard
and Poors' office in Singapore, "Is Japan's fiscal management all
TOKYO 00000082 005 OF 011
right?"
Citing various policies incorporated in the draft budget, such as a
freeze on an increase in elderly patients' share of medical
treatment fees, keeping special-purpose road construction revenues
as they are, and an increase in local tax allocations, all of which
require more budget funds, Ogawa had no other choice but to say, "It
will be difficult for an unstable administration to drastically
reconstruct public finances."
(4) New Komeito secretary general shows understanding for permanent
legislation
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
January 10, 2008
The government has begun considering enacting a permanent law
allowing the country to dispatch the Self-Defense Forces on overseas
missions as necessary. New Komeito Secretary General Kazuo Kitagawa
yesterday showed some understanding toward such a move by saying to
the press: "The ruling bloc's project team will discuss the matter.
If common ground is found, we might submit a bill." With strong
cautious views in the party in mind, Kitagawa also presented the
following conditions as prerequisites: (1) constitutionality, (2)
clear weapons-use standards, and (3) thorough civilian control.
(5) LDP's Upper House Caucus unhappy with ruling bloc's move to
abandon plan to first handle the gasoline tax
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Slightly abridged)
January 10, 2008
Shunsuke Shimizu
The ruling bloc intended to first deal with a bill revising the
Special Taxation Measures Law ahead of a budget bill for 2008 in
order to keep the current temporary tax rates of the so-called
gasoline tax (including the benzine tax) beyond April. But it later
decided not to do so. This decision has met with voices of
discontent in the Upper House Caucus of the ruling Liberal
Democratic Party (LDP). Members of the caucus are concerned that
they may be forced to take responsibility one-sidedly if the current
tax rates expire (on March 31, 2008) as a result of failure to keep
them in place beyond their expiration.
"It has now become definite that gasoline prices will decline for a
while," a senior member of the LDP Upper House Caucus spat out.
The major opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) is likely to
aim to wait for the current temporary tax rates to expire by
delaying a vote on the revision bill in the Upper House. However, if
the revised bill clears the Lower House by the end of the month and
is sent to the Upper House, it is possible to enact the legislation
by the end of this fiscal year in accordance with the Constitution's
provision that states no action by the Upper House within 60 days
after receipt of a bill passed by the Lower House may be determined
by the Lower House to constitute a rejection of the said bill by the
Upper House.
If the ruling bloc gets budget-related bills to clear the Lower
House ahead of a budget bill, the opposition bloc would be certain
to vehemently oppose the ruling bloc's unusual attitude like that.
TOKYO 00000082 006 OF 011
So a plan to first deal with the gasoline tax problem ahead of the
budget bill was abandoned with a senior member of the LDP Lower
House Diet Affairs Committee noting: "If the Diet falls into
turmoil, calls for dissolution of the Lower House will erupt."
The senior lawmaker intends to have the revision bill approved as
swiftly as possible in the Lower House and prompt the DPJ to agree
to take a vote on the revision bill at the end of March, which is
the end of this fiscal year.
Even if that bill is rejected (by the Upper House) within this
fiscal year, if the bill is immediately put to a second vote in the
Lower House, it is possible to maintain the current temporary tax
rate of the gasoline tax.
One plan being considered in the LDP at present is to strongly
encourage some DPJ lawmakers who have expressed their understanding
about maintaining the current temporary tax rates for the promotion
of road construction to revolt against their party.
Meanwhile, a senior member of the LDP Upper House Caucus, which has
suffered from the offensive by the DPJ since the it has become the
top party in the Upper House by winning last summer's Upper House
election, sharply criticized the view taken by the above senior
Lower House member: "It's too optimistic if he expects the DPJ to
change its mind or some of that party to revolt against the party."
Another senior LDP lawmaker stressed: "The members of the LDP Lower
House Caucus are too lenient toward the DPJ. We must pick a fight
with the DPJ if necessary." LDP Upper House lawmakers are urging the
Lower House members, who, together with members of the junior
coalition partner New Komeito, hold an overwhelming majority of
seats there, to hold their ground against the DPJ.
(6) UN recognizes greenhouse gas reductions generated by Japan's ODA
project in India as CERs
YOMIURI (Page 18) (Excerpts)
January 10, 2008
A subway system that was constructed in India with Japan's official
development assistance (ODA) funds and its energy-conservation
technology has contributed to reducing about 40,000 tons of carbon
dioxide (CO2) emissions annually. It has been decided that Japan
will be allowed to use the reduced portion to offset its emissions
to help meet its emissions target under the Kyoto Protocol. The
United Nations Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Executive Board
last month approved the application of this portion to the CDM -
designed to allow greenhouse reductions from projects implemented in
developing countries to offset emissions of industrialized
countries, regarded them as their certified emissions reductions
(CERs) - in response to a request by the governments of Japan and
India. This is the second Japan's ODA project to be recognized as a
CDM project, following the wind-power construction project in Egypt.
Among railway construction projects, this is the first case.
The subway system runs in and around New Delhi. The construction
started in 1997, and three lines (59 kilometers in total)
constructed in the first stage of the project started operation by
¶2006. The project costs approximately 278 billion yen, of which
about 163 billion yen was disbursed from the yen-loan program.
TOKYO 00000082 007 OF 011
India has concluded a contract with Japan to sell 200,000 tons of
emissions reductions to be accrued over five years to Japan Carbon
Finance (JCF), a private firm based in Tokyo and invested by 33
Japanese companies, including the Tokyo Electric Power Co. and
Nippon Oil Co.
(7) Gist of funding mechanism to counter global warming
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
January 10, 2008
The following is a gist of the government's financial assistance
mechanism for developing countries to contain global warming:
"Initiation to Cool Earth 50" and aid to developing countries
? Halve the current level of greenhouse gases emitted from the
entire world by 2050.
? Three principles to be kept in designing a specific framework to
fight global warming beyond the 2012 timeframe set under the Kyoto
Protocol.
¶1. Include all major greenhouse gas emitters to reduce gases emitted
from the entire world beyond the timeframe set in the Kyoto
Protocol.
¶2. Make a flexible and diversified framework, giving consideration
to each country's circumstances.
¶3. Give priority to both environmental preservation and economic
development bye making use of energy-conservation and other
technologies.
Japan will offer assistance in wide-ranging areas to developing
countries that have a lofty aspiration and to developing countries
willing to change their policies in response to Japan's request - a
new form in which Japan proposes policies and cooperation.
To offer such assistance, Japan will build a new fund mechanism. The
government will consider forming a new fund mechanism on a somewhat
long-term basis and a considerably large scale, instead of
allocating the funds set aside for assistance to developing
countries in a conventional way. Japan will call on other
industrialized countries and international organs to fall in step
with Japan in order to operate the mechanism based on international
coordination.
Aid for measures to curb climate changes (reduction in greenhouse
gas emissions)
? Enhance the efficiency of energy use and proliferate
energy-conservation technology; for instance, help China improve the
efficiency of its superannuated thermal power plants. In the case of
a medium-sized power plant, an about 5 PERCENT increase in
efficiency will contribute to reducing 200,000 tons of carbon
dioxide (CO2) per unit annually.
Japan will provide China mainly with technology and other official
flows (OOF) than official development assistance (ODA) after Japan
stops offering yen loans to that nation.
Aid for developing countries to adjust themselves to climate changes
(global warming preventive measures)
TOKYO 00000082 008 OF 011
Carry out projects to cope with climate changes (in such areas as
water, agriculture, forest, and disaster-damage prevention).
Prepare and monitor documents kept in developing countries, for
instance, make plans on disaster prevention by making use of global
simulation, etc.
Improvement in access to energy
Increase the use of alternative energy sources, such as solar heat,
water power, and terrestrial heat.
Promote electrification in farm villages and assist communities, for
instance, offer aid to develop such villages while protecting the
environment, focusing on small-scale alternative energy, water, and
forests.
(8) Possibility of April panic moves closer to reality; If
revenue-related bills expired, stock price would plunge and import
product prices would surge
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full)
January 9, 2008
Ahead of the Jan.18 convocation of the ordinary Diet session, the
government and the Liberal Democratic Party-New Komeito ruling
coalition are already at odds. There is a growing conflict over the
handling of revenue-related bills between the LDP caucus in the
House of Councillors, which has called for passage of the bills in
January, and its caucus in the House of Representatives, which has
taken a cautious stance toward such passage for fear of uproar in
the ordinary session from the beginning. The main opposition
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) has called for
abolishing the current provisional tariff on the gasoline tax,
showing its stance of driving the Prime Minister to dissolve the
Lower House as early as possible. Once the regular session starts
under the present situation, the possibility of an "April panic" --
oil-buying-rush, a slump in stocks, and a steep rise in import
products -- which would directly affect consumers, will move closer
to reality.
"What is the Lower House going to do? They don't understand
anything."
"It seems they are saying please confuse the Diet to bring about an
early dissolution of the Lower House."
The above conversation was held between senior LDP Upper House
members on the afternoon of Jan. 7.
Secretary General Bunmei Ibuki is the first person who enraged the
SIPDIS
LDP Upper House executive. Appearing on a NHK talk show on Jan. 6
wearing a coat worn over armor in feudal Japan, he stated clearly:
"It is difficult to end a debate on the revenue-related bills before
the end of January."
Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura also said yesterday: "We
received various views, but it is not possible in consideration of
the Diet schedule (to pass the bills in January)." Even Prime
Minister Yasuo Fukuda stated in the LDP's New Year party: "We will
walk on the right path fairly and squarely. There are some measures
but if we take them, we will lose public trust."
TOKYO 00000082 009 OF 011
All the more because Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Tadamori Oshima
stated in a meeting in late last year of the Diet affairs chiefs
from the two chambers that the revenue-related bills would be
enacted before the end of March by using the two-thirds majority
vote in the Lower House, the LDP caucus in the Upper House insisted
that's not the way they understood it. A senior LDP Upper House
member grumbled: "The Lower House still does not understand a fear
of April panic."
If the bills do not clear the Lower House by the end of January,
they will not be readopted with a two-thirds lower chamber majority
override vote, which is allowed by law after 60 days after they were
sent to the Upper House. If such happens, about 1000 special
taxation measures would automatically lose effect at midnight on
April 1.
If the current provisional tariff, including the gasoline tax,
becomes invalid, the cost of gasoline would drop by about 25 yen per
liter, causing long lines of cars gassing up at gas stations. If the
invalidation is prolonged, there would be pressure for a review of
the road maintenance and improvement plan, and measures to modify
the state budget would be needed.
What is more serious is the special government bond law, a legal
basis for the issuance of deficit government bonds, expires. If the
law expires, the government would not be able to issue
deficit-covering bonds, resulting in a revenue shortfall. In order
to cover such a shortfall, the calculation is that it would be
necessary to hike the consumption tax by eight percent.
If tariff special measures for about 420 import products are
abolished, the import beef rate would rise sharply from 38.5 PERCENT
to 50 PERCENT .
Tax deduction for capital investment and tax breaks for foreign
companies would also be abolished. Special measures for Tokyo
Offshore Market (market scale of about 60 trillion yen), which loans
deposits by foreign firms, are discontinued, financial markets would
be thrown into confusion. As a result, the trend of "selling Japan"
might be accelerated.
In a meeting on Jan. 8 of the secretaries general and Diet affairs
chiefs of the LDP and the New Komeito, Ibuki stated: "Since passage
of the revenue-related bills is precondition for the budget bill,
there is no theoretical problem for them to be discussed before the
budget." Many in the LDP Lower House have a faint hope that the
bills will be enacted by the end of March, with one mid-level
lawmaker saying, "Since there is no doubt that the opposition wants
to avoid a panic, they are supposed to respond to a vote on them."
However, a senior LDP member in the Upper House stated clearly:
"What lies at the end of panic is the resignation of the cabinet en
masse or Lower House dissolution. The opposition will never
compromise with us."
Mikio Aoki, former LDP Upper House chairman, who has a strong
behind-the-scenes influence as the political boss in the upper
chamber, told persons close to him: "When fighting, the party which
has more members than the other one will win. I want the party with
more members to fight it out."
(9) Japan, U.S. agree to build 3 helipads in Okinawa training area
TOKYO 00000082 010 OF 011
OKINAWA TIMES (Page 2) (Full)
January 10, 2008
TOKYO-Japan and the United States yesterday held a meeting of their
intergovernmental joint committee and agreed to build three helipads
on the northern side of the U.S. military's training area in Okinawa
Prefecture's northern village of Kunigamison. The training area has
six helipads, which are to be relocated after the training area is
partially returned into local hands. The Japanese government will
now enter into an agreement with a contractor to start construction
work.
In March last year, the Japanese and U.S. governments agreed to
build the other three helipads on the training area's southern side
straddling the villages of Kunigamison and Higashison. The Japanese
government started construction work there in July last year. The
Defense Ministry says the new helipads will be built in about two
years. The ministry plans to complete construction work in July
¶2009.
According to the Defense Ministry, the six new helipads are
round-shaped with a diameter of 45 meters. Each helipad has a
15-meter safety clearance zone on both sides. The three helipads on
the training area's northern side are estimated at 400 million yen
on a contract basis. Japan and the United States have agreed in a
final report of the Japan-U.S. Special Action Committee on
Facilities and Areas in Okinawa (SACO) to return the training area
in part to the extent of about 3,987 hectares.
The six new helipads will be handed over to the U.S. military after
they are all completed, the Defense Ministry says. The training
area's partial return is expected to take place in July 2009 or
after.
(10) Gov't enters into full-fledged coordination with Okinawa for
Futenma assessment
OKINAWA TIMES (Page 1) (Full)
January 10, 2008
TOKYO-The government yesterday entered into full-fledged
coordination with Okinawa Prefecture to start an environmental
impact assessment in early February for the relocation of the U.S.
Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station to a coastal area of Camp Schwab
in the prefecture's northern coastal city of Nago. Okinawa Gov.
Hirokazu Nakaima yesterday met with Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka
Machimura and Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Masahiro Futahashi at
the prime minister's office to confirm that the government will hold
its next consultative meeting with officials from Okinawa's
prefectural and municipal governments at an early date to discuss
the environmental assessment. In the next meeting, Okinawa
Prefecture is expected to approve the government's proposal to
sample corals for its environmental assessment.
Okinawa Prefecture has asked the government to think twice about how
to survey the relocation site's environs and release its forecast of
the possible impact of Futenma relocation on the environment before
conducting the environmental assessment. "I have told the Defense
Ministry to give (Okinawa Prefecture) more detailed explanations," a
high-ranking government official said. This official also said,
"There are not so difficult problems." The official expects that the
TOKYO 00000082 011 OF 011
government and Okinawa Prefecture can agree in the next consultative
meeting to set about the environmental assessment, saying: "There
are not so many difficulties. We are now ready to go ahead."
Gov. Nakaima is to set forth his statement on Jan. 21 about the
government's environmental assessment plan. The government is now
coordinating with Okinawa Prefecture to hold the next consultative
meeting late this month after that. The government plans to lay down
a V-shaped pair of airstrips on the premises of Camp Schwab as an
alternative for Futenma airfield. Okinawa Prefecture and Nago City
have proposed moving the construction site to an offshore area. The
government is expected to exchange views with Okinawa's prefectural
and municipal governments on this proposal in the next consultative
meeting.
(11) MOJ to establish special team tasked to investigate immigrants
with "disguised visa status"
MAINICHI (Page 3) (Full)
January 3, 2008
Takashi Sakamoto
The Ministry of Justice's (MOJ) Immigration Bureau decided to form a
special team tasked to analyze information about and lay bare
immigrants with "disguised residential status" as the number of
cases of foreigners working beyond their initial visa status granted
by Japan is on the rise.
The revised law on the Employment Promotion Law, which includes a
system for employers to report to the Ministry of Health, Labor and
Welfare (MHLW) about names of foreign employees and other items,
went into effect in last October. With this kind of information
available to the MOJ, the Immigration Bureau now can constantly
grasp the situation of employment and separation of foreign workers.
This information is said to be helpful to examine, for instance, the
case of an immigrant with a student visa continuing to work at a
restaurant or the case of an immigrant who entered Japan in the
disguise of being a wife of a Japanese national working at a place
far away from her house.
The special team was formed in last October and consists of 58
officials coming mainly from the Tokyo Immigration Bureau. Of them,
15 are engaged in analyzing information provided by the MHLW, and 43
engaged in investigating and exposing cases of foreign nationals
illegally working here in Japan. If the MOJ finds foreign nationals
are working without working visas, it will cancel their residential
status and take the procedures for deportation.
There were 594 cases of immigrants with disguised visa status in
2001, but the number of those cases exposed in 2006 reached 1,736.
"It is difficult to expose immigrants with disguised visa status
unlike fake passports. All we can do is to expose a small fraction
of the real figure," a senior immigration official said.
Meanwhile, some people express concern about the application of the
reporting system to foreign workers. For instance, the Japan
Federation of Bar Association has lodged a protest against the
reporting system, citing the reason that the system violates
foreigners' privacy.
DONOVAN