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 TOKYO 00003193 002 OF 002 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