JAPAN

JAPAN
Yomiuri Shimbun, Tokyo, Oct. 1: Financial institutions in this country are suffering serious difficulties due to the massive weight of their non-performing loans and unrealized losses incurred by falling stock prices. ...
We view it as appropriate for the government to use public funds, if necessary, in preventing the ongoing economic crisis from triggering a renewed financial panic. Heizo Takenaka's appointment to two economy-related ministerial posts shows that Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has determined which course of action he will adopt in grappling with the problem.
Bad-loan problem
The reshuffled Cabinet should come up with specific plans regarding how to resolve the bad-loan problem as soon as possible, including methods and a timetable.
This should be complemented by efforts to pull the nation out of the ongoing deflationary crisis, a task of prime importance to be tackled by the government.
Koizumi must take advantage of his cabinet reshuffle in taking actions for an economic revival and convince the public that he is determined to accomplish that goal.
SWEDEN
Svenska Dagbladet, Stockholm, Oct. 2: Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair was supported at the Labor Party Conference, as he was earlier in Parliament, for his backing of the idea that military efforts against Iraq may be necessary if the U.N. is to be able to uphold the respect for its resolutions when it comes to disarming the regime that is a threat against its own people and the neighboring countries.
Free hand
For very good reasons, Blair was given a free hand to continue with the process to unite the U.N. Security Council on an action plan; to give up in advance would only favor Sadism Hussein's efforts to build up weapons of mass destruction again and make the U.N weapons inspections meaningless.
ITALY
Il Foglio, Milan, Oct. 2: Last year the "two Ivanovs" seemed to quarrel incessantly. The first one, Igor, Russia's Foreign Minister, expressed solidarity with United States policy against international terrorism. The second, Defense Minister Sergei, was more prudent, moving to exclude Russian support for America's attack on Kabul.
But now, the two Ivanovs work in harmony and both advocate Russian opposition of an attack by the United States on Iraq. However, they, like Russian President Vladimir Putin, consider that the alliance with America, following the Sept. 11 attacks -- has benefitted Russia by eliminating the menace posed by Afghanistan.
Professional military force
Russia's army is being restructured to become a modern professional military force. For this reason Igor Ivanov has convinced his colleagues of Russia's need to play an important role in international politics. Putin will have to impose his views on the United States to ensure that he is not left with a military and diplomatic establishment unnecessarily reinforced, and thus potentially destabilizing.
EGYPT
Al-Ahram, Cairo, Oct. 1: Using military force is a means to achieve a political aim but it should not be applied randomly and without limits, restrictions or consensus on each step that leads to it.
What the U.S. administration is doing now shows a complete loss of logic and all that is taking place flows into the direction that Iraq, disregard of everything, will be attacked as if striking Iraq represents a goal by itself.
Iraq has accepted unconditional weapons inspection, but the official American statements continued unchanged as if nothing has happened and it was openly said that the inspection does not solve Iraq's problem with the U.S.
World public opinion
The U.S. administration is seeking a resolution from the U.N. allowing it to use military force against Iraq which aroused wide public opposition even in the U.S. and Britain. The world public opinion wants to know the reasons behind rushing toward this (military) step at the time an understanding on all pending questions could be reached.