JAPAN PROPOSES NEW UN SCALE OF ASSESSMENTS, WARNS

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 001296 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/09/2021 TAGS: PREL UNSC UNGA PHUM JA SUBJECT: JAPAN PROPOSES NEW UN SCALE OF ASSESSMENTS, WARNS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL REFORM AT RISK Classified By: Ambassador J.T. Schieffer for Reasons: 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Japan will count on U.S. support to back its proposal to change the contribution requirement of UNSC permanent members, MOFA Global Issues Director General Shinyo told Political Minister Counselor Meserve on March 8. The Japanese argue that P5 contributions to the overall UN budget should be commensurate with their responsibilities and economic potential. Under Japan's proposal, the U.S. contribution would remain the same, the UK's would increase slightly, and France would see a decrease in its obligation. Russia and China, whose contributions would jump, will likely oppose Japan's proposal, Shinyo believed. The assessments for Japan and Germany, who are not P5 members, would decrease significantly. Separately, DG Shinyo requested U.S. flexibility on the issue of membership eligibility to the Human Rights Council, even if it means accepting solutions that fall outside the document's formal text. End Summary. ¶2. (C) MOFA Global Issues Director General Takahiro Shinyo called in the Political Minister Counselor Meserve on March 8 to relay the Japanese government's proposal on the "Methodology for UN Scale of Assessments for 2007-2009" (full text faxed March 8 to EAP/J) and to encourage the U.S. Government to accept UNGA President Jan Eliasson's recommendation to use an absolute majority voting method, in lieu of a two-thirds majority, for deciding membership to the Human Rights Council. UN Scale of Assessments: Japanese Government Proposal -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) "The Japanese government will count on strong support and understanding from the United States" to see that its proposal to change the contribution requirement of UNSC permanent members is adopted at UNGA's fifth committee meeting in the autumn, Shinyo stressed. Under the Japanese plan, the U.S. contribution would remain at its current 22% level. The U.K. contribution would increase marginally, from 6.1 percent to 6.2%, "because its economy is expanding." France's contribution would decline from 6.0% to 5.8%. China and Russia both would see significant overall increases in their percent contributions: China would contribute 5% and Russia 3%, up from previous levels of 2.1% and 1.1%, respectively. ¶4. (C) Japan's proposal likely would encounter strong opposition from China and Russia, Shinyo acknowledged, but stressed that reform is "absolutely necessary." A 3-5% floor for all P5 members, he continued, is only fair considering their enormous decision-making responsibility. Neither China nor Russia, whose economies represent great potential in DG Shinyo's view, currently is shouldering a burden commensurate with its stature on the Security Council. Conversely, the United States assessment should not exceed 22% because one country "should not monopolize contributions to the UN" and, Shinyo added, as a close ally, Japan wants to stand together with the U.S. on this issue. Japan and Germany - not currently UNSC members, but two of the largest contributors nevertheless - would see drops in their contributions to 14.8% and 7.8%, respectively. ¶5. (C) Shinyo provided the "elements and criteria" for the newly proposed methodology, presented, unedited, below: (i) Data on gross national income. (ii) A statistical base period of three years, with annual recalculation. (iii) Conversion rates based on market exchange rates, except where that would cause excessive fluctuations and distortions in the income of some Member States, when price adjusted rates of exchange or other appropriate conversion rates should be employed, taking due account of General Assembly resolution 46/221B of 20 December 1991. (iv) Debt burden adjustment based on the total debt stock. (v) A low per capita income adjustment of 80%, with the threshold per capita income limit of the average per capita gross national income of all Member States for the statistical base period. (vi) A minimum assessment rate of 3 or 5 per cent for the States permanent members of the Security Council. (vii) A minimum assessment rate of .001 percent. (viii) A maximum assessment rate for the least developed countries of .01 percent. (ix) A maximum assessment rate of 22 percent. ¶6. (C) Japan's Mission in New York has already passed the Japanese proposal to USUN; Japan will present it to others -- China, Russia, and Iran, in its capacity as chair of the fifth committee -- on March 10, according to DG Shinyo. Japan will circulate the draft on March 13. ¶7. (C) Political Minister Counselor Meserve thanked the Director General for his comprehensive and detailed explanation. He noted the Japanese plan did not recommend that the U.S. Government pay more than 22% mandated by the U.S. Congress. He reaffirmed that the United States would remain open to all proposals, including Japan's. Human Rights Council -------------- ¶8. (C) Stressing that "99% of the work has already been done," Shinyo asked for the United States to show "an inch of flexibility" in resolving the remaining sticking point on election of members to the Human Rights Council. While the Director General acknowledged the U.S. position that countries admitted to the Council should be elected by two-thirds of the members, he strongly encouraged the United States to accept Mr. Eliasson's proposal requiring election by only an absolute majority. If the U.S. Government does not agree, Shinyo cautioned, momentum for reform of the Council would stall and, worse, the Commission in Geneva - which has been suspended - would not reconvene; this issue would then be "frozen for a long time to come." ¶9. (C) Shinyo suggested that the U.S. Government "work out alternatives" - outside the text of the document - that would address its concerns. For example, a candidate country could make a written pledge that its government upholds human rights and is taking steps to improve its human rights situation. Another option, Shinyo offered, would be to require that an "interim review" of member countries is necessary. This decision should be made at "the highest levels" in Washington and New York, Director General Shinyo suggested. In response, Political Minister Counselor Meserve promised to relay the Director General's request back to Washington, adding that Japan and the United States must work together to achieve an outcome that reflects our common view that there is no place on the Council for countries that are gross violators of human rights. SCHIEFFER