Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06STATE61225
2006-04-18 15:23:00
SECRET
Secretary of State
Cable title:
UNDER SECRETARY BURNS' APRIL 10 MEETING WITH
how-toVZCZCXYZ0002 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHC #1225 1081528 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 181523Z APR 06 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 0000 INFO RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0000 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0000 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0000 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0000 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0000
S E C R E T STATE 061225
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/18/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR MCAP MNUC PARM PINR SNAR IZ IR IN AF JA
NATO, G-8, UNSC
SUBJECT: UNDER SECRETARY BURNS' APRIL 10 MEETING WITH
JAPANESE DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER TSUNEO NISHIDA
Classified By: EAP:K Stephens, Reason 1.4(b)and(d)
S E C R E T STATE 061225
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/18/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR MCAP MNUC PARM PINR SNAR IZ IR IN AF JA
NATO, G-8, UNSC
SUBJECT: UNDER SECRETARY BURNS' APRIL 10 MEETING WITH
JAPANESE DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER TSUNEO NISHIDA
Classified By: EAP:K Stephens, Reason 1.4(b)and(d)
1. (U) Classified by: Acting EAP A/S Kathleen Stephens,
reason 1.4 (b) and (d)
2. (U) Participants:
Morning meeting
U.S.
Under Secretary Burns
EAP A/S Kathy Stephens (acting)
P Special Assistant Andrew Shaw
EAP/J Director Wendell Albright (acting)
JAPAN
Deputy Foreign Minister Nishida
Motohide Yoshikawa, Director General, Middle Eastern and
African Affairs Bureau, MOFA
Nobokatsu Kanehara, Minister, Embassy of Japan
Shogo Yoshitake, Deputy Director, First North American
Division, MOFA
African Affairs Bureau, MOFA
Lunch
U.S.
Under Secretary Burns
EAP A/S Kathy Stephens (acting)
P Special Assistant Andrew Shaw
JAPAN
Deputy Foreign Minister Nishida
Nobokatsu Kanehara, Minister, Embassy of Japan
Shogo Yoshitake, Deputy Director, First North American
Division, MOFA
Afternoon meeting
U.S.
Under Secretary Burns
Treasury U/S Stuart Levey
EB A/S Tony Wayne
EAP A/S Kathy Stephens (acting)
P Special Assistant Andrew Shaw
JAPAN
Deputy Foreign Minister Nishida
Motohide Yoshikawa, Director General, Middle Eastern and
African Affairs Bureau, MOFA
Akitaka Saiki, DCM, Embassy of Japan
Shogo Yoshitake, Deputy Director, First North American
Division, MOFA
Makoto Matsuda, First Secretary, Embassy of Japan
3. (C) SUMMARY. Under Secretary Burns and DFM Nishida met
for four
hours and discussed a wide range of topics. Japan will keep
some
Air Self Defense Forces (ASDF) liaison personnel in Iraq, but
PRTs
will be difficult due to security. Afghanistan drug
production is a
problem which can perhaps be approached through the G8.
Despite
press reports, the USG is committed to the diplomatic track
on
resolving the Iran nuclear problem. Japan wants a response
to PM
Koizumi's letter on UNSC reform. U/S Burns suggests a
Trilateral
Strategic Dialogue meeting in Tokyo in late May. END SUMMARY.
--------------
IRAN
--------------
4. (C) Under Secretary Burns refuted press reports over the
weekend
that the U.S. planned to attack Iran. Burns said the U.S. is
firmly,
clearly, unequivocally on a diplomatic track. We are not
looking
for a war with Iran, and the fact that there are military
plans for
such an eventuality doesn't mean anything - we probably have
plans
to invade Iceland. That said, we are not taking the military
option off the table, but the emphasis is on diplomacy.
Nishida
thanked Burns for reaffirming USG support for diplomacy. He
noted
however that it would be better if the USG were more clear on
its
policy. People are upset about Iraq, and will seize on these
reports about Iran, which could upset diplomatic efforts.
The U.S.
needs to be clear that its focus is on diplomacy, and use a
different
statement than "all options are on the table," which is
ambiguous.
5. (S) Burns noted the key question is not when Iran can
begin
manufacturing nuclear weapons, but rather when Iranian
scientists
can master the knowledge and techniques necessary. Nishida
agreed,
fearing they would reach that threshhold within a year.
6. (SBU) Further discussion on Iran septel.
--------------
IRAQ - CONTINUED JAPANESE PARTICIPATION
--------------
7. (C) Burns and Nishida discussed the need for the quick
formation
of a government in Iraq, and the need for a more decisive
Prime
Minister, and shared assessments of the situation in Iraq.
Nishida,
referring to the Quad talks taking place in London, said
Japan wanted
to maintain some sort of presence in Iraq after the Ground
Self
Defense Forces (GSDF) contingent leaves. He said Japan
needed to know
by April 21 when GSDF should be withdrawn, due to planning
requirements.
Nishida said that Japan had decided to keep a small ASDF
liaison
contingent in Baghdad and Basra, and noted that Japan's
survey of
security conditions at various airports in Iraq was still
underway.
8. (C) Turning to provincial reconstruction teams, Nishida
said that
Japanese involvement would be difficult mostly due to
security
concerns, but the GOJ is ready to listen. Burns stressed the
value of
PRTs as a way to help extend the reach of Iraq's central
government
into the provinces. Nishida noted that the GOJ sent a
senior-level
delegation to Basra at the UK's request to look at a "kind of
PRT,"
and they reported that it was not safe, Japan's main reason
for not
sending people on a permanent basis - but perhaps Japan could
base
people in Kuwait and send them to PRTs on a temporary basis.
When
Burns broached the possibility of the U.S. military providing
security for Japanese PRT participants, Nishida said that was
a
"delicate" question.
--------------
AFGHANISTAN
--------------
9. (C) Burns thanked Nishida for Japan's work in Afghanistan,
in
particular OEF fueling support and work on the Kandahar-Heart
and
Kabul-Kandahar roads. Nishida said Japan was accelerating
its DDR
activities and was initiating DIAG (disarming illegal armed
groups)
activities. Japan plans to invite Karzai to Tokyo in July to
review
DDR and DIAG plans. Nishida noted that the Central Asian
countries
are also important, and thought that Afghanistan and the
other Central
Asian countries might be a potential third target region in
the
Strategic Development Alliance. Like Iraq, it would be
difficult for
Japan to participate in PRTS in Afghanistan because of
security.
10. (U) Burns noted news reports about MOFA's plans to
reorganize its
office that covers Asia and noted that SCA A/S Boucher would
be in
Tokyo April 24 for a Sri Lanka meeting; he suggested to DG
Yoshikawa
he might want to meet with Boucher while he is there.
11. (C) Burns raised the problem of poppy cultivation in
Afghanistan,
noting State's narcotics experts said we had spent $250
million to
eradicate only 4000 hectares. Burns suggested discussing at
the
upcoming G8 political directors meeting a possible joint
approach
within the G8 to try to convince Karzai to allow aerial
eradication
of poppy. Nishida said Japan was also concerned.
--------------
NATO GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP
--------------
12. (C) Burns said the US and UK have made a joint proposal
for NATO's
consideration, which France will oppose, but we believe NATO
will
support it. Nishida sees great value, but cautioned that we
need to
coordinate our press points because this is a sensitive issue
in Japan.
Burns and Nishida instructed Minister Kanehara and PDAS
Stephens to
work on this.
--------------
INDIA CIVIL NUCLEAR INITIATIVE
--------------
13. (S) On the India civil nuclear initiative, Burns said the
UK,
France, Russia, and IAEA all support. Merkel said Germany is
divided
but in the end would be supportive. Burns gave Nishida a
Indian
Government paper on the nuclear separation plan as well as
recent
testimony by the Secretary on the issue and a White House
fact sheet
on the non-proliferation issues. Nishida said he was glad to
hear that
momentum on the Hill was swinging towards supporting the
deal. Burns
said he understood how sensitive this issue is for Japan and
promised
to provide follow-up briefings or information for the GOJ.
Note:
SCA A/S Boucher will be in Tokyo for Sri Lanka meetings April
24;
this would be a good opportunity to push this initiative with
MOFA.
--------------
TRILATERAL STRATEGIC DIALOGUE
--------------
14. (S) Nishida said Japan is keen to work with the U.S. and
Australia
in Central Asia and on intelligence cooperation. Burns said
he was
thinking of traveling to Tokyo the last week of May and would
like to
hold a TSD meeting if convenient for Nishida (Nishida said he
would
check his schedule). Burns also offered to host a TSD in
Washington
a couple of months after the Tokyo meeting.
--------------
UNSC REFORM
--------------
15. (C) Nishida said this was a high priority for the Prime
Minister
and that they were waiting for the President's reply to
Koizumi's
recent letter. Speaking personally, Nishida said hoped the
USG would
provide constructive comments on an expansion plan; if not
Model C,
then what could the U.S. live with? Burns promised to get
back to
him on this.
---
G-8
---
16. (C) Burns asked Japan to support German poldir Schaefer's
letter to
the Russians to discuss sensitive issues such as Belarus,
Moldova, and
Georgia. Nishida agreed.
RICE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/18/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR MCAP MNUC PARM PINR SNAR IZ IR IN AF JA
NATO, G-8, UNSC
SUBJECT: UNDER SECRETARY BURNS' APRIL 10 MEETING WITH
JAPANESE DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER TSUNEO NISHIDA
Classified By: EAP:K Stephens, Reason 1.4(b)and(d)
1. (U) Classified by: Acting EAP A/S Kathleen Stephens,
reason 1.4 (b) and (d)
2. (U) Participants:
Morning meeting
U.S.
Under Secretary Burns
EAP A/S Kathy Stephens (acting)
P Special Assistant Andrew Shaw
EAP/J Director Wendell Albright (acting)
JAPAN
Deputy Foreign Minister Nishida
Motohide Yoshikawa, Director General, Middle Eastern and
African Affairs Bureau, MOFA
Nobokatsu Kanehara, Minister, Embassy of Japan
Shogo Yoshitake, Deputy Director, First North American
Division, MOFA
African Affairs Bureau, MOFA
Lunch
U.S.
Under Secretary Burns
EAP A/S Kathy Stephens (acting)
P Special Assistant Andrew Shaw
JAPAN
Deputy Foreign Minister Nishida
Nobokatsu Kanehara, Minister, Embassy of Japan
Shogo Yoshitake, Deputy Director, First North American
Division, MOFA
Afternoon meeting
U.S.
Under Secretary Burns
Treasury U/S Stuart Levey
EB A/S Tony Wayne
EAP A/S Kathy Stephens (acting)
P Special Assistant Andrew Shaw
JAPAN
Deputy Foreign Minister Nishida
Motohide Yoshikawa, Director General, Middle Eastern and
African Affairs Bureau, MOFA
Akitaka Saiki, DCM, Embassy of Japan
Shogo Yoshitake, Deputy Director, First North American
Division, MOFA
Makoto Matsuda, First Secretary, Embassy of Japan
3. (C) SUMMARY. Under Secretary Burns and DFM Nishida met
for four
hours and discussed a wide range of topics. Japan will keep
some
Air Self Defense Forces (ASDF) liaison personnel in Iraq, but
PRTs
will be difficult due to security. Afghanistan drug
production is a
problem which can perhaps be approached through the G8.
Despite
press reports, the USG is committed to the diplomatic track
on
resolving the Iran nuclear problem. Japan wants a response
to PM
Koizumi's letter on UNSC reform. U/S Burns suggests a
Trilateral
Strategic Dialogue meeting in Tokyo in late May. END SUMMARY.
--------------
IRAN
--------------
4. (C) Under Secretary Burns refuted press reports over the
weekend
that the U.S. planned to attack Iran. Burns said the U.S. is
firmly,
clearly, unequivocally on a diplomatic track. We are not
looking
for a war with Iran, and the fact that there are military
plans for
such an eventuality doesn't mean anything - we probably have
plans
to invade Iceland. That said, we are not taking the military
option off the table, but the emphasis is on diplomacy.
Nishida
thanked Burns for reaffirming USG support for diplomacy. He
noted
however that it would be better if the USG were more clear on
its
policy. People are upset about Iraq, and will seize on these
reports about Iran, which could upset diplomatic efforts.
The U.S.
needs to be clear that its focus is on diplomacy, and use a
different
statement than "all options are on the table," which is
ambiguous.
5. (S) Burns noted the key question is not when Iran can
begin
manufacturing nuclear weapons, but rather when Iranian
scientists
can master the knowledge and techniques necessary. Nishida
agreed,
fearing they would reach that threshhold within a year.
6. (SBU) Further discussion on Iran septel.
--------------
IRAQ - CONTINUED JAPANESE PARTICIPATION
--------------
7. (C) Burns and Nishida discussed the need for the quick
formation
of a government in Iraq, and the need for a more decisive
Prime
Minister, and shared assessments of the situation in Iraq.
Nishida,
referring to the Quad talks taking place in London, said
Japan wanted
to maintain some sort of presence in Iraq after the Ground
Self
Defense Forces (GSDF) contingent leaves. He said Japan
needed to know
by April 21 when GSDF should be withdrawn, due to planning
requirements.
Nishida said that Japan had decided to keep a small ASDF
liaison
contingent in Baghdad and Basra, and noted that Japan's
survey of
security conditions at various airports in Iraq was still
underway.
8. (C) Turning to provincial reconstruction teams, Nishida
said that
Japanese involvement would be difficult mostly due to
security
concerns, but the GOJ is ready to listen. Burns stressed the
value of
PRTs as a way to help extend the reach of Iraq's central
government
into the provinces. Nishida noted that the GOJ sent a
senior-level
delegation to Basra at the UK's request to look at a "kind of
PRT,"
and they reported that it was not safe, Japan's main reason
for not
sending people on a permanent basis - but perhaps Japan could
base
people in Kuwait and send them to PRTs on a temporary basis.
When
Burns broached the possibility of the U.S. military providing
security for Japanese PRT participants, Nishida said that was
a
"delicate" question.
--------------
AFGHANISTAN
--------------
9. (C) Burns thanked Nishida for Japan's work in Afghanistan,
in
particular OEF fueling support and work on the Kandahar-Heart
and
Kabul-Kandahar roads. Nishida said Japan was accelerating
its DDR
activities and was initiating DIAG (disarming illegal armed
groups)
activities. Japan plans to invite Karzai to Tokyo in July to
review
DDR and DIAG plans. Nishida noted that the Central Asian
countries
are also important, and thought that Afghanistan and the
other Central
Asian countries might be a potential third target region in
the
Strategic Development Alliance. Like Iraq, it would be
difficult for
Japan to participate in PRTS in Afghanistan because of
security.
10. (U) Burns noted news reports about MOFA's plans to
reorganize its
office that covers Asia and noted that SCA A/S Boucher would
be in
Tokyo April 24 for a Sri Lanka meeting; he suggested to DG
Yoshikawa
he might want to meet with Boucher while he is there.
11. (C) Burns raised the problem of poppy cultivation in
Afghanistan,
noting State's narcotics experts said we had spent $250
million to
eradicate only 4000 hectares. Burns suggested discussing at
the
upcoming G8 political directors meeting a possible joint
approach
within the G8 to try to convince Karzai to allow aerial
eradication
of poppy. Nishida said Japan was also concerned.
--------------
NATO GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP
--------------
12. (C) Burns said the US and UK have made a joint proposal
for NATO's
consideration, which France will oppose, but we believe NATO
will
support it. Nishida sees great value, but cautioned that we
need to
coordinate our press points because this is a sensitive issue
in Japan.
Burns and Nishida instructed Minister Kanehara and PDAS
Stephens to
work on this.
--------------
INDIA CIVIL NUCLEAR INITIATIVE
--------------
13. (S) On the India civil nuclear initiative, Burns said the
UK,
France, Russia, and IAEA all support. Merkel said Germany is
divided
but in the end would be supportive. Burns gave Nishida a
Indian
Government paper on the nuclear separation plan as well as
recent
testimony by the Secretary on the issue and a White House
fact sheet
on the non-proliferation issues. Nishida said he was glad to
hear that
momentum on the Hill was swinging towards supporting the
deal. Burns
said he understood how sensitive this issue is for Japan and
promised
to provide follow-up briefings or information for the GOJ.
Note:
SCA A/S Boucher will be in Tokyo for Sri Lanka meetings April
24;
this would be a good opportunity to push this initiative with
MOFA.
--------------
TRILATERAL STRATEGIC DIALOGUE
--------------
14. (S) Nishida said Japan is keen to work with the U.S. and
Australia
in Central Asia and on intelligence cooperation. Burns said
he was
thinking of traveling to Tokyo the last week of May and would
like to
hold a TSD meeting if convenient for Nishida (Nishida said he
would
check his schedule). Burns also offered to host a TSD in
Washington
a couple of months after the Tokyo meeting.
--------------
UNSC REFORM
--------------
15. (C) Nishida said this was a high priority for the Prime
Minister
and that they were waiting for the President's reply to
Koizumi's
recent letter. Speaking personally, Nishida said hoped the
USG would
provide constructive comments on an expansion plan; if not
Model C,
then what could the U.S. live with? Burns promised to get
back to
him on this.
---
G-8
---
16. (C) Burns asked Japan to support German poldir Schaefer's
letter to
the Russians to discuss sensitive issues such as Belarus,
Moldova, and
Georgia. Nishida agreed.
RICE