Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TOKYO2937
2006-05-26 09:14:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
JAPAN PRESSING FOR A MEETING WITH THE U.S. ON UNSC
how-toVZCZCXYZ0002 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHKO #2937 1460914 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 260914Z MAY 06 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2584 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 2495 RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 1181 RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 0362 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1500 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 1051 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 8015 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 4932 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0471 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 002937
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2026
TAGS: PREL UNSC BR GM IN CH JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN PRESSING FOR A MEETING WITH THE U.S. ON UNSC
REFORM
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer. Reasons:1.4 (b/d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 002937
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2026
TAGS: PREL UNSC BR GM IN CH JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN PRESSING FOR A MEETING WITH THE U.S. ON UNSC
REFORM
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer. Reasons:1.4 (b/d).
1. (C) Summary: Japan hopes to receive a response to the
proposal on UN Security Council reform that Foreign Minister
Aso passed to Secretary Rice during their May 2 meeting prior
to the June 29 Summit, according to MOFA UN Policy Division
Director Shigeki Takizaki. In addition, Japan "needs" a
meeting between U/S Burns and either Deputy Foreign Minister
Nishida or DVFM Kohno "anywhere in the world" prior to the
Bush-Koizumi Summit to discuss the proposal in detail,
Takizaki asserts. End Summary.
2. (C) During a May 24 meeting with Poloff, MOFA UN Policy
Division Director Shigeki Takizaki briefly described the
proposal for UNSC expansion that Foreign Minister Aso passed
to Secretary Rice during their May 2 meeting. This proposal,
"Option D," consists of two stages, he explained, with Stage
One calling for a maximum of two new permanent members, each
of whom would require support from two-thirds of members
states. One or both new seats could remain vacant if no
candidate received the required two-thirds' vote. Stage One
also allows for four new nonpermanent members, with one
allotted to each of the four geographic regions. In Stage
Two, the new arrangement would be reviewed after ten or 15
years and, if found appropriate, two more permanent members
could be added. Takizaki explained that the new proposal was
initiated by "one of the other G-4 members," whom he declined
to identify. The proposal has been shared with very few
other countries and with few officials within the Japanese
government, he noted.
3. (C) Japan, Takizaki continued, has no guarantee that it
would be one of the two new permanent members under the new
proposal but is willing to "take that risk" in order to
accommodate U.S. concerns. Before moving forward, however,
Japan needs assurance that the United States would not
interfere or oppose the proposal. Japan is still waiting to
hear back on the paper that FM Aso gave the Secretary. Japan
"definitely needs" a meeting between U/S Burns and either DFM
Nishida or DVFM Kohno "anywhere in the world" prior to the
June 29 Summit to discuss the proposal in detail, Takizaki
asserted.
4. (C) Asked how he thought China would respond to "Option
D," Takizaki suggested that China "might be okay with it."
(Note: Takizaki revealed that Japan and China would be
holding Director General-level talks on UN reform-related
issues later in the summer. They held the last such talks in
December 2005.) More important than support from China or
the African Union, he stressed, was a "go sign" from the
United States.
5. (C) Comment: Obtaining a permanent UNSC seat continues to
be a high priority for some MOFA officials. We expect them
to use every opportunity to elicit U.S. support for a
concrete proposal acceptable to two-thirds of UNGA members
SCHIEFFER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2026
TAGS: PREL UNSC BR GM IN CH JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN PRESSING FOR A MEETING WITH THE U.S. ON UNSC
REFORM
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer. Reasons:1.4 (b/d).
1. (C) Summary: Japan hopes to receive a response to the
proposal on UN Security Council reform that Foreign Minister
Aso passed to Secretary Rice during their May 2 meeting prior
to the June 29 Summit, according to MOFA UN Policy Division
Director Shigeki Takizaki. In addition, Japan "needs" a
meeting between U/S Burns and either Deputy Foreign Minister
Nishida or DVFM Kohno "anywhere in the world" prior to the
Bush-Koizumi Summit to discuss the proposal in detail,
Takizaki asserts. End Summary.
2. (C) During a May 24 meeting with Poloff, MOFA UN Policy
Division Director Shigeki Takizaki briefly described the
proposal for UNSC expansion that Foreign Minister Aso passed
to Secretary Rice during their May 2 meeting. This proposal,
"Option D," consists of two stages, he explained, with Stage
One calling for a maximum of two new permanent members, each
of whom would require support from two-thirds of members
states. One or both new seats could remain vacant if no
candidate received the required two-thirds' vote. Stage One
also allows for four new nonpermanent members, with one
allotted to each of the four geographic regions. In Stage
Two, the new arrangement would be reviewed after ten or 15
years and, if found appropriate, two more permanent members
could be added. Takizaki explained that the new proposal was
initiated by "one of the other G-4 members," whom he declined
to identify. The proposal has been shared with very few
other countries and with few officials within the Japanese
government, he noted.
3. (C) Japan, Takizaki continued, has no guarantee that it
would be one of the two new permanent members under the new
proposal but is willing to "take that risk" in order to
accommodate U.S. concerns. Before moving forward, however,
Japan needs assurance that the United States would not
interfere or oppose the proposal. Japan is still waiting to
hear back on the paper that FM Aso gave the Secretary. Japan
"definitely needs" a meeting between U/S Burns and either DFM
Nishida or DVFM Kohno "anywhere in the world" prior to the
June 29 Summit to discuss the proposal in detail, Takizaki
asserted.
4. (C) Asked how he thought China would respond to "Option
D," Takizaki suggested that China "might be okay with it."
(Note: Takizaki revealed that Japan and China would be
holding Director General-level talks on UN reform-related
issues later in the summer. They held the last such talks in
December 2005.) More important than support from China or
the African Union, he stressed, was a "go sign" from the
United States.
5. (C) Comment: Obtaining a permanent UNSC seat continues to
be a high priority for some MOFA officials. We expect them
to use every opportunity to elicit U.S. support for a
concrete proposal acceptable to two-thirds of UNGA members
SCHIEFFER