MEPP ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP: RENEWED

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 002532 SIPDIS USEPA FOR INTERNATIONAL NAIROBI PASS U.S. REP TO UNEP E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/2015 TAGS: SENV PREL EAID KPAL IS JA ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SUBJECT: MEPP ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP: RENEWED JAPANESE INTEREST REF: A. TOKYO 1838 (NOTAL) ¶B. 04 TOKYO 2066 (NOTAL) Classified By: Acting Econ Counselor Clark Price, reasons 1.4 b and d. ¶1. (C) Summary: NEA Senior S&T Advisor Charles Lawson discussed renewed Japanese interest in leading the Multilateral Peace Process Environment Working Group with Japanese DCM, GOI Minister of Environment, and GOI MFA Director for Multilateral Peace Talks Coordination. Lawson suggested re-engaging in the Drylands Management Initiative, sponsoring environmental training courses, and organizing an informal meeting of selected members of the Working Group as ways Japan could resume its leadership of the Environmental Working Group. End summary. ¶2. (C) NEA Senior S&T Advisor Charles Lawson met in Tel Aviv April 5 with Japanese Embassy Minister Counselor and Deputy Chief of Mission Hideo Sato at the latter's request to discuss renewed Japanese interest in leading the Multilateral Peace Process Environmental Working Group. In their discussions, Lawson noted that Japan could become more substantively involved in the Drylands Management Initiative by sending a representative from Tokyo to the June meeting in Paris to meet other donors and participants. Lawson also noted that Japan had sponsored environmental training courses for the Working Group in the past and could consider developing a new course for the core parties (Israel, Jordan, and the Palestinians). As for reconvening the Working Group, Lawson and Sato discussed the possibility of Japan organizing an informal meeting of the most interested parties later this year or early in 2006. Sato said these seemed to be good ideas for Japan's renewal of its leadership of the WG, and that he would discuss them with Tokyo. (Note: Sato may be transferring back to Tokyo for a MEPP-related assignment this summer. Also, it appeared that Sato's interest in Japanese re-engagement in multilateral environment activities is his own initiative for the moment and not yet approved by Tokyo. End note). ¶3. (C) Lawson and MFA Director for Multilateral Peace Talks Coordination and Water Issues Yaacov Keidar discussed renewed Japanese interest in the Working Group in Jerusalem April 5. Keidar and Sato had met earlier and discussed ideas along the lines above. Keidar had also suggested an informal brainstorming session, like one the WG had in 1999, in advance of attempting to reconvene the entire Working Group. ¶4. (C) Lawson discussed the issue of renewed Japanese interest in the Environment Working Group with Minister of Environment Shalom Simhon in Jerusalem April 6. Simhom expressed his support for Japanese interest and in moving Working Group activities forward. International Affairs Director Ori Livne told Lawson that she and senior Ministry officials would be in touch with Japanese counterparts. ********************************************* ******************** Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website. ********************************************* ******************** CRETZ