Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TOKYO3138
2006-06-07 08:51:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
ABDUCTION ISSUE: STRONG SHOW OF U.S./INTERNATIONAL
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 TOKYO 003138
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL RS KS KN CH JA
SUBJECT: ABDUCTION ISSUE: STRONG SHOW OF U.S./INTERNATIONAL
SUPPORT AT KANTEI GATHERING
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 TOKYO 003138
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL RS KS KN CH JA
SUBJECT: ABDUCTION ISSUE: STRONG SHOW OF U.S./INTERNATIONAL
SUPPORT AT KANTEI GATHERING
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Ambassador Schieffer and representatives
from 18 other countries voiced strong support for resolution
of the DPRK abduction issue at a June 6 meeting hosted by
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiji Suzuki. Chief Cabinet
Secretary Abe addressed the start of the meeting, stressing
SIPDIS
the importance of international cooperation to resolve the
issue. Suzuki, who chairs Japan's Special Team for the
Abduction Issue, described the status of the abduction cases
and gave an overview of Japan's efforts to resolve the issue
through direct bilateral negotiations with the DPRK. Suzuki
highlighted the contribution of Ambassador Schieffer's trip
to Niigata and the President's Oval Office meeting with
abductee family members. In his remarks, Ambassador
Schieffer said the United States is offering any help it can
to bring the abductors to justice and the abductees home.
END SUMMARY.
A STRONG SHOW OF INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT
--------------
2. (SBU) Ambassador Schieffer and ambassadors (or their
representatives) from 18 other countries participated in a
two-hour discussion session at the Kantei on June 6, 2006
chaired by Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary (DCCS) Seiji
Suzuki. (Participants list at para 9).
CCS ABE MAKES AN APPEARANCE BEFORE THE CAMERAS
-------------- -
3. (SBU) Chief Cabinet Secretary (CCS) Shinzo Abe addressed
the start of the meeting and posed for a group photograph.
Abe said abductions are impermissible human rights violations
and that strong support from the international community is
essential to resolving the issue. Efforts within the United
Nations system, such as the General Assembly resolution of
December 2005 expressing "deep concern" over the abduction
issue, were one way to address the problem. Japan would also
like to see the issue addressed in the upcoming G-8 Summit in
St. Petersburg, Abe added.
JAPAN'S EFFORTS TO BUILD INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT
-------------- -
4. (SBU) DCCS Suzuki, who chairs Japan's Special Team for
the Abduction Issue, described the status of the abduction
cases and gave an overview of Japan's efforts to resolve the
issue through direct bilateral negotiations with the DPRK.
Suzuki explained he had assumed chairmanship of the Cabinet's
Committee for the Abduction Issue (formerly chaired by then
DCCS Abe) issue in September 2005. Since then the committee
has been renamed the "Special Team for the Abduction Issue"
reflecting the fact that it has been enlarged to include all
agencies of the Japanese government, with the exception of
the Imperial Household Agency, Suzuki explained. He had also
set up two new sub-groups in 2006 designed to strengthen
related law enforcement and intelligence efforts. Further,
in 2006 the Japanese government had launched a new and more
TOKYO 00003138 002 OF 004
robust public relations campaign that includes posters and
pamphlets distributed in many languages to raise
international awareness of the abduction issue.
5. (SBU) Turning to Japan's efforts to enhance international
cooperation on the issue, Suzuki stated that Japan's basic
policy is that: 1) there can be no solution without a
comprehensive resolution; and 2) Japan will work to gain
support from the international community through various
fora, including the UN and G-8. Suzuki stated that DNA
testing in both Japan and the ROK reveals that South Korean
abductee Kim Yong Nam is almost certainly the father of
Megumi Yokota's child (Note: The DPRK government denies this
assertion, maintaining that one of its citizens is the
father). He further stated that testimony from other
abductees and several North Korean defectors has revealed
that citizens from other countries have also been abducted by
the DPRK (Note: Representatives of those governments were
included in the meeting). Suzuki highlighted the importance
of Ambassador Schieffer's March 2006 trip to Niigata and the
President's April 2006 meeting with Mrs. Yokota and other
abductee family members in the Oval Office, citing those
events as important contributions by the United States toward
the effort of raising international awareness of, and concern
for, the issue.
SUPPORT VOICED BY AMBASSADORS AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES
-------------- --------------
6. (SBU) In the final portion of the meeting, DCCS Suzuki
opened the floor to the diplomats for discussion. By mutual
consent of all in attendance, these comments are not for
public attribution. Ambassador Schieffer thanked the
Japanese organizers for arranging the gathering. He noted
that while countries disagree at times on political or
economic issues, human rights concerns like abduction rise
above such concerns and must be addressed by the global
community. "We cannot claim to live in a civilized world if
we allow abductions to occur," the Ambassador said, adding
that is why the United States is offering any help it can to
bring the abductors to justice and the abductees home. In
his remarks to the press following the meeting, the
Ambassador noted that having different ambassadors there to
offer their ideas and express their support was a very
positive thing. He said they had discussed ideas for
bringing more attention to the issue, including a willingness
to raise the issue at the G-8.
7. (SBU) Russian Ambassador Losyukov joined the rest of the
group in "absolutely supporting the unanimous opinion of
outrage." Drawing on his long experience in dealing with
North Korea, he advised a less emotional and more practical
approach. He noted that Pyongyang would not respond well to
pressure, warning that pressure tactics by Japan were more
likely to result in things "you don't want." He said Prime
Minister Koizumi has the right to raise the issue at the
upcoming G-8 Summit in St. Petersburg. (Note: In his closing
TOKYO 00003138 003 OF 004
remarks, DCCS Suzuki made specific mention of Losyukov's
comment on the G-8, noting that he himself planned to travel
to St. Petersburg where he looked forward to working on the
issue with the Russian hosts).
8. Comments by other representative included the following:
-- SOUTH KOREA: Minister Kim expressed the ROK's desire to
find a "wise way" to address the issue with the North. He
noted, however, that South Korea is the "biggest victim" of
abductions and is "very sympathetic" about the issue. North
Korea agreed at the April 2006 North-South Ministerial to
address the issue "in a meaningful way," Kim said, explaining
that the ROKG therefore intends to follow up by utilizing Red
Cross talks in June and the next N-S Ministerial in July to
press North Korea to fulfill that promise.
-- CANADA: Ambassador Caron (a former Canadian ambassador to
the DPRK) regretted that troubling actions by Pyongyang had
resulted in a diminishment of Canada's diplomatic relations
with the DPRK. He said his foreign minister has gone on
record that abductions constitute "unacceptable behavior by
states" and that a solution is needed. He observed that
Prime Minister Koizumi would be visiting Ottawa this summer
where the issue would no doubt be discussed.
-- The UNITED KINGDOM: Ambassador Fry said the abductions
were an "indication of how North Korea completely ignores
human rights." He noted the issue had been raised at the G-8
Summit at Gleneagles and that Britain had raised the matter
when it last held the presidency of the EU. The UK will
continue to look for what more it can do on this issue, he
said.
-- GERMANY: Minister Fischer cited how the reunification of
Germany had ended human rights violations by the
then-government of East Germany and said he hoped the Korean
people would undergo the same kind of reconciliation.
-- SWEDEN: Ambassador Lindstrom said Sweden also "actively
seeks to support the reunification of Korea," and that is why
his country maintains diplomatic relations with both Seoul
and Pyongyang. Sweden supported the UN resolution in
December 2005, has raised the abduction issue and other human
rights concerns with North Korea at the prime ministerial
level, and will continue to press Pyongyang for progress on
the issue.
-- FRANCE: Counsellor Leval stated that France is working
within the UN Human Rights Council to create a "ban on forced
dislocations."
-- CHINA: PRC Minister-Counsellor KONG made no comment, but
took careful notes throughout the meeting.
9. (U) Participants List:
TOKYO 00003138 004 OF 004
Japanese Participants
--------------
Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiji Suzuki
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Masahiro Futahashi
Assistant Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyasu Ando
Parliamentary Secretary of the Cabinet Office Eriko Yamatani
Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Akiko Yamanaka
Ambassadors
--------------
CANADA H.E. Mr.Joseph CARON
IRELAND H.E. Mr.Gerard KEOWN
JORDAN H.E. Mr.Samir Issa NAOURI
LEBANON H.E. Mr.Toufic JABER
THE NETHERLANDS H.E.Mr. Alphons Clemens Maria HAMER
POLAND H.E. Dr.Marcin RYBICKI
RUSSIA H.E. Mr. Alexander Prokhorovich LOSYUKOV
SWEDEN H.E. Mr.Mikael LINDSTROM
THAILAND H.E. Mr.Pichai ISRABHAKDI
UNITED KINGDOM H.E. Mr.Graham FRY
UNITED STATES H.E. Mr.J. Thomas SCHIEFFER
Deputy Chiefs of Mission
--------------
E.U. Mr.Michael REITERER, Minister/DCM
ROK Mr. Yong-Sun KIM, Minister/DCM
ROMANIA Mr.Stoian PETRE, Counsellor/DCM
Ministers/Counsellors
--------------
CHINA Mr. KONG Xuanyou, Minister-Counsellor
FRANCE Mr.Henri LEVAL, Counsellor
GERMANY Mr. Bernd FISCHER, Minister
ITALY Mr.Aldo AMATI, Minister-Counsellor
MALAYSIA Mr.Loh Seck TIONG, Counsellor
SCHIEFFER
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL RS KS KN CH JA
SUBJECT: ABDUCTION ISSUE: STRONG SHOW OF U.S./INTERNATIONAL
SUPPORT AT KANTEI GATHERING
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Ambassador Schieffer and representatives
from 18 other countries voiced strong support for resolution
of the DPRK abduction issue at a June 6 meeting hosted by
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiji Suzuki. Chief Cabinet
Secretary Abe addressed the start of the meeting, stressing
SIPDIS
the importance of international cooperation to resolve the
issue. Suzuki, who chairs Japan's Special Team for the
Abduction Issue, described the status of the abduction cases
and gave an overview of Japan's efforts to resolve the issue
through direct bilateral negotiations with the DPRK. Suzuki
highlighted the contribution of Ambassador Schieffer's trip
to Niigata and the President's Oval Office meeting with
abductee family members. In his remarks, Ambassador
Schieffer said the United States is offering any help it can
to bring the abductors to justice and the abductees home.
END SUMMARY.
A STRONG SHOW OF INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT
--------------
2. (SBU) Ambassador Schieffer and ambassadors (or their
representatives) from 18 other countries participated in a
two-hour discussion session at the Kantei on June 6, 2006
chaired by Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary (DCCS) Seiji
Suzuki. (Participants list at para 9).
CCS ABE MAKES AN APPEARANCE BEFORE THE CAMERAS
-------------- -
3. (SBU) Chief Cabinet Secretary (CCS) Shinzo Abe addressed
the start of the meeting and posed for a group photograph.
Abe said abductions are impermissible human rights violations
and that strong support from the international community is
essential to resolving the issue. Efforts within the United
Nations system, such as the General Assembly resolution of
December 2005 expressing "deep concern" over the abduction
issue, were one way to address the problem. Japan would also
like to see the issue addressed in the upcoming G-8 Summit in
St. Petersburg, Abe added.
JAPAN'S EFFORTS TO BUILD INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT
-------------- -
4. (SBU) DCCS Suzuki, who chairs Japan's Special Team for
the Abduction Issue, described the status of the abduction
cases and gave an overview of Japan's efforts to resolve the
issue through direct bilateral negotiations with the DPRK.
Suzuki explained he had assumed chairmanship of the Cabinet's
Committee for the Abduction Issue (formerly chaired by then
DCCS Abe) issue in September 2005. Since then the committee
has been renamed the "Special Team for the Abduction Issue"
reflecting the fact that it has been enlarged to include all
agencies of the Japanese government, with the exception of
the Imperial Household Agency, Suzuki explained. He had also
set up two new sub-groups in 2006 designed to strengthen
related law enforcement and intelligence efforts. Further,
in 2006 the Japanese government had launched a new and more
TOKYO 00003138 002 OF 004
robust public relations campaign that includes posters and
pamphlets distributed in many languages to raise
international awareness of the abduction issue.
5. (SBU) Turning to Japan's efforts to enhance international
cooperation on the issue, Suzuki stated that Japan's basic
policy is that: 1) there can be no solution without a
comprehensive resolution; and 2) Japan will work to gain
support from the international community through various
fora, including the UN and G-8. Suzuki stated that DNA
testing in both Japan and the ROK reveals that South Korean
abductee Kim Yong Nam is almost certainly the father of
Megumi Yokota's child (Note: The DPRK government denies this
assertion, maintaining that one of its citizens is the
father). He further stated that testimony from other
abductees and several North Korean defectors has revealed
that citizens from other countries have also been abducted by
the DPRK (Note: Representatives of those governments were
included in the meeting). Suzuki highlighted the importance
of Ambassador Schieffer's March 2006 trip to Niigata and the
President's April 2006 meeting with Mrs. Yokota and other
abductee family members in the Oval Office, citing those
events as important contributions by the United States toward
the effort of raising international awareness of, and concern
for, the issue.
SUPPORT VOICED BY AMBASSADORS AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES
-------------- --------------
6. (SBU) In the final portion of the meeting, DCCS Suzuki
opened the floor to the diplomats for discussion. By mutual
consent of all in attendance, these comments are not for
public attribution. Ambassador Schieffer thanked the
Japanese organizers for arranging the gathering. He noted
that while countries disagree at times on political or
economic issues, human rights concerns like abduction rise
above such concerns and must be addressed by the global
community. "We cannot claim to live in a civilized world if
we allow abductions to occur," the Ambassador said, adding
that is why the United States is offering any help it can to
bring the abductors to justice and the abductees home. In
his remarks to the press following the meeting, the
Ambassador noted that having different ambassadors there to
offer their ideas and express their support was a very
positive thing. He said they had discussed ideas for
bringing more attention to the issue, including a willingness
to raise the issue at the G-8.
7. (SBU) Russian Ambassador Losyukov joined the rest of the
group in "absolutely supporting the unanimous opinion of
outrage." Drawing on his long experience in dealing with
North Korea, he advised a less emotional and more practical
approach. He noted that Pyongyang would not respond well to
pressure, warning that pressure tactics by Japan were more
likely to result in things "you don't want." He said Prime
Minister Koizumi has the right to raise the issue at the
upcoming G-8 Summit in St. Petersburg. (Note: In his closing
TOKYO 00003138 003 OF 004
remarks, DCCS Suzuki made specific mention of Losyukov's
comment on the G-8, noting that he himself planned to travel
to St. Petersburg where he looked forward to working on the
issue with the Russian hosts).
8. Comments by other representative included the following:
-- SOUTH KOREA: Minister Kim expressed the ROK's desire to
find a "wise way" to address the issue with the North. He
noted, however, that South Korea is the "biggest victim" of
abductions and is "very sympathetic" about the issue. North
Korea agreed at the April 2006 North-South Ministerial to
address the issue "in a meaningful way," Kim said, explaining
that the ROKG therefore intends to follow up by utilizing Red
Cross talks in June and the next N-S Ministerial in July to
press North Korea to fulfill that promise.
-- CANADA: Ambassador Caron (a former Canadian ambassador to
the DPRK) regretted that troubling actions by Pyongyang had
resulted in a diminishment of Canada's diplomatic relations
with the DPRK. He said his foreign minister has gone on
record that abductions constitute "unacceptable behavior by
states" and that a solution is needed. He observed that
Prime Minister Koizumi would be visiting Ottawa this summer
where the issue would no doubt be discussed.
-- The UNITED KINGDOM: Ambassador Fry said the abductions
were an "indication of how North Korea completely ignores
human rights." He noted the issue had been raised at the G-8
Summit at Gleneagles and that Britain had raised the matter
when it last held the presidency of the EU. The UK will
continue to look for what more it can do on this issue, he
said.
-- GERMANY: Minister Fischer cited how the reunification of
Germany had ended human rights violations by the
then-government of East Germany and said he hoped the Korean
people would undergo the same kind of reconciliation.
-- SWEDEN: Ambassador Lindstrom said Sweden also "actively
seeks to support the reunification of Korea," and that is why
his country maintains diplomatic relations with both Seoul
and Pyongyang. Sweden supported the UN resolution in
December 2005, has raised the abduction issue and other human
rights concerns with North Korea at the prime ministerial
level, and will continue to press Pyongyang for progress on
the issue.
-- FRANCE: Counsellor Leval stated that France is working
within the UN Human Rights Council to create a "ban on forced
dislocations."
-- CHINA: PRC Minister-Counsellor KONG made no comment, but
took careful notes throughout the meeting.
9. (U) Participants List:
TOKYO 00003138 004 OF 004
Japanese Participants
--------------
Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiji Suzuki
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Masahiro Futahashi
Assistant Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyasu Ando
Parliamentary Secretary of the Cabinet Office Eriko Yamatani
Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Akiko Yamanaka
Ambassadors
--------------
CANADA H.E. Mr.Joseph CARON
IRELAND H.E. Mr.Gerard KEOWN
JORDAN H.E. Mr.Samir Issa NAOURI
LEBANON H.E. Mr.Toufic JABER
THE NETHERLANDS H.E.Mr. Alphons Clemens Maria HAMER
POLAND H.E. Dr.Marcin RYBICKI
RUSSIA H.E. Mr. Alexander Prokhorovich LOSYUKOV
SWEDEN H.E. Mr.Mikael LINDSTROM
THAILAND H.E. Mr.Pichai ISRABHAKDI
UNITED KINGDOM H.E. Mr.Graham FRY
UNITED STATES H.E. Mr.J. Thomas SCHIEFFER
Deputy Chiefs of Mission
--------------
E.U. Mr.Michael REITERER, Minister/DCM
ROK Mr. Yong-Sun KIM, Minister/DCM
ROMANIA Mr.Stoian PETRE, Counsellor/DCM
Ministers/Counsellors
--------------
CHINA Mr. KONG Xuanyou, Minister-Counsellor
FRANCE Mr.Henri LEVAL, Counsellor
GERMANY Mr. Bernd FISCHER, Minister
ITALY Mr.Aldo AMATI, Minister-Counsellor
MALAYSIA Mr.Loh Seck TIONG, Counsellor
SCHIEFFER