SCA A/S BOUCHER'S MAY 30 MEETING WITH MOFA ASIAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 002990 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/31/2011 TAGS: PREL PTER PARM IN AF NP CE IR JA SUBJECT: SCA A/S BOUCHER'S MAY 30 MEETING WITH MOFA ASIAN AFFAIRS BUREAU DG SASAE Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for Reasons 1.4 b/d ¶1. (C) Summary: In a May 30 meeting with visiting SCA A/S Boucher, MOFA Asian Affairs Bureau DG Sasae stated: -- Japan is committed to nation building in Sri Lanka; -- MOFA is carefully explaining to the public and the Diet Japan's interests in supporting the India nuclear initiative; -- Japan is prepared to expand its economic assistance to Nepal; and -- Japan wants to increase cooperation with the United States on Central Asia. End Summary. Sri Lanka -------------- ¶2. (C) During a May 30 meeting with MOFA Asian Affairs Bureau DG Kenichiro Sasae, SCA A/S Richard Boucher reviewed the Sri Lanka co-chairs meeting discussion that occurred earlier that day. The Co-Chairs will urge the Government of Sri Lanka to be more specific on its peace proposals and press the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to abandon terrorism, he said. Moreover, the United States will work with concerned governments to cut off the LTTE's sources of funding and weapons. DG Sasae observed that Japan is committed to nation building in Sri Lanka, including offering programs designed to provide incentives to the Tamil Tigers to end the violence. (Note: Detailed reporting on the Co-Chairs Meeting is being reported septel. End Note.) India -------------- ¶3. (C) Noting India's growing importance to the United States, A/S Boucher stated that the civil nuclear cooperation initiative is a sign of the expansion of India's relations with the United States and of India's changing relations with the Nuclear Suppliers Group and other countries. He underscored that the nuclear agreement is strategically important for the international community and urged Japan to look at the agreement from a strategic viewpoint, rather than as a strictly nonproliferation matter. The United States has spoken with both India and Pakistan and there is no incentive or interest in beginning an arms race, he asserted. ¶4. (C) Observing that Japan was gearing up its engagement with India through increased official visits and military exchanges, DG Sasae noted there was a balance within MOFA between bureaus such as the Asian Affairs Bureau that want to expand cooperation with India and bureaus that are concerned about nuclear nonproliferation matters. He stressed the importance of carefully designing a process of informing the public and explaining to the Diet why Japan should support full civil nuclear commerce with India. Japan had to keep in mind the implications of the nuclear initiative for Japan-China relations, as well as the fact that the PRC is able to purchase nuclear technology. At the end of the day, DG Sasae concluded, Japan knows that it must recognize India's increased importance in the international community. Afghanistan -------------- ¶5. (C) A/S Boucher thanked DG Sasae for Japan's contributions to coalition efforts in Afghanistan, including refueling, pledges of economic assistance, and road building. It is important to the United States that Japan remain involved, he stated. Noting that the United States had offered Japan suggestions on how the Ring Road might be completed, A/S Boucher stressed the importance of road building to general economic development as well as to drawing the population away from the illicit economy and the TOKYO 00002990 002 OF 002 terrorists. Nepal -------------- ¶6. (C) Asked about the possibility of concluding an agreement between the Maoists and the political parties, A/S Boucher noted the importance of keeping the political parties united and acting decisively. Economic assistance programs now need to move forward, particularly those with immediate impact, he stated. DG Sasae said that Japan had maintained its humanitarian programs in Nepal through the past few difficult years and was now ready to expand its assistance into other areas. He underscored the need to integrate the Maoists into the political, social and economic mainstream. A/S Boucher concurred, stating that the Maoists would have a place in society as long as they stopped their violence and were prepared to participate peacefully in the political process. It is important that the political parties and the international community were clear on that point, he averred. Central Asia -------------- ¶7. (C) DG Sasae asked U.S. views of the June 15 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit. A/S Boucher related that the United States had told SCO members: 1) the organization should not repeat its 2005 involvement in political matters, but should concentrate its efforts on coordinating border, security and economic issues; and 2) the SCO should not provide a forum to enable Iranian President Ahmadinejad to make controversial remarks. DG Sasae said that Japan wondered why the Iranian president had been invited to attend the SCO meeting when Russia had asserted to Japan that the SCO was not prepared to deal with the Iranian nuclear issue. He and A/S Boucher agreed to increase the U.S.-Japan coordination on issues in the Central Asian region. SCHIEFFER