WHA A/S SHANNON'S APRIL 10 CONSULTATIONS WITH MOFA

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 001960 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT PLEASE PASS USTR FOR BEEMAN, CUTLER E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/10/2025 TAGS: PREL ETRD ECON TW XR CH KS XKJA LA JA SUBJECT: WHA A/S SHANNON'S APRIL 10 CONSULTATIONS WITH MOFA LATIN AMERICA DG SAKABA: WORKING LUNCHEON Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Joe Donovan. Reasons: 1.4 (b)(d ). ¶1. (C) Summary: Over a April 10 working lunch, MOFA Latin American DG Sakaba told visiting WHA A/S Thomas Shannon that Japan will not interfere in the extradition process between Chile and Peru on former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori. Japan is interested in exploring possible ways to participate in the "reintegration" element of the UNDP's DDR efforts in Haiti. Japanese shipping companies are concerned over rising Panama Canal fees. Responding to Sakaba's question, A/S Shannon explained the reasons behind Helms-Burton legislation on CUBA trade. End Summary. Peru -------------- ¶2. (C) During an April 10 working lunch, MOFA Latin American and Caribbean Affairs Bureau DG Mitsuo Sakaba told visiting WHA A/S Thomas A. Shannon that Japan has had no ministerial exchanges or political-level contact with Peru since November 2000 when then-President Alberto Fujimori fled the country for Japan. Peru is upset with Japan, mistakenly believing that the GOJ had granted Japanese nationality to Fujimori. However, the GOJ discovered that Fujimori was a dual national, having been registered as a Japanese citizen at birth, and treated him as such. Although Japan does not have an extradition treaty with Peru, the GOJ did not refuse Lima's extradition request. Rather, the GOJ was studying the issue when Fujimori suddenly left Japan in November 2005. ¶3. (C) Lima and Santiago are upset with Tokyo for not informing them of Fujimori's departure from Japan for Chile, but the GOJ had no knowledge of his departure, DG Sakaba asserted. Japan intends to stay out of the extradition process currently underway between Chile and Peru -- Japan has only requested monthly consular visits, as it would for any Japanese citizen. When PM Koizumi met with President Toledo at the APEC Summit in Pusan in November 2005, the two sides agreed to handle the issue as a legal matter so as not to damage bilateral relations. Unfortunately, according to Sakaba, Peru's Foreign Minister has unjustifiably accused Japan of creating political difficulties over Fujimori. ¶4. (C) DG Sakaba provided a brief assessment of Peru's presidential campaign and stated that Japan hoped to use the opportunity provided by the inauguration of a new president later this year to renew Japan's once-strong ties to Peru. Haiti -------------- ¶5. (C) Commenting on the recent UN Security Council discussion on Haiti, which he attended in New York, DG Sakaba stated that Japan expressed strong support for the nation-building process in Haiti. Japan will provide USD 3 million in food production assistance and contribute to a UNICEF vaccination program. The UNDP has discussed with Tokyo the possibility of Japan's participation in Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) efforts in Haiti. This would be a new experience for Tokyo in Haiti, but Japan is interested in working on social reintegration and in learning about the U.S. DDR experience. ¶6. (C) A/S Shannon reviewed the USD 5 million program in the poor Port-au-Prine neighborhood of Bel Air, which ties development assistance to disarmament. The United States believes the nexus between disarmament and development will continue to be important and is prepared to expand its Bel Air program to other areas of Port-au-Prince, especially Cite Soleil, where gangs, especially "the chimeres," remain a problem. However, A/S Shannon noted, DDR efforts per se have not yet begun. After his inauguration, President-elect Preval plans to develop a DDR program that will need wide support. Once a program has been agreed upon, the international community will need to provide funds for such an activity to complement the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH),A/S Shannon stated. Central America -------------- ¶7. (C) DG Sakaba noted Japan's large ODA program in Central America, relating Japanese interest in supporting the region's development process. Japan has an ongoing policy dialogue with Central American governments, including a heads of government meeting with PM Koizumi in Tokyo last year. Continuing Sandinista political activity concerns Japan, DG Sakaba stated, and asked for U.S. views. A/S Shannon reviewed the presidential election campaign, noting the worrisome links between former President Arnoldo Aleman and Sandinista candidate former President Daniel Ortega, and Venezuela's President Chavez's efforts to provide support to Ortega. Shannon highlighted the importance of international observation to ensure free and fair elections. He noted that Nicaragua was on the verge of significant economic growth, but would only achieve such growth (and obtain international assistance) if the Ortega-Aleman "pacts" could be broken and a modern, independent candidate elected. Panama Canal -------------- ¶8. (C) Noting Japanese firms' concerns over rising Panama Canal fees, DG Sakaba stated that some shippers found it cheaper to go the southern route, despite the longer transit time. Asked for his views on the Panama Canal master plan, A/S Shannon noted that President Bush had stated during his visit to Panama last November that it was important to modernize and expand the canal to enable it to handle the larger ships that now make up one-third of the marine fleet. A Panamanian referendum on the canal's expansion is anticipated for late this year or early 2007. ¶9. (U) This message was cleared by A/S Shannon. SCHIEFFER