JAPAN: SAUDI CROWN PRINCE SULTAN'S APRIL VISIT

S E C R E T TOKYO 002040 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2031 TAGS: PINR ECIN MARR PREL SA JA SUBJECT: JAPAN: SAUDI CROWN PRINCE SULTAN'S APRIL VISIT (C-NE6-00584) REF: STATE 058668 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Joseph Donovan. Reasons 1.4 b/d ¶1. (S) Saudi Crown Prince Sultan's April 5-6 visit to Tokyo was considered a "success" by both sides, according to MOFA Second Middle East Saudi Desk Officer Asako and Iran Desk Officer Nakao. Asako suggested the most thorough briefing material available was the joint statement from the visit, a four-page summary of His Royal Highness' meeting with PM Koizumi, which followed audiences with Emperor Akihito and Crown Prince Naruhito. (The full text of the joint statement is available at www.mofa.go.jp/region/middle e/saudi/joint0604.html) In addition to PM Koizumi, the Crown Prince Sultan met with Foreign Minister Aso, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Minister Nikkai, former Minister (and former head of Arabian Oil Company) Kanaga, and attended a dinner with 150 businessmen from Japanese business groups such as Keidanren. ¶2. (S) In addition to the pro forma calls for friendlier polQical and deeper economic ties and the self-congratulatory remarks on past bilateral accomplishments, the two sides: -- announced the start of formal negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement; -- called for a just and comprehensive solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict -- expressing support for the creation of an independent Palestinian state; -- reaffirmed commitment to helping Iraqi and Afghanistan reconstruction; -- called for the Middle East to be free of weapons of mass destruction and for a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue; -- condemned terror; and -- urged comprehensive reform of the United Nations. ¶3. (S) Asako said that the Saudi side initially resisted the language in the final joint statement calling for Middle East states to accede to the NPT and for a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue. He stressed MOFA's particular pleasure that the Crown Prince Sultan had agreed to include in the statement a promise that Saudi Arabia would guarantee a stable oil supply to Japan regardless of any changes to the global political situation. In addition to the statement, Japan also agreed to reactivate the Japan-Saudi parliamentary friendship association, naming former PM Mori as its chief. SCHIEFFER