FOREIGN MINISTERS RELEASE "ACTION PLAN" AT CENTRAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 003193

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT PLEASE PASS TO E/SHINER.

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/09/2016
TAGS: PREL EAID PTER PGOV SNAR AF KZ KG UZ TI TX
RS, CH, JA
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTERS RELEASE "ACTION PLAN" AT CENTRAL
ASIA PLUS JAPAN DIALOGUE

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Joe Donovan. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).


1. (C) Summary. The June 5 "Central Asia Plus Japan"
dialogue in Tokyo produced an "Action Plan" with specific
initiatives for regional cooperation in the areas of
counterterrorism, counternarcotics, anti-personnel landmine
clearance, poverty alleviation, health care, the environment,
disaster prevention, energy cooperation, trade and
transportation. The group supported Japan's bid for a
permanent UN SC seat and called for universalization of the
IAEA Additional Protocol. Afghanistan attended for the first
time, while Turkmenistan backed out after first accepting its
invitation. MOFA contacts acknowledged that the meeting was
timed to draw attention away from the late-June
China-Russia-sponsored Shanghai Cooperation Organization
meeting. Separately, Ambassador for Counterterrorism
Yamamoto told the DCM on June 6 that Japan plans to expand
its counterterrorism activities to South and Central Asia
over the next few years, and reiterated his desire to
coordinate with the United States on this initiative. End
Summary.


2. (C) On June 8, MOFA Central Asia and Caucasus Division
Director Hideki Uyama briefed Embassy Tokyo Political
Officers on the June 5 "Central Asia Plus Japan Dialogue"
Foreign Ministers' Meeting. This was the second such
meeting, a legacy of former Foreign Minister Kawaguchi's
August 2004 initiative that stressed Japan's region-based
policy for Central Asia. Uyama described the Foreign
Ministers' meetings as the venue for developing a framework
for Japan's cooperation with the region, while the separate
Senior Officials' Meetings (SOM) regularly reviewed progress
of the action plans.

Counter to China and Russia
--------------


3. (C) Uyama acknowledged that the timing of the meeting,
coming less than two weeks before the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization (SCO) was to meet in Shanghai, was chosen to
counter Chinese and Russian influence on the Central Asia
countries. Similarly, Foreign Minister Aso's speech on
Japan's policy toward Central Asia, given June 1 at the Japan
National Press Club, was timed to deflect influence away from
China and Russia, Uyama stated. (Note: The full text of
Aso's speech can be found at
www.mofa.go.jp/region/europe/speech0606.html. End Note.)


4. (C) Japan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan were all
represented at the Foreign Minister level, while Kazakhstan
sent Vice-Minister Abdrakhmanov. According to Uyama,
Turkmenistan had indicated it would send its Foreign
Minister, but later reneged and did not attend, citing a
desire to "remain neutral" on regional issues. Uyama joked
that Turkmenistan thinks that any cooperation with other
Central Asian nations is bad. This meeting marked the first
time Afghanistan had been invited, as an observer. FM Rangin
Dadfar Spanta represented Afghanistan. Japan has come to
appreciate the U.S.' inclusion of Afghanistan in the regional
organization, Uyama said, for two reasons: it is an
important country in the fight against terrorism and it is a
valuable southern option for commerce and for transportation
routes.

Action Plan
--------------


5. (C) The ministers produced a new "Action Plan" based on
the five "pillars" for cooperation: political dialogue,
intra-regional cooperation, business promotion, intellectual
dialogue, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges. Uyama
pointed to nine initiatives for intra-regional cooperation as
the highlight of the Action Plan. Japan confirmed its intent
to support intra-regional cooperation in the fields of
counterterrorism and counternarcotics, clearance of
anti-personnel landmines, poverty alleviation, health and

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medical care, environment, disaster prevention, energy/water
cooperation, trade and investment, and transportation
(particularly through Afghanistan).


6. (C) The groups' effort to counter terrorism, Uyama
shared, was placed near the beginning of the Action Plan
because it the most important regional goal. Although Japan
would be hard-pressed to provide security training to the
countries, Uyama thought it could offer capacity building
measures. Regarding the clearance of anti-personnel mines,
Uzbekistan was determined to deal with the problem itself and
declined Japan's offer of help. Tajikistan appeared more
interested and, Uyama said, Japan would be ready to help, if
Tajikstan requested it. He underscored his hope to work
together with the United States to make these projects more
effective. (Note: Full text of the Action Plan is available
at www.mofa.go.jp/region/europe/dialogue/action0 606.html.)

Support for Japan's UN Bid
--------------


7. (C) Participants unanimously agreed to support Japan's bid
for a permanent UN Security Council seat. They called for
overall reform of the UN, agreed to cooperate in on the 2010
NPT Review Conference, agreed on the need to universalize the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Additional
Protocols, and reconfirmed the importance of Central Asian
countries intensifying efforts toward democratization,
promotion of market economies, eradication of terrorism and
poverty, and the protection of human rights.

Call for U.S.-Japan CT Cooperation in the Region
-------------- ---


8. (C) In a separate meeting, Ambassador for
Counterterrorism Tadamichi Yamamoto told the DCM on June 6
that Japan is planning to expand its counterterrorism efforts
beyond Southeast Asia to South and Central Asia over the next
few years. Yamamoto admitted that Japan does not yet have a
budget in place to accomplish the expansion but reiterated
his desire to coordinate with the United States on this
initiative. The action plan signed by Foreign Minister Aso
is consistent with Yamamoto's goal and paves the way for
greater cooperation on all fronts, including
counterterrorism.
SCHIEFFER