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.



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