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