Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TOKYO4273
2006-07-31 10:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
JAPAN TO PROVIDE HUMANITARIAN AID TO LEBANON
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C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 004273
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/31/2016
TAGS: PREL PREF PHUM LE JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN TO PROVIDE HUMANITARIAN AID TO LEBANON
Classified By: Acting Political Minister Counselor Carol T. Reynolds.
Reasons: 1.4(B) and (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 004273
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/31/2016
TAGS: PREL PREF PHUM LE JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN TO PROVIDE HUMANITARIAN AID TO LEBANON
Classified By: Acting Political Minister Counselor Carol T. Reynolds.
Reasons: 1.4(B) and (D)
1. (C) SUMMARY: Japan will provide two million USD in
emergency humanitarian aid to Lebanon, according to a July 29
MOFA announcement. Japan has taken a low-key approach to
current events in Lebanon, issuing three official statements
concerning the ongoing hostilities. The Japanese press is
providing fairly evenhanded coverage of the fighting.
Despite relatively good relations with Damascus, Tokyo is
unlikely to bring serious pressure on the Assad regime to
moderate its behavior toward Hezbollah. END SUMMARY.
--------------
JAPAN TO CONTRIBUTE HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
--------------
2. (U) On July 29, the Japanese press reported that Tokyo
will provide two million USD in emergency humanitarian
assistance to Lebanon "where ordinary citizens and others
have fallen victims" to Israel's attacks. According to MOFA
contacts, the aid, which will be paid through the UN, is
intended for international relief agencies and
non-governmental organizations and is to be used to purchase
water, food, blankets, and medical supplies. The decision to
send this aid did not merit an official MOFA press release.
3. (C) According to the Lebanese Charge d'Affaires (CDA) in
Tokyo, Dr. Toufic Jabar, the Japanese were slow to offer this
aid, which, he claimed, came only after he made a personal
appeal to former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, who called
Prime Minister Koizumi, who then ordered that the aid be
sent. Jabar continues to press the Japanese to do more,
comparing the amount they are offering to the more generous
amounts offered by other countries, including the United
States.
--------------
OFFICIAL JAPANESE REACTION MUTED
--------------
4. (U) The official Japanese response to the events taking
place in Lebanon and Israel has been limited to three
relatively evenhanded statements. On July 13, MOFA issued a
Press Secretary Statement calling on Hezbollah to release the
two abducted Israeli soldiers, and calling on all parties,
particularly Israel, to exercise self restraint, noting that
Israeli strikes on the Beirut airport and civilian areas only
serve to increase tensions and will not solve the underlying
problems.
5. (U) On July 14, the Japanese Deputy PermRep to the UN
issued a statement strongly condemning the attacks by
Hezbollah. He acknowledged the legitimate security concerns
of Israel, but strongly urged the Israelis to refrain from
excessive use of force and, in particular, actions that
endanger the Lebanese civilian population and infrastructure.
He also quoted remarks made by Prime Minister Koizumi (who
was visiting Israel at the outbreak of hostilities) that
called on the importance of "achieving co-existence and
mutual prosperity in the mid and long terms, rather than
taking an 'eye for eye' approach."
6. (U) On July 26, following the Israeli strike that killed
four U.N. peacekeepers, MOFA issued another statement
regretting the deaths and expressing concern about the
deteriorating situation, calling on Hezbollah to release the
abducted soldiers and to cease firing missiles at Israel, and
calling on Israel to exercise utmost restraint.
--------------
PRESS REPORTS FOCUS ON HUMAN SUFFERING
--------------
7. (U) The Japanese press has also covered the story in a
non-political, non-provocative manner. However, incidents
involving dramatic loss of life, such as the July 30
airstrike that resulted in the death of a large number of
children and women, receive front page headlines. How Japan
should respond, if at all, to the ongoing events in Lebanon
and Northern Israel is not an issue in Japanese domestic
politics.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
8. (C) While the Japanese sympathize with the suffering of
innocent civilians, primarily in Lebanon, the ongoing
conflict there is only of passing interest. Government
officials have not raised the issue with us and official
statements concerning the conflict have been pro forma. Even
Japan's decision to send aid seems to be the result of a
personal appeal from the Lebanese CDA and did not merit an
official announcement. To the extent that the Japanese are
concerned, it is primarily out of humanitarian concern and
unease that this latest fighting will serve to further
destabilize the wider Middle East region. While Japan seems
to pride itself on maintaining good relations with Syria, it
is unlikely to bring serious pressure on the Assad regime to
moderate its behavior toward Hezbollah.
SCHIEFFER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/31/2016
TAGS: PREL PREF PHUM LE JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN TO PROVIDE HUMANITARIAN AID TO LEBANON
Classified By: Acting Political Minister Counselor Carol T. Reynolds.
Reasons: 1.4(B) and (D)
1. (C) SUMMARY: Japan will provide two million USD in
emergency humanitarian aid to Lebanon, according to a July 29
MOFA announcement. Japan has taken a low-key approach to
current events in Lebanon, issuing three official statements
concerning the ongoing hostilities. The Japanese press is
providing fairly evenhanded coverage of the fighting.
Despite relatively good relations with Damascus, Tokyo is
unlikely to bring serious pressure on the Assad regime to
moderate its behavior toward Hezbollah. END SUMMARY.
--------------
JAPAN TO CONTRIBUTE HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
--------------
2. (U) On July 29, the Japanese press reported that Tokyo
will provide two million USD in emergency humanitarian
assistance to Lebanon "where ordinary citizens and others
have fallen victims" to Israel's attacks. According to MOFA
contacts, the aid, which will be paid through the UN, is
intended for international relief agencies and
non-governmental organizations and is to be used to purchase
water, food, blankets, and medical supplies. The decision to
send this aid did not merit an official MOFA press release.
3. (C) According to the Lebanese Charge d'Affaires (CDA) in
Tokyo, Dr. Toufic Jabar, the Japanese were slow to offer this
aid, which, he claimed, came only after he made a personal
appeal to former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, who called
Prime Minister Koizumi, who then ordered that the aid be
sent. Jabar continues to press the Japanese to do more,
comparing the amount they are offering to the more generous
amounts offered by other countries, including the United
States.
--------------
OFFICIAL JAPANESE REACTION MUTED
--------------
4. (U) The official Japanese response to the events taking
place in Lebanon and Israel has been limited to three
relatively evenhanded statements. On July 13, MOFA issued a
Press Secretary Statement calling on Hezbollah to release the
two abducted Israeli soldiers, and calling on all parties,
particularly Israel, to exercise self restraint, noting that
Israeli strikes on the Beirut airport and civilian areas only
serve to increase tensions and will not solve the underlying
problems.
5. (U) On July 14, the Japanese Deputy PermRep to the UN
issued a statement strongly condemning the attacks by
Hezbollah. He acknowledged the legitimate security concerns
of Israel, but strongly urged the Israelis to refrain from
excessive use of force and, in particular, actions that
endanger the Lebanese civilian population and infrastructure.
He also quoted remarks made by Prime Minister Koizumi (who
was visiting Israel at the outbreak of hostilities) that
called on the importance of "achieving co-existence and
mutual prosperity in the mid and long terms, rather than
taking an 'eye for eye' approach."
6. (U) On July 26, following the Israeli strike that killed
four U.N. peacekeepers, MOFA issued another statement
regretting the deaths and expressing concern about the
deteriorating situation, calling on Hezbollah to release the
abducted soldiers and to cease firing missiles at Israel, and
calling on Israel to exercise utmost restraint.
--------------
PRESS REPORTS FOCUS ON HUMAN SUFFERING
--------------
7. (U) The Japanese press has also covered the story in a
non-political, non-provocative manner. However, incidents
involving dramatic loss of life, such as the July 30
airstrike that resulted in the death of a large number of
children and women, receive front page headlines. How Japan
should respond, if at all, to the ongoing events in Lebanon
and Northern Israel is not an issue in Japanese domestic
politics.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
8. (C) While the Japanese sympathize with the suffering of
innocent civilians, primarily in Lebanon, the ongoing
conflict there is only of passing interest. Government
officials have not raised the issue with us and official
statements concerning the conflict have been pro forma. Even
Japan's decision to send aid seems to be the result of a
personal appeal from the Lebanese CDA and did not merit an
official announcement. To the extent that the Japanese are
concerned, it is primarily out of humanitarian concern and
unease that this latest fighting will serve to further
destabilize the wider Middle East region. While Japan seems
to pride itself on maintaining good relations with Syria, it
is unlikely to bring serious pressure on the Assad regime to
moderate its behavior toward Hezbollah.
SCHIEFFER