Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03COLOMBO1533
2003-09-04 10:51:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:  

Japanese propose that donors meet September 12

Tags:  PREL PGOV PTER EAID CE JA NO LTTE 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001533 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR D, SA, SA/INS, S/CT, EAP/J, EUR/NB; NSC
FOR E. MILLARD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09-04-13
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER EAID CE JA NO LTTE
SUBJECT: Japanese propose that donors meet September 12
in Colombo during Akashi visit

Refs: (A) Colombo-SA/INS 09/03/03 telecon/fax

- (B) Oslo 1789 (Notal)
- (C) Colombo 1370, and previous

(U) Classified by Ambassador Jeffrey J. Lunstead.
Reasons 1.5 (b,d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001533

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR D, SA, SA/INS, S/CT, EAP/J, EUR/NB; NSC
FOR E. MILLARD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09-04-13
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER EAID CE JA NO LTTE
SUBJECT: Japanese propose that donors meet September 12
in Colombo during Akashi visit

Refs: (A) Colombo-SA/INS 09/03/03 telecon/fax

- (B) Oslo 1789 (Notal)
- (C) Colombo 1370, and previous

(U) Classified by Ambassador Jeffrey J. Lunstead.
Reasons 1.5 (b,d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: In a September 3 meeting with
Ambassador Lunstead, Japanese Ambassador Otsuka said the
GoJ wanted to convene a "follow-up meeting of the Tokyo
conference" for donors on September 12 during Special
Envoy Akashi's visit to Sri Lanka. The GSL,
international organizations, and the Tigers would also
be invited to the meeting. In a follow-on meeting
involving the other co-chairs, Norwegian Ambassador
Brattskar confirmed that Deputy Foreign Minister
Helgesen plans to visit Sri Lanka from September 17-19.
Mission believes that the Japanese proposal is basically
a constructive one. It might be sparking more friction
between the GoJ and the Norwegians over their respective
roles, however. END SUMMARY.

--------------
Japanese Proposal
--------------


2. (C) Ambassador Lunstead met September 3 with
Japanese Ambassador Seiichiro Otsuka. Otsuka began the
meeting by expressing concern about the state of the
peace process. He noted the negative pattern of
activities by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
(LTTE),including the group's refusal to respect the
rulings of the monitors and the spate of assassinations
of anti-LTTE Tamils. He also expressed worries about
cohabitation stresses. Overall, Otsuka seemed
discouraged by the situation.


3. (C) Changing gears, Otsuka confirmed that Japanese
Special Envoy Yasushi Akashi was planning to visit Sri
Lanka from September 11-15. As part of the visit,
Otsuka related that the GoJ had proposed that Akashi
meet with V. Prabhakaran, the leader of the Tamil
Tigers, in the LTTE-controlled Vanni region of northern
Sri Lanka. If Prabhakaran was not available, Akashi
would also be pleased to meet with S.P. Thamilchelvam,

the LTTE political chief. As part of the Colombo leg of
the visit, Akashi had also asked to meet President
Kumaratunga. Otsuka, noting precedent, was not sure
whether either the LTTE or Kumaratunga meetings would
indeed come off. Akashi was also planning a visit to
the Eastern Province. Ambassador Lunstead is scheduled
to meet with Akashi on September 11.


4. (C) As reviewed with Department in Ref A, Otsuka
also noted that the GoJ wanted to hold a "follow-up
meeting of the Tokyo conference" on September 12 in
Colombo for the donors. The GSL, the LTTE, and
international organizations would also be invited to the
meeting, although Akashi doubted the Tigers would
attend. Japan hoped to use the meeting to review the
peace process and discuss next steps, including ideas
that the GoJ had developed in a non-paper passed to the
U.S. last month (see Ref C). (Note: Ref A contained
two documents provided by Otsuka to the Ambassador: the
first is the announcement of the proposed September 12
meeting and a draft agenda. The second document is the
tentative itinerary for Akashi's visit.)


5. (C) Otsuka also mentioned that Vice Foreign Minister
Yukio Takeuchi was scheduled to meet with the Deputy
Secretary on September 5. Otsuka indicated that it was

SIPDIS
possible that Sri Lanka-related issues might come up
during that meeting.

--------------
Meeting of the Four Co-Chairs
--------------


6. (C) After being joined by the two other co-chairs,
Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar and EU Charge'
d'Affaires Wouter Wilton, the discussion centered around
what Akashi would say to the press and when. Otsuka
proposed that Akashi speak for the donors after his trip
to the Vanni on September 14, i.e., there would be no
"joint" statement. The Japanese would later draw up a
summary of the donors' discussion, which would be
cleared by the co-chairs. Ambassador Lunstead noted
that it would probably be better if Akashi made his
statement right after the conclusion of the donor
meeting on September 12, as the press no doubt would be
on site and appreciate some information. Moreover, if
the purpose of the meeting was to put pressure on the
Tigers to rejoin the peace process, it made sense to
announce it before seeing them, not afterwards. After
some discussion, Otsuka said the GoJ would begin
preparing a draft statement for donor review although he
was still not sure it should be made public.


7. (C) During the discussion, it was noticeable that
Brattskar initially appeared uncomfortable with the
proposed donor meeting, but, after some discussion, his
comfort level seemed to grow a bit. Brattskar
emphasized that any statement by Akashi should be
general in nature, noting that "time-lines and
conditions for assistance" would not be helpful for the
peace process at this time. Otsuka seemed to take on
board Brattskar's points.

--------------
Helgesen Visit
--------------


8. (SBU) Brattskar confirmed that Norwegian Deputy
Foreign Minister Vidar Helgesen and Special Envoy Erik
Solheim plan to visit Sri Lanka from September 17-19.
Along with meetings with GSL officials and others in the
south, Helgesen and Solheim have also requested a
meeting with President Kumaratunga. They are also
seeking a meeting with the LTTE. Brattskar was also
concernced that the Akashi visit not upstage that by his
deputy foreign minister.

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


9. (C) While a bit sudden, Mission believes that the
Japanese proposal is basically a constructive one. A
meeting among the donors and the Sri Lankan government
could help get everyone's ducks in a row in the post-
Tokyo conference period. In particular, a clear,
carefully drawn up message underwritten by all of the
donors urging the Tigers to return to the talks, respect
the monitors, and end their assassinations would be very
useful at this time. That said, judging from
Brattskar's uncomfortable reaction, the Japanese
proposal might be sparking more friction between the GoJ
and the Norwegians over their respective roles. The
Ambassador is scheduled to meet with Brattskar late
September 4 and will sound him out. The Ambassador will
also get India's take when he meets with High
Commissioner Nirupam Sen later today. END COMMENT.


10. (U) Minimize considered.

Lunstead