Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KATHMANDU1319
2006-05-25 08:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
JAPANESE AMBASSADOR SUPPORTS ACTING QUICKLY TO
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C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001319
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/INS, EAP
MANILLA PLEASE PASS TO E SPELTZ
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER EAID ASEC NP JP IN
SUBJECT: JAPANESE AMBASSADOR SUPPORTS ACTING QUICKLY TO
SHORE UP GOVERNMENT
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4 (b,d).
Japan Plans to Increase Assistance to GON
------------------------------------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001319
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/INS, EAP
MANILLA PLEASE PASS TO E SPELTZ
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER EAID ASEC NP JP IN
SUBJECT: JAPANESE AMBASSADOR SUPPORTS ACTING QUICKLY TO
SHORE UP GOVERNMENT
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4 (b,d).
Japan Plans to Increase Assistance to GON
--------------
1. (C) The Ambassador met with Japanese Ambassador Tsutomu
Hiraoka on May 24 in order to push the message that Nepal's
traditional donors should increase assistance as quickly as
possible to consolidate the democratic transition. Hiraoka
replied that he supported increasing assistance to the new
government to support its legitimacy and strengthen its
position as it entered into peace negotiations with the
Maoists. He stressed that Japan's goal was to refrain from
giving any legitimacy to the Maoists. He said that Tokyo was
worried about the "fluid" situation in Nepal and he felt
Tokyo would be receptive to his suggestion to act immediately
to increase assistance to Nepal by 50 million USD. He noted
this assistance could be in the form of non-project budgetary
support or infrastructure projects such as roads.
Nothing to Maoists
--------------
2. (C) Hiraoka stressed that his government would not fund
the feeding of Maoist cadre, and would be forced to stop all
assistance if the Maoists joined the government without
giving up arms. Hiraoka stressed that the GOJ viewed
Maoists as fundamentally opposed to democracy, against
free-market economies and private enterprise. The Ambassador
noted that the U.S. would not fund assistance to the Maoists
either. Hiraoka expressed interest in plans for U.S.
development and military assistance. The Ambassador
highlighted the need for small scale, quick impact projects
to show government progress and pressure the Maoists to
negotiate. Hiraoka commented that SCA A/S Boucher and
Norwegian envoy Erik Solheim would be in Tokyo on May 30 for
a meeting on Sri Lanka, and Tokyo planned to take the
opportunity to discuss Nepal with the two.
Role of India
--------------
3. (C) Hiraoka was interested in the Indian view of UN
involvement in monitoring the cease-fire, acting as a
witness, and decommissioning. Noting that the stated U.S.
goal in Nepal was to restore democracy and prevent a Maoist
takeover, Hiraoka wondered if a third goal was to build our
relationship with India. The Ambassador acknowledged that
coordinating with India on Nepal issues was beneficial to our
bilateral relationship, but explained it was a byproduct of,
and not the driving force behind, pursuing our goals in
Nepal. Hiraoka said that a Japanese diplomat recently
visited New Delhi and talked to his counterpart in the
Foreign Ministry about the possibility of coordinating policy
on Nepal. The Indian diplomat reportedly replied that India
was already coordinating with the U.S. and European
countries; however, he allowed that there would be "no harm"
if Japan were to make some statement on Nepal.
Concerned About Safety of Japanese
--------------
4. (C) Hiraoka continued to be concerned about the safety of
Japanese citizens in Nepal, saying that many businessmen had
expressed concerned to him about growing Maoist extortion.
He noted that in April he had been close to evacuating staff
of the Japanese Embassy (17 Japanese nationals) and Japan
International Cooperation Agency (JICA) (12 Japanese
nationals). Hiraoka commented that, for the safety of the
approximately 50 JICA volunteers, he was careful not to
denounce the Maoists in public. He said the volunteers had
had few problems with Maoists to date. While
Japanese-affiliated travel and trekking companies were
pressing him to lower the travel advisory, he said he would
only do so if peace talks progressed well.
Comment
--------------
5. (C) Japanese budgetary assistance could go a long way in
helping the government. It is encouraging to see Japan
taking the decision to act sooner rather than later to work
to strengthen the new democratic government.
MORIARTY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/INS, EAP
MANILLA PLEASE PASS TO E SPELTZ
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER EAID ASEC NP JP IN
SUBJECT: JAPANESE AMBASSADOR SUPPORTS ACTING QUICKLY TO
SHORE UP GOVERNMENT
Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4 (b,d).
Japan Plans to Increase Assistance to GON
--------------
1. (C) The Ambassador met with Japanese Ambassador Tsutomu
Hiraoka on May 24 in order to push the message that Nepal's
traditional donors should increase assistance as quickly as
possible to consolidate the democratic transition. Hiraoka
replied that he supported increasing assistance to the new
government to support its legitimacy and strengthen its
position as it entered into peace negotiations with the
Maoists. He stressed that Japan's goal was to refrain from
giving any legitimacy to the Maoists. He said that Tokyo was
worried about the "fluid" situation in Nepal and he felt
Tokyo would be receptive to his suggestion to act immediately
to increase assistance to Nepal by 50 million USD. He noted
this assistance could be in the form of non-project budgetary
support or infrastructure projects such as roads.
Nothing to Maoists
--------------
2. (C) Hiraoka stressed that his government would not fund
the feeding of Maoist cadre, and would be forced to stop all
assistance if the Maoists joined the government without
giving up arms. Hiraoka stressed that the GOJ viewed
Maoists as fundamentally opposed to democracy, against
free-market economies and private enterprise. The Ambassador
noted that the U.S. would not fund assistance to the Maoists
either. Hiraoka expressed interest in plans for U.S.
development and military assistance. The Ambassador
highlighted the need for small scale, quick impact projects
to show government progress and pressure the Maoists to
negotiate. Hiraoka commented that SCA A/S Boucher and
Norwegian envoy Erik Solheim would be in Tokyo on May 30 for
a meeting on Sri Lanka, and Tokyo planned to take the
opportunity to discuss Nepal with the two.
Role of India
--------------
3. (C) Hiraoka was interested in the Indian view of UN
involvement in monitoring the cease-fire, acting as a
witness, and decommissioning. Noting that the stated U.S.
goal in Nepal was to restore democracy and prevent a Maoist
takeover, Hiraoka wondered if a third goal was to build our
relationship with India. The Ambassador acknowledged that
coordinating with India on Nepal issues was beneficial to our
bilateral relationship, but explained it was a byproduct of,
and not the driving force behind, pursuing our goals in
Nepal. Hiraoka said that a Japanese diplomat recently
visited New Delhi and talked to his counterpart in the
Foreign Ministry about the possibility of coordinating policy
on Nepal. The Indian diplomat reportedly replied that India
was already coordinating with the U.S. and European
countries; however, he allowed that there would be "no harm"
if Japan were to make some statement on Nepal.
Concerned About Safety of Japanese
--------------
4. (C) Hiraoka continued to be concerned about the safety of
Japanese citizens in Nepal, saying that many businessmen had
expressed concerned to him about growing Maoist extortion.
He noted that in April he had been close to evacuating staff
of the Japanese Embassy (17 Japanese nationals) and Japan
International Cooperation Agency (JICA) (12 Japanese
nationals). Hiraoka commented that, for the safety of the
approximately 50 JICA volunteers, he was careful not to
denounce the Maoists in public. He said the volunteers had
had few problems with Maoists to date. While
Japanese-affiliated travel and trekking companies were
pressing him to lower the travel advisory, he said he would
only do so if peace talks progressed well.
Comment
--------------
5. (C) Japanese budgetary assistance could go a long way in
helping the government. It is encouraging to see Japan
taking the decision to act sooner rather than later to work
to strengthen the new democratic government.
MORIARTY