JAPANESE AMBASSADOR RAISES POLITICAL TRANSITION

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 001274

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV AND DRL
USCINCPAC FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/30/2012
TAGS: PREL BM JP
SUBJECT: JAPANESE AMBASSADOR RAISES POLITICAL TRANSITION
AND ECONOMIC REFORM WITH THAN SHWE

REF: TOKYO 5480

Classified By: COM Carmen Martinez. Reason: 1.5 (d).


1. (C) Summary: Japanese Ambassador Yuji Miyamoto delivered a
message from Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi when he
presented his credentials to Than Shwe on September 16.
According to sources at the Japanese Embassy, Miyamoto also
went into some detail about political transition, Japanese
aid, and economic reform in Burma. End Summary.


2. (C) Japanese Aid: Koizumi's letter made three points. It
reaffirmed the historic friendship between Japan and Burma;
it emphasized the importance of motion towards democracy; and
it reiterated Foreign Minister Kawaguchi's offer to give
special consideration to any aid projects that were agreed
between the NLD and the government. According to Koizumi's
letter, such projects would be handled "outside normal
channels," meaning that they would be approved and funded at
no cost to Japan's normal aid budget in Burma. Such projects
would be, according to the letter, a pure bonus for the
country.


3. (C) Economic Reform: The Ambassador, on his own, raised
economic reform issues. He noted that Japan was finalizing
its report on Structural Adjustment in Burma and asked Than
Shwe to consider reading it in full. Than Shwe simply nodded
at that suggestion.


4. (C) Political Transition: Than Shwe told the Ambassador
that the GOB was committed to democratization. However, he
made no promises regarding the pace or timetable for change.
Rather, he emphasized that national unity, education, and
economic development had to come before democracy. Burma had
failed in the past, he argued, because it had not been ready
for western-style democracy. He wanted to be sure this time
that it did not fail again.


5. (C) Comment: Miyamoto made good use of his time with Than
Shwe, delivering messages that need to get through, but which
rarely reach Than Shwe. The Japanese have also obviously
done some thinking about the best way to encourage
cooperation between the government and the NLD. Hence, the
offer of aid on basically no-cost terms. End Comment.
Martinez