UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MINSK 001045
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PHUM, ECON, ENRG, BO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MINSK WEEKLY POL/ECON REPORT – December 21, 2007
1. The following are brief items of interest compiled by Embassy
Minsk.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Civil Society
————-
- Market Vendors Conduct Nationwide Strike (para. 2)
- Opposition Groups Protest Social Benefit Cuts (para. 3)
- BGKB Resumes Malady Front Criminal Case (para. 4)
- Small Business Activists Jailed and Fined (para. 5)
- BKGB Raids Opposition Office (para. 6)
- Court Denies “For Freedom” Registration (para. 7)
Domestic Economy
—————-
- GOB Purports to Simplify Business Registration (para. 8 )
- First U.S. Investment in Belarus´ Banking System (para. 9)
International Trade
——————-
- Direct Investment Increases (para. 10)
Quote of the Week (para. 11)
—————–
————-
Civil Society
————-
2. Market Vendors Conduct Nationwide Strike
Tens of thousands of market vendors around Belarus took part in a
one-day strike December 19, protesting recently announced hiring
restrictions and last week´s court rulings against five small
business activists. Anatoliy Shumchenko, the leader of the
pro-entrepreneur group Perspektiva, led the strike. Vendors in all
regional capitals except Vitebsk participated. Another association
of small business owners, For the Free Development of Enterprise,
plans to begin an open-ended nationwide strike against the employee
restrictions on January 1, the day the new restrictions are to be
implemented.
3. Opposition Groups Protest Social Benefit Cuts
United Civic Party (UCP) activists demonstrated in Minsk December 15
and distributed leaflets protesting social benefit cuts. According
to UCP Chair Anatoliy Lebedko, authorities denied approval for
approximately 800 rallies across Belarus, but could not prevent
activists from distributing printed materials. Over 10 people
staged an authorized hour-long rally in a remote part of Mogilyov
December 16. About 100 people demonstrated for 45 minutes and
peacefully dispersed in Gomel. Police briefly detained two
opposition youths in central Brest December 16 for passing out
leaflets to protest the cuts, seizing 64 fliers. On December 17, 20
opposition activists organized a flash mob in Brest. Two activists
there were also briefly detained and released without charges.
4. BGKB Resumes Malady Front Criminal Case
The Gomel BGKB December 14 resumed its criminal case against youth
opposition activist Andrey Tenyuta on charges of acting on behalf of
the unregistered organization Malady Front (MF). The BGKB initially
opened a criminal case September 18 after repeatedly questioning
Tenyuta and confiscating his computer during a raid on his
apartment. Tenyuta unsuccessfully petitioned for the return of the
equipment after authorities suspended the case in November. He is
now facing up to two years in jail on charges of “discrediting state
agencies, destabilizing the social and political situation, and
engaging youth with radical propaganda.”
5. Small Business Activists Jailed and Fined
A Minsk district court December 17 sentenced small business activist
Nikolay Sergeyenko to ten days in jail on petty hooliganism charges.
The police detained Sergeyenko December 6 during a search of his
offices, charging him with disorderly conduct and using profanity.
In a separate case, a judge in Gomel December 18 fined small
business activist Irina Kaminskaya 350,000 rubles (USD 170) on
charges of violating laws regarding mass events. Kaminskaya has
been active distributing printed materials protesting new business
regulations.
6. BKGB Raids Opposition Office
BKGB officers raided the United Civic Party (UCP) Gomel office
December 14 and seized printed materials and DVDs. The officers
MINSK 00001045 002 OF 002
asserted that they were looking for fliers calling for protests
against social benefit cuts. On December 15, the BKGB searched the
apartment of Gomel UCP office Deputy Head Vladimir Katsora and
confiscated over 5,000 leaflets.
7. Court Denies “For Freedom” Registration
The Supreme Court December 18 upheld the Ministry of Justice´s (MOJ)
registration denial for opposition leader Aleksandr Milinkevich´s
movement “For Freedom” (FF). It is the third registration denial
based on violations of laws governing mass events. The MOJ asserted
that the group´s founding convention held August 11 was illegal and
unsanctioned. FF Deputy Head Yuriy Gubarevich maintained that the
FF would hold additional founding conventions and continue to submit
registration applications.
—————-
Domestic Economy
—————-
8. GOB Purports to Simplify Business Registration
President Lukashenko December 17 signed Decree Number 8, to simplify
the registration process for new businesses. Starting on January 1,
registration agencies will no longer examine application papers,
instead holding applicants liable for any non-compliance with
regulations. The decree also halves the required charter funds of
new businesses, cuts the number of required application papers,
reduces application processing time from twenty to five working
days, and eases the liquidation process.
9. First U.S. Investment in Belarus´ Banking System
Management company Monister Investments Ltd., a Cyprus-based
division of the U.S. firm Horizon Capital, December 14 acquired a
31.5 percent stake in Minsk Transit Bank. Currently, the bank´s
major shareholder (60 percent) is car dealer Atlant-M. Bank
managers in a press conference expressed their belief that Belarus´
banking sector is the country´s most attractive sector for foreign
investors.
——————-
International Trade
——————-
10. Direct Investment Increases
The Belarusian Ministry of Economy reported December 18 that foreign
direct investment has risen during the last three years, totaling
USD 451.3 million in 2005, USD 748.6 million in 2006, and USD 905
million in the first nine months of 2007. According to the
ministry, Russia accounted for 30.4 percent of all foreign
investment in the Belarusian economy in the first nine months of
2007, up from eight percent in the same period of the previous year.
The United Kingdom was the next largest investor in Belarus,
accounting for 19.8 percent of all foreign investments, followed by
Austria (10.9 percent), Switzerland (9.3), Germany (7.2), and Cyprus
(6.8 ). The industrial sector reportedly received 43.8 percent of
all foreign investments, up from 22 percent in 2006.
———————-
11. Quote of the Week
———————-
BKGB Chairman Yuriy Zhadobin on why his organization no longer
investigates paranormal phenomena:
“Unlike during the USSR, the department is not engaged in studying
paranormal phenomena. [Back then,] we had greater means and
opportunities which we could spend on anything and everything.
Today the situation is different. Then, when society was excited by
something, it entered our sphere of interest. But when it comes to
healers, UFOs and such, we just can´t deal with them any more.”
Stewart

Hide cable

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MONTREAL 000001
SIPDIS
E.0. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO, ECON, KIRF, CA, Health
SUBJECT: CLONING CLAIM PUTS SPOTLIGHT ON QUEBEC-BASED
RAELIAN GROUP
1. SUMMARY: THE FOLLOWING IS SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON
THE MONTREAL-BASED RAELIAN GROUP, WHOSE MEMBER DR. BRIGITTE
BOISSELIER ANNOUNCED AT A DECEMBER 27 PRESS CONFERENCE IN
HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA THE BIRTH OF THE FIRST CLONED HUMAN
BEING, A 7 POUND BABY GIRL NICKNAMED EVE. AND ITS TWO MAIN
FIGURES LEADER CLAUDE VORILHON, BETTER KNOWN AS RAEL, AND
DR. BOISSELIER. ONE LIKELY RESULT OF THE BOISSELIER
ANNOUNCEMENT IS THAT CANADA´S PENDING LEGISLATION TO BAN
HUMAN CLONING COULD CONTAIN STRICTER RESTRICTIONS. END
SUMMARY.
2. THE RAELIAN MOVEMENT WAS FOUNDED BY FRENCHMAN CLAUDE
VORILHON, A FORMER SPORTS JOURNALIST, FAILED SINGER, RADIO
COMMENTATOR AND AVID STOCK CAR RACER. VORILHON CLAIMS TO
HAVE BEEN CONCEIVED ON DECEMBER 25, 1945, BY A FRENCH MOTHER
AND AN ALIEN FATHER. SPECIALISTS SAY HE WAS BORN IN VICHY,
FRANCE IN 1946. VORILHON WHO USES THE NAME RAEL (GOD´S
LIGHT) (PRONOUNCED RA-EL IN FRENCH (RHYMES WITH KAL-EL AND
JOR-EL)) SAYS HE CREATED THE MOVEMENT AFTER ALIENS VISITED
HIM IN CENTRAL FRANCE IN 1973. AT THAT TIME, LITTLE GREEN
ALIENS (APPROXIMATELY 4 FT TALL) TOLD HIM –IN FLUENT FRENCH-
- EARTHLINGS HAD BEEN CREATED IN A LABORATORY 25,000 YEARS
AGO. SINCE THESE ALIENS WHICH HE CALLS THE ELOHIM (THE
HEBREW WORD FOR GOD) ARE 25,000 YEARS AHEAD OF US, RAEL SAYS
CLONING IS VERY SIMPLE TASK FOR THEM.
3. ALTHOUGH THE SECT IS BASED IN MONTREAL–AND NOT
SWITZERLAND AS THE BRITISH TABLOID PRESS HAS REPORTED –RAEL
MOVED HIS PERSONAL HEADQUARTERS TO FLORIDA IN THE EARLY
NINETIES. WHEN IT WAS ANNOUNCED RAEL WAS MOVING TO FLORIDA,
RADIO COMMENTATORS JOKED HE WAS SIMPLY IMITATING QUEBEC
SNOWBIRDS OR THAT HE WANTED TO GET CLOSER TO NASCAR
CIRCUITS. HOWEVER, SOME SAW U.S. EXPANSION AS A LOGICAL
BUSINESS MOVE. ON THE ONE HAND, SINCE THE 1960S, QUEBEC HAS
PROVEN TO BE TOUGH RECRUITING GROUNDS FOR ALL RELIGIOUS
GROUPS, MAINSTREAM OR OTHERWISE. ON THE OTHER, THE U.S.
OFFERS MUCH BIGGER POOLS OF MONEY AND TARGET AUDIENCES FOR
RAELIAN COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES. BECAUSE THE GROUP IS
RECOGNIZED AS AN ATHEIST RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION BY THE
QUEBEC GOVERNMENT IT ENJOYS THE SAME FISCAL ADVANTAGES AS
OTHER RELIGIOUS GROUPS.
4. THE GROUP OPERATES A THEME PARK CALLED UFO LAND IN
QUEBEC´S EASTERN TOWNSHIPS AREA. THE FACILITY, WHICH
CONSISTS MAINLY OF A LARGE FLYING SAUCER, A LARGE-SCALE DNA
MOLECULE AND SOME ROOMS FOR SUMMER SEMINARS AND MEDIA
INTERVIEWS, WAS RECENTLY VANDALIZED BUT IS SCHEDULED TO
REOPEN THIS SUMMER.
5. IN PHOTOS AND TELEVISION APPEARANCES, RAEL SURROUNDS
HIMSELF WITH BEAUTIFUL WOMEN. RAELIAN MEDIA KITS INCLUDE
MANY PICTURES OF SCANTILY DRESSED “MEMBERS.” RAEL PREACHES
“SENSUAL MEDITATION” WHICH ENABLES THE FAITHFUL TO REACH THE
“COSMIC ORGASM.”
6. DESPITE THE SECT´S TWO POWERFUL MARKETING TOOLS, SEX AND
UFOS, THE RAELIANS HAVE VERY FEW MEMBERS. THEIR WEB SITE
WWW.RAEL.ORG CLAIMS -IN TWENTY LANGUAGES– TO HAVE 55,000
MEMBERS IN 84 COUNTRIES. HOWEVER MIKE KROPVELD, EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE MONTREAL-BASED INFO-SECTE (NO RELATION WITH
THE PARIS ORGANIZATION OF THE SAME NAME) TOLD POST THAT THE
RAELIANS INFLATE THEIR FIGURES WITH PAST AND OCCASIONAL
MEMBERS. BECAUSE OF ALL THE MEDIA ATTENTION, THE GROUP
CREATES A LOT OF CURIOSITY -A RAEL SPOKESMAN STATED IN THE
LOCAL PRESS ON DECEMBER 30 THAT THE WEBSITE WAS GETTING ONE
MILLION HITS PER HOUR ON DECEMBER 26 — BUT MOST VISITORS
ONLY ATTEND A FEW MEETINGS. THE ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP IS BETWEEN
2,000 AND 3,000 WORLDWIDE AND ABOUT 700 IN MONTREAL, SAYS
KROPVELD.
7. ACCORDING TO LOCAL NEWS ANALYSTS, THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF
RAELIANS IS TO CREATE LIFE IN A LABORATORY WHICH WOULD MAKE
HUMAN BEINGS IMMORTAL AND ENABLE THEM TO CREATE ANOTHER
CIVILIZATION ON ANOTHER PLANET. IN THE MEANTIME, RAEL WANTS
TO BUILD AN EMBASSY IN ISRAEL TO WELCOME THE ELOHIM WHEN
THEY COME BACK IN 2035. THE GROUP HAS ALSO BEEN CRITICIZED
FOR ADVOCATING THE USE OF GENETICS FOR EUGENIC ATTEMPTS AT
IMPROVING THE HUMAN RACE. THE GROUP´S STRUCTURE WITH PRIESTS
AND BISHOPS IS BASED ALONG THE LINES OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
8. UNTIL RECENTLY THE GROUP AVOIDED SERIOUS CONTROVERSY.
THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY STORIES OF FORMER MEMBERS
COMPLAINING ABOUT BEING CONNED OUT OF THEIR MONEY OR
PHYSICALLY ABUSED OR SEDUCED, AND NO INVOLVEMENT WITH MINORS
– EXCEPT ONE CASE IN FRANCE.
9. NONETHELESS, THE RAELIANS KNOW HOW TO PIGGYBACK ON
STORIES TO GET PUBLICITY. WHEN IN 1993, AUTHORITIES IN
QUEBEC DECIDED AGAINST INSTALLING CONDOM DISTRIBUTORS IN
SCHOOLS, RAELIANS VISITED THE KIDS WITH FREE SAMPLES. IN THE
WAKE OF THE RECENT PEDOPHILE CHARGES AGAINST VARIOUS
RELIGIOUS ORDERS, THE GROUP WENT BACK TO THE SCHOOLS IN
QUEBEC. THEIR PLAN THIS TIME WAS TO HAND OUT SMALL WOODEN
CROSSES FOR THE STUDENTS TO BURN. BUT PUBLIC AND
GOVERNMENTAL OPPOSITION STOPPED THE LATER PROJECT. IN BOTH
CASES, ALMOST ALL THE PUBLICITY THEY GARNERED WAS BAD.
10. SENSING A SIMILAR WAVE OF CONDEMNATION, RAEL HAS
PUBLICLY DISTANCED HIMSELF FROM DR. BOISSELIER, A RAELIAN
BISHOP, AND HER CLONING WORK, SAYING HE HAD GOTTEN RID OF
CLONAID TWO YEARS AGO. HOWEVER, KROPVELD BELIEVES THAT
CLONING IS BY FAR THE GROUP´S MOST DANGEROUS WORK. KROPFELD
EVEN DOUBTS RAEL REALLY BELIEVES IN CLONING HUMAN BEINGS
BEYOND ITS MARKETING POSSIBILITIES FOR HIMSELF AS SECT
LEADER.
11. AS FOR DR BRIGITTE BOISSELIER, SHE WAS BORN IN 1956 IN
FRANCE. SHE HOLDS TWO PHDS IN CHEMISTRY, ONE FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF DIJON IN FRANCE AND ONE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF
HOUSTON. AFTER HOUSTON SHE WAS HIRED BY AIR LIQUIDE THE
FRENCH INDUSTRIAL AND MEDICAL GAS MULTINATIONAL TO WORK ON
REVERSIBLE OXYGEN BINDING. IN 1989, AIR LIQUIDE PROMOTED HER
TO VP RESEARCH.
12. PRIOR TO JOINING CLONAID (SEE WWW.CLONAID.COM) IN 1997,
DR. BOISSELIER HAD NOT WORKED IN BIOLOGY OR REPRODUCTION
TECHNIQUES. THE LAS VEGAS-BASED CLONAID RECEIVED $500,000
FROM MARK HUNT TO BUILD A LABORATORY IN WEST VIRGINIA BEFORE
MR. HUNT DECIDED TO STOP FINANCING THAT PROJECT. CLONAID
ALSO CLAIMS TO HAVE RECEIVED $200,000 FROM 250 DIFFERENT
DONORS IN THE HOPE OF CLONING A FAMILY MEMBER. ON MARCH 28,
2001 DR. BOISSELIER AND RAEL DEFENDED THEIR CLONING PROJECTS
BEFORE A SENATE COMMITTEE.
13. COMMENT. THE PUBLICITY GARNERED BY THE CLONING
ANNOUNCEMENT MAY BE USED BY THE RAEL ORGANIZATION TO GAIN
NEW ADHERENTS IN THE UNITED STATES.
14. CANADA LIKE MANY OTHER COUNTRIES IS IN THE PROCESS OF
ADOPTING LEGISLATION BILL C-113 WHICH WOULD BAN HUMAN
CLONING. ONE LIKELY RESULT OF THE BOISSELIER ANNOUNCEMENT IS
THAT SUCH LEGISLATION COULD CONTAIN STRICTER RESTRICTIONS.
END COMMENT.
KANTER

Hide cable

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 005603
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: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 12/19/07
Index:
1) Top headlines
2) Editorials
3) Prime Minister´s daily schedule (Nikkei)
Defense and security issues:
4) Japan successfully intercepts missile in Hawaii test, but debate
over cost effectiveness of MD continues, with 1 trillion yen
allocated for system (Mainichi)
5) Government to change guidelines for emergency responses to allow
missile intercepts under prior-approval set up (Mainichi)
6) Antiterrorism bill to allow MSDF refueling mission to continue
expected to be finally rejected by the opposition-controlled Upper
House on Jan. 11 (Nikkei)
7) Former GSDF Samawah commander turned lawmaker makes pitch in
Upper House for adopting the antiterrorism special measures bill
(Yomiuri)
8 ) Agreement between U.S., Japan reached on host-nation support, but
issue of phasing out labor allowances for Japanese employees remains
(Yomiuri)
9) Differential pay to local employees remains as the sole issue in
the now settled host-nation support agreement (Nikkei)
Defense scandals:
10) Moriya to be re-arrested yet again as more bribe money
uncovered, but his wife released from jail (Mainichi)
11) Former Yamada Corp. exec Miyazaki, now under arrest, gave
“fixer” Akiyama 100 million yen to set up channels between Japan,
U.S. that he could tap (Mainichi)
12) Akiyama to be summoned to testify before the Diet as a sworn
witness (Mainichi)
13) LDP´s Taku Yamasaki sets up political subcommittee on the Korean
Peninsula, aiming at normalizing Japan´s relations with the DRPK
during Fukuda tenure (Sankei)
14) Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura, who says he absolute believes
in UFOs, unhappy with government´s official view rejecting their
existence (Sankei)
DPJ election strategy:
15) Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) to focus election strategy on
the urban voter, plans to run female candidate in Tokyo against
former defense chief Koike (Tokyo Shimbun)
16) DPJ expects to have 250 candidates lined up by early next year
to run in next Lower House election (Yomiuri)
Articles:
1) TOP HEADLINES
Asahi:
Wheat price to be raised again in April, likely to affect bread,
noodle prices
Mainichi:
Moriya rearrested over taking 3.64 million yen in bribes
Yomiuri:
Moriya served fresh arrest warrant for allegedly extending favors
for 7 types of defense equipment in return for 3.63 million yen in
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bribes
Nikkei:
Matsushita, Canon, Hitachi in talks to form alliance to build flat
TV panels
Sankei:
MSDF succeeds in missile intercept test, paving way for major role
in MD system; Constitutional review imperative
Tokyo Shimbun:
New students at nursing care schools drop 13 PERCENT
Akahata:
Hokuriku Electric Power Co. hides 8 active faults near Shiga nuclear
power plant
2) EDITORIALS
Asahi:
(1) Former Vice-Defense Minister Moriya rearrested
(2) Austerity essential in compiling supplementary budget
Mainichi:
(1) MD test: It is not a dream system yet
(2) Medical fees must be used to stop doctors from leaving
hospitals
Yomiuri:
(1) Moriya´s acceptance of cash must be condemned
(2) Medical-related budgets expose limits to automatic cuts
Nikkei:
(1) Economy needs close watch
(2) Lisbon treaty gives flexibility to EU
Sankei:
(1) Moriya rearrested: Shed light on possible involvement of
lawmakers
(2) Strengthened Japan-U.S. alliance expected to follow successful
Aegis missile test
Tokyo Shimbun:
(1) Moriya rearrested: MOD procurement system must be corrected
(2) Working conditions must be reviewed in order to stop declining
birthrate
Akahata:
Unidentified pension accounts issue requires greater efforts
3) Prime Minister´s Official Residence (Kantei)
Prime Minister´s schedule, December 18
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
December 19, 2007
08:11
Attended a private-sector/government executive council meeting on
promoting work/life balance. Later, attended a study meeting on
priority strategy for supporting children and families.
TOKYO 00005603 003 OF 010
09:03
Attended a cabinet meeting in the Diet building. Later met Health,
Labor and Welfare Minister Masuzoe. Then met Education Minister
Tokai. Followed by New Komeito President Ota.
10:07
Met former Secretary General Nakagawa at the Kantei. Followed by
Resources and Energy Agency Director General Mochizuki and Deputy
Vice METI Minister Toyoda.
11:04
Met Lower House member Taku Eto. Later, LDP headquarters chief
Sakamoto, and others.
13:21
Met Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Futahashi.
15:14
Met Futahashi. Followed by Cabinet Intelligence Director Mitani.
16:01
Met Cabinet Office Vice Minister Uchida. Later, met Deputy Foreign
Minister Yabunaka and Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Director
General Sasae.
17:02
Attended a ceremony to grant certifications for special reform
district plans, regional revitalization plans, and shopping district
revitalization plans. Later, attended a meeting of cabinet ministers
responsible for monthly economic reports.
18:10
Met New Komeito Policy Research Council Chairman Saito.
19:11
Returned to his private residence in Nozawa.
4) MD test successful: Cost effectiveness the next topic of
discussion
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full)
December 19, 2007
The Maritime Self-Defense Force successfully carried out a sea-based
Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) interceptor test off a U.S. Hawaiian
island. Japan has already deployed the ground-based Patriot Advanced
Capability 3 (PAC-3) interceptor system. The government will now
start operating Japan´s missile defense (MD) shield system
consisting of the SM-3 and the PAC-3. The government plans to lay
down a MD network throughout the country by fiscal 2012 in order to
deal with the threat of North Korea´s ballistic missiles. The total
cost of SM-3 and PAC-3 shielding, however, is estimated at 800
billion yen to 1 trillion yen. It will be even more costly to
introduce an advanced MD system of the next generation. This will
likely give rise to arguments for cost effectiveness due to the
country´s dire fiscal straits.
“I wonder if you can gauge the effectiveness of something or the
cost of saving the lives of people. You only say the price is so
high. That doesn´t hit the nail on the head, and you are thinking
with your heart rather than your head,” quipped Defense Minister
Shigeru Ishiba, visibly upset in a press conference when asked about
TOKYO 00005603 004 OF 010
the cost effectiveness of MD and aware that the high cost of
introducing an MD system has been a target of criticism.
Ishiba is concerned about the threat of North Korea´s ballistic
missiles. In 1998, North Korea launched a long-range Taepodong
ballistic missile that flew across over Japan. At the time, the then
Defense Agency had just started its study of an MD system. The
agency then geared up for its introduction.
According to the Defense Ministry, the budget for MD introduction
will peak at 186.3 billion yen in the current fiscal year, the
initial year of interceptor missile deployment. The MD budget for
the remaining fiscal years up to 2012 is estimated to be lower than
the current fiscal year´s budget, according to the Defense
Ministry.
Japan and the United States plan to co-develop an advanced SM-3
system of the next-generation type by fiscal 2014. The government
has yet to decide on whether to mass-produce the advanced MD system.
However, the government´s financial burden will skyrocket if the new
MD system is to be introduced. The interceptor missile fired off
Hawaii was imported from the United States for approximately 2
billion yen. A domestic defense-related business also says, “The MD
budget is huge, but there´s no merit for us. It doesn´t have a
future-oriented aspect to it.”
5) Prior intercept order eyed for SDF counteraction
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Abridged)
December 19, 2007
The Maritime Self-Defense Force successfully shot down a projectile
in its test-firing of a sea-based Standard Missile 3 (SM-3)
interceptor, and the SM-3 will go operational early next month.
Ahead of SM-3 deployment, the government decided yesterday to revise
its emergency action guidelines for missile defense (MD) operation.
The government will revise the MD guidelines for the ground-based
Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3) interceptor system, which was
first deployed in March. If and when a foreign country prepares to
launch ballistic missiles, the defense minister will be allowed to
order the Self-Defense Forces in advance to intercept ballistic
missiles with the SM-3. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party will
hold a joint meeting of its defense-related divisions today to
approve revising the MD guidelines. The government will shortly make
a cabinet decision on this matter.
6) DPJ executive predicts that new refueling bill will be voted down
in Upper House on Jan. 11
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full
December 19, 2007
A senior member of the major opposition Democratic Party of Japan
(DPJ or Minshuto) indicated yesterday that the bill to resume the
refueling operation in the Indian Ocean would be voted down in a
House of Councillors plenary session on January 11. After New Year´s
break, the Upper House Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee is
scheduled to meet on Jan. 8 and 10. The senior DPJ member indicated
that chances are high for the committee´s adoption of the bill on
Jan. 10 and the plenary session´s vote on Jan. 11, saying, “We will
work hard until the last moment.” If a vote is not taken on Jan. 11,
TOKYO 00005603 005 OF 010
60 days will have passed on Jan. 12 since the legislation was sent
from the House of Representatives, allowing the ruling camp to
regard the Upper House´s inaction as de facto rejection under the
Constitution.
7) “Mustached commander” appeals to public
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full)
December 19, 2007
“People don´t know very much about the new antiterror legislation´s
significance and importance.”
On Dec. 18, the House of Councillors Foreign Affairs and Defense
Committee met. Masahisa Sato, a House of Councillors member of the
ruling Liberal Democratic Party, expressed his view before the
committee. Committee members present in the room were straightened
up when the committee meeting was in a mood to wind up.
Sato headed an advance team of the Self-Defense Forces to Iraq, and
he is known as the “mustached commander.” The LDP yesterday set up a
corner on the Japanese version of YouTube. On it, Sato explains the
new antiterror legislation as an SDF-member-turned lawmaker. He also
visits various places in the country to speak on the legislation. He
seems to be most directly feeling the public´s lack of understanding
on the legislation.
In the committee meeting, Sato talked about his visits to Niigata,
Hokkaido, and Fukushima for three days from Dec. 15. He stated: “I
explained the bill´s significance. One person said, ´Oh, is that so?
Then I support it.´”
“We´ve now discussed the bill.” With this, the ruling coalition is
now seeking to take an early vote on the legislation. The LDP has
told its members to limit their question time to about 10 minutes.
However, Sato continued his questions for about 20 minutes. He made
an appeal there: “It´s important to give easy-to-understand
explanations about how we are actually affected (in the aftermath of
halting the Maritime Self-Defense Force´s refueling activities in
the Indian Ocean). I will do so. I want the government to do so
together.”
8 ) Review of sympathy budget settled, but setting timeframe for
abolishing pay allowances remains a challenge
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full)
December 19, 2007
Now that an agreement has been reached between the Ministry of
Defense (MOD) and the All Japan Garrison Forces Labor Union
(Zenchuro) to abolish the allowances to Japanese employees working
at U.S. bases, the question of reviewing Japan´s host nation support
(the so-called sympathy budget) for U.S. Forces Japan has generally
been settled. Although a MOD official described the agreement to
abolish the allowances as a major achievement, a timeframe for the
phase out has yet to be determined.
Given the nation´s tight fiscal situation, the government aimed at
deep cuts in Japan´s HNS as a whole, which is far higher than that
of other countries. At the same time, the government needed to give
consideration to Japan-U.S. relations which have become unstable due
to the suspension of the refueling operation in the Indian Ocean and
TOKYO 00005603 006 OF 010
other factors. This prompted the government to put emphasis on
reducing the differential pay and language allowance to Japanese
employees that would not increase the burden on the United States.
Although Zenchuro agreed to abolishing the allowances at an early
stage, talks with MOD on measures to mitigate radical changes face
rough going. Zenchuro staged two strikes, which started to worry the
U.S. side about the effect on base operations. The government had to
heed to a U.S. request for making efforts to avoid strikes, and MOD
settled the matter by making concessions to Zenchuro.
MOD intends to end the drastic change alleviation measures in five
years. But a senior Zenchuro official said: “From the perspective of
their welfare, the allowances will have to stay beyond the next five
years.” There still remains a seed of conflict for future talks.
9) Sympathy budget generally settled; Step to be taken to alleviate
drastic change in differential pay
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
December 19, 2007
Negotiations on Japan´s host nation support (the so-called sympathy
budget) for U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) have generally been settled. An
agreement was reached between the Ministry of Defense (MOD) and the
All Japan Garrison Forces Labor Union (Zenchuro) to abolish the
“differential pay” of adding a 10 PERCENT allowance to the civil
servants´ base bay and the language allowance. The only remaining
matter is how to handle the USFJ facilities maintenance costs that
will go into in the fiscal 2008 budget bill.
Labor and management also agreed to abolish the pay raise system
that allows salaries to increase beyond the pay scale. In the fiscal
2008 budget bill, the sympathy budget will be reduced by 370 million
yen from this year. As a measure to alleviate drastic change, MOD
will pay 50 PERCENT of the differential pay and the language
allowance for five years and review them thereafter.
10) Moriya rearrested over bribes
MAINICHI (Top Play) (Excerpts)
December 19, 2007
The special investigation squad of the Tokyo District Public
Prosecutors Office rearrested former Administrative Vice Defense
Minister Takemasa Moriya yesterday on suspicion of accepting about
3.64 million yen in bribes from a former executive of defense
contractor Yamada Corp. The former executive was also rearrested for
giving the alleged bribe. It has been found that Yamada Corp. spent
a total of approximately 7.5 million yen in bribes and expenses for
golf trips for Moriya.
Prosecutors also rearrested Osamu Akiyama, former chief of Yamada
Corp.´s US subsidiary, for giving the bribe the same day. Moriya´s
wife Sachiko, who had been arrested over her involvement in Moriya´s
receipt of bribes, was released for the reason that she played a
minor role and that she regrets what she did.
11) Yamada Corp. former executive gave 100 million yen to Japan-U.S.
center in anticipation of influence peddling
MAINICHI (Top Play) (Excerpts)
TOKYO 00005603 007 OF 010
Evening, December 18, 2007
It is now suspected that Yamada Corp. gave funds not only to former
Administrative Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya but also to
Naoki Akiyama, executive director of the Japan-U.S. Center for Peace
and Cultural Exchange. Akiyama is close to lawmakers lobbying for
defense interests. Motonobu Miyazaki, a former executive of the
defense contractor, told persons around him that he transferred
approximately 100 million yen into a bank account of Akiyama. He
also admitted to the remittance during questioning by the special
investigation squad of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office,
saying: “We offered money in anticipation of its influence peddling
to help us receive orders.”
Akiyama reportedly has acted as an intermediary between Japanese and
American defense companies and politicians. The Japan-U.S. center
makes arrangements for visits to the U.S. by Japanese lawmakers and
regularly holds a meeting of the Japan-U.S. Security Strategy
Council by inviting American defense experts. Since fiscal 2003, the
center has arranged visits for 21 lawmakers, including Finance
Minister Fukushiro Nukaga and former Democratic Party of Japan
President Seiji Maehara.
12) Upper House committee decides to summon Akiyama as sworn
witness
MAINICHI (Page 1) (Full)
Evening, December 18, 2007
The House of Councillors Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee has
decided to summon Naoki Akiyama, executive director of the
Japan-U.S. Center for Peace and Cultural Exchange, to the Diet as a
sworn witness. The committee initially planned to summon him on Dec.
20, but since Akiyama has said he would accept the summons, a
decision on the date has been entrusted to the chairman.
13) In first meeting of LDP North Korea panel, Yamasaki says ties
should be normalized under Fukuda administration
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full)
December 19, 2007
The Liberal Democratic Party´s subcommittee on issues related to the
Korean Peninsula, chaired by former Defense Agency Director General
Seishiro Eto, held its first meeting at party headquarters
yesterday. The panel was created to back up the government´s policy
toward North Korea. Former Vice President Taku Yamasaki, who assumed
the post of supreme advisor, expressed hopes that the party will
strengthen ties with North Korea through the panel, saying: “I would
like to normalize diplomatic ties between Japan and North Korea
under the Fukuda administration.”
The first meeting brought together about 30 members of the Diet,
including former Defense Agency Director General Gen Nakatani.
Yamasaki emphasized that the establishment of the panel is in
accordance with Prime Minister Fukuda´s wishes. He then implied that
he would visit to Pyongyang, remarking: “We will be very busy next
year in dealing with issues with the Korean Peninsula. The party
will take proper steps to address the situation.”
Yamasaki is known for having his own personal networks in North
Korea. In April 2004, he held a meeting with Jong Thae Hwa, then
TOKYO 00005603 008 OF 010
ambassador for normalization talks with Japan in Dalian, China. He
also visited North Korea this January and reportedly met with Kim
Yong Kon, National Defense Committee counselor, and others. The
visit was criticized as “dual diplomacy.”
14) Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura: UFOs definitely exist,
unhappy with government´s formal response
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full)
December 19, 2007
Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura stated in a press
conference yesterday: “I am sure that unidentified flying objects
exist.” He elaborated: “Otherwise, it is impossible to explain the
Nazca Lines (in Peru, which some believe were created by aliens),
isn´t it?”
The government yesterday adopted in a cabinet meeting an official
response to a question by Ryuji Yamada, a Democratic Party of Japan
member. The statement says that the government has not confirmed the
existence of UFOs. It was the first time for the government to deny
the existence of UFOs. Machimura, while stressing that it was his
personal view that UFOs exist, said: “The government has offered
only a boilerplate response in its formal statement.”
15) DPJ to place importance on urban areas in next Lower House
election
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full)
December 19, 2007
The largest opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto)
has begun setting forth a clear stance of placing importance on
policy measures for urban areas in campaigning for the next House of
Representatives election. The DPJ won a sweeping victory in the July
House of Councillors election, by playing up its policy of giving
priority to improving regional economies by narrowing socioeconomic
disparities regional. What are reasons for the party trying to
review its campaign strategy?
DPJ head Ichiro Ozawa along with Takako Ebata, a former associate
university professor, whom the party has informally endorsed as its
candidate to run in the Tokyo No. 10 electoral district held a press
conference yesterday. In it, Ozawa emphasized: “We must do our best
to have her win the race.” Ebata will compete in the race with
former Defense Minister Yuriko Koike. It is unusual for Ozawa to
introduce a candidate in a press conference.
Ozawa stressed his party´s policy of attaching emphasis on urban
areas, saying:
“We must set our goal to secure the majority of seats in the Tokyo
metropolitan area, which includes Tokyo and three other prefectures,
the Kansai region such as Osaka and Hyogo Prefecture, and Fukuoka
Prefecture in the Kyushu region.”
In the background, there are many single-seat constituencies in
urban areas. In the 2005 Lower House election, the DPJ suffered a
crashing defeat. Ozawa noted: “If we are defeated in those areas, it
will be difficult for us to get the majority of the Lower House
seats.” He predicts that the outcome of races in the urban areas
will be the key to a change of government.
TOKYO 00005603 009 OF 010
However, election cooperation between opposition parties seems
difficult in some electoral districts in Tokyo and Kanagawa in which
candidates backed by the DPJ and Social Democratic Party are decided
to run. The DPJ has many challenges to overcome, including coming up
with policy measures attracting unaffiliated voters.
DPJ to field woman candidate in Tokyo No. 10 district, facing off
LDP´s Koike
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) decided yesterday in
a meeting of its standing secretaries general to file eight
candidates for the next House of Representatives election, including
Takako Ebata, 47, former associate professor at the University of
Tokyo, who will run in the Tokyo No. 10 electoral district.
Former Defense Minister Koike now represents the No. 10 district.
The DPJ has not filed candidates in 72 districts of the 300
electoral districts across the nation.
16) DPJ to be ready to field 250 candidates by early next year for
next Lower House election due to delay in coordination on
candidates
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Slightly abridged)
December 19, 2007
The government and ruling parties have decided to set up a national
council on social security affairs. The main opposition Democratic
Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) sees this move as a favorable wind
blowing in its direction. The DPJ, however, has yet to craft a
strategy for the next House of Representatives election due to a
delay in coordinating candidates and other reasons.
When asked by reporters yesterday about the plunging approval
ratings for the cabinet of Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda in opinion
polls by various news companies, DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa
responded: “(Regarding the issue that identifying holders of a huge
number of national pension accounts have become difficult)
distrustful and irresponsible remarks by Prime Minister Fukuda and
other government officials have enraged the public.” He continued:
“I want to see a dissolution of the Lower House as early as possible
for a snap general election. If public opinion calls for an
election, (the Prime Minister) will have no choice but to dissolve
the Lower House and call it. It is not a technical issue to manage
Diet affairs.”
Even if the House of Councillors adopts a censure motion against the
Prime Minister, it would not be legally binding, although there is a
view that the adoption of a censure motion should trigger Lower
House dissolution. In the DPJ, a cautious view on the submission of
a censure motion is spreading, with one senior party member saying,
“We won´t be able to get public support only by the Lower House´s
overriding a decision by the Upper House on the new antiterrorism
special measures bill. I think it is not enough even with the
pension-record fiasco.”
The DPJ has been slow in its election coordination. In a meeting
yesterday of its standing secretaries general, the largest
TOKYO 00005603 010 OF 010
opposition party informally endorsed candidates to run in eight
electoral districts. The number of the DPJ candidates now totals
227. Therefore, the party´s target of filing 250 candidates before
the end of the year is likely to slip to early next year.
The DPJ has not yet fielded candidates in eight of the 25 electoral
districts in Tokyo. The reason is that the party has not overcome
the legacy of a crushing defeat in the 2005 Lower House election, in
which it won only one seat out of 25; and so it has worked on the
selection of candidates from scratch, considering that the Tokyo
races would affect its performance across the nation.
SCHIEFFER
2007-12-19 01:34

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C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 000090
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2018
TAGS: PGOV, EFIN, SNAR, KCOR, EC
SUBJECT: ECUADOR: CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY FOCUS UNCLEAR
REF: A. QUITO 55
B. 07 QUITO 2580
Classified By: Ambassador Linda Jewell for reason 1.4 (B, D)
1. (SBU) Summary: As the Constituent Assembly reaches the
two-month mark, members are meeting with various interest
groups and holding private committee meetings, but have yet
to debate publicly any constitutional language. The Assembly
has approved six laws or other documents, including the
controversial tax reform. President Correa´s speech to the
Assembly marking his first year in office and the
government´s denunciation of bribery attempts have been
highlights. End Summary
60 DAYS AND COUNTING
——————–
2. (SBU) Since its inauguration on November 29 in
Montecristi, the Constituent Assembly has sometimes appeared
more interested in legislating than in drafting a new
constitution. So far it has approved the tax reform law (Ref
A), three “constituent mandates,” and two resolutions.
Democratic Left Assembly member and former Finance Minister
Diego Borja explained to poloff the differences between these
legal instruments: Laws are equivalent to those that the
suspended Congress would approve, constituent mandates are
approved under an expedited process and last only as long as
the Assembly is in session, and resolutions are the
Assembly´s internal rules.
3. (U) The Assembly´s legislative and oversight committee is
currently analyzing two additional bills submitted by the
executive branch. One would regulate land transport,
transit, and road safety. The other deals with restructuring
management of public finances, including bringing the
petroleum funds into the central budget.
4. (C) Proud and Sovereign Fatherland (PAIS) political bureau
member Augusto Barrera, who is serving as a liaison between
the Executive and Assembly on substantive matters,
acknowledged to the Ambassador on January 24 that each law
the Assembly passes has a political cost. While claiming
that 80% of past constituent assemblies in Ecuador have also
legislated, he said the government would seek consideration
of only a minimum number of laws, namely those necessary for
effective governing.
5. (SBU) The constituent mandates have addressed diverse
topics. One approved mandate regulates salaries in the
public sector so they do not exceed that of the President.
It sets a monthly ceiling of $5,000, with the exception of
personnel representing Ecuador abroad and “specific strategic
jobs.” Another mandate suspended the elections of members of
congress representing two new provinces, Santo Domingo de los
Tsachilas and Santa Elena, until after the official results
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of the referendum on the new constitution. Ref B described
the first constituent (or constitutional) mandate, which
affirmed the Assembly´s full powers.
INTEREST GROUPS SWARM TO MONTECRISTI
————————————
6. (C) The work of the Assembly´s nine
constitutional-drafting committees has centered thus far
around consultations with interest groups, plus executive and
judicial officials, and private committee discussions. The
committees and Assembly leadership have been besieged by
requests for meetings on every imaginable constitutional and
legislative topic. Several committees are also holding
meetings outside of Montecristi to solicit citizen input in
specific constitutional areas under their jurisdiction.
Barrera mentioned that PAIS was struggling with how to
balance being responsive to citizen groups with the need to
focus on substance ) he cited a recent meeting between a
group that believes in UFOs and the Sovereignty committee as
an example of how things were out of control to the point of
near absurdity.
7. (SBU) There are indications that the committees are hard
at work debating constitutional issues behind closed doors.
For example, after a draft text leaked to the press, PAIS
assembly member Betty Amores, the vice president of the
Committee on Reform of State Structure and Institutions,
explained during a January 22 television interview that the
committee is contemplating a number of changes, including the
elimination of the vice presidency and extension of the
presidential term from four to six years. Amores stated that
the committee had not yet reached a consensus on whether
immediate reelection of the president would be allowed under
the new constitution.
8. (SBU) An encouraging sign of seriousness as well as
open-mindedness on at least some issues, the international
donor community has been approached for technical assistance
in several areas, in most cases by request from ministries
working with given committees on specific policies. USAID,
for example, has been asked to provide technical assistance
on several issues under review by the Environment committee.
CORREA SPEAKS TO ASSEMBLY
————————-
9. (SBU) On January 15, President Correa delivered a speech
to the Constituent Assembly describing his government´s
accomplishments during his first year in office and detailing
ambitious plans for the coming year. Perhaps harking back to
his days as a professor, Correa spoke for more than two
hours, accompanied by a 133-page PowerPoint presentation. A
system for governing through seven regions was among the new
proposals. Correa also urged amnesty for several groups
involved in protests and release from prison of individuals
charged with carrying small amounts of drugs as “mules.”
Some opposition Assembly members walked out at the start,
arguing that the Constitution required that the President´s
annual speech be delivered to the Congress, not the Assembly.
A WEEK OF CONTROVERSY
———————
10. (SBU) Minister of Government Fernando Bustamante and
Anticorruption National Secretary Jose Luis Cortazar
announced January 22 that a bribery attempt in the Assembly
had been discovered. Authorities detained Bolivar Lopez and
Cao Lay Munoz after PAIS assembly member and former
Anticorruption Secretariat employee Gabriel Rivas claimed
that they had offered him USD 3 million to obtain 25 assembly
votes against the new constitution and for re-opening
Congress.
11. (SBU) A video recording that is being used as evidence by
the authorities mentions Patriotic Society Party (PSP)
Assembly member Julio Logrono, which triggered angry
responses from the PSP. During a press conference, Minister
Bustamante cast blame on former PSP President Lucio
Gutierrez, who categorically denied any involvement in the
matter.
COMMENT
——-
12. (C) Suspicions that PAIS already has a written
constitution in its pocket continue to worry commentators,
although PAIS leadership strongly denies it. The
government´s investigation of acts of corruption implicated
the second largest bloc in the Assembly, which in turn gave
the latter ammunition to claim political persecution. With
the perceived lack of results thus far and with corruption
rearing its evil head, the Assembly needs to demonstrate a
greater focus on constitution drafting if it is going to
retain a wide measure of public support.
JEWELL

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UNCLAS CASABLANCA 000571
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV, CACS, ZH, ZT, MO
SUBJECT: Tsunami Destroys Casablanca – Next Thursday
—————————————–
Out of All the Cities in All the World…
—————————————–
1. (U) On Monday afternoon, May 22, 2006, hundreds of
Moroccan children returned home from school with a dire
prediction that a giant tsunami would strike Casablanca in a
mere three days. Some schools threatened closures and word
of the disaster washed over the city sending people
scurrying to find more information and seek higher ground.
A few wealthy, educated expats fled their palatial homes by
the sea to find refugee in the high-rise dwellings of
friends well above the predicted level of destruction. Less
fortunate Moroccans, meanwhile, could be found heading to
mosques to pray for protection against the storm, images of
Indian Ocean tsunami still fresh in their minds. Moroccan
National Press reported some Moroccans were packed and ready
to head to the mountains or even travel to other countries.
Consulate Casablanca´s Consular Section received numerous
emails and phone calls requesting information on the
impending doom as well.
—————————
He Had to Blog Into Mine…
—————————
2. (U) The tsunami prediction originated with French author
and UFO “kidnapping victim” Eric Julien, director of the
Ufological Research Center. Julian claimed he had received
information psychically that a comet fragment would crash
into the Atlantic Ocean on May 25, 2006, and cause a giant
tsunami. He asserted that the waves would be up to 200
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meters high and impact all countries bordering the Atlantic.
In Morocco, Julien´s forcast was taken so seriously that the
head of the Moroccan Meteorological office, Mustapha Janah
made an official statement to the Moroccan press denying the
possibility of the tsunami and quoting “NASA” officials who
noted that the comet in question would be approximately ten
million kilometers away when it passed the earth.
————————————–
Maybe not Today, Maybe not Tomorrow…
————————————–
3. (U) Why did the rumor spread so quickly and why was it
taken so seriously? According to some Moroccans, the answer
may be twofold. First, Morocco is a land of oral history
where word of mouth has been the preferred method of
communicating news for generations. With literacy rates
hovering around fifty percent, gossip is a more common
method of disseminating information than the newspapers.
Second, for the very religious of Casablanca the idea that a
giant wave would sweep through the city and wash it “clean
of evil and vice” is not such a stretch of the imagination.
Historically, images of floods sweeping away the sinners of
the world have peppered religious doctrine and some here
believe Casablanca may be overdue for a cleansing.
—————————–
Here´s Lookin´ at You Casa…
—————————–
4. (U) We can confirm nearly twenty-four hours after the
predicted tidal wave, Casablanca has been left unscathed.
Despite a few nervous moments during the week when the sky
darkened and the surf increased slightly, Casablanca remains
intact.
GREENE

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