THE DCM'S AUGUST 18 COURTESY CALL WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 004755 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO EAP/J AND L. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY FOR CBP (AADAMS, RJACKSTA, KBROWN, KDUBELIER, DFITZPATRICK, KSAVA). E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2016 TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV CE JA SUBJECT: THE DCM'S AUGUST 18 COURTESY CALL WITH COUNTERTERRORISM AMBASSADOR SUDA Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Joe Donovan. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). ¶1. (C) Summary. During a call on August 18 with newly appointed Counterterrorism Ambassador Suda, the DCM shared that DoS and DHS have agreed to return to the March draft of the Note Verbale as the basis for further negotiations on the Immigration Advisory Program (IAP). Since a few points in the draft require further attention, the DCM stated that a State-DHS team was prepared to meet with Japanese counterparts on August 28 or 29 in Tokyo to work out the final details. Suda promised to check on the dates, noting that an advance copy of the proposed changes would be very helpful. Regarding the Counterterrorism Trilateral, the DCM shared that Ambassador Crumpton would be available the week of October 16. International Counterterrorism Cooperation Division Director Michii promised to check on the availability of the Japanese and Australian delegations and said he would proceed with the previously agreed upon format (one full day of meetings, including a few courtesy calls, plus a working dinner) unless he heard otherwise. In closing, the DCM urged Suda to consider holding another bilateral Counterterrorism Working Group meeting as soon as possible and Suda agreed that it would be useful to restart the meetings. End Summary. Immigration Advisory Program -------------- ¶2. (C) During an August 18 meeting with International Counterterrorism Cooperation Ambassador Akio Suda, Deputy Chief of Mission Joe Donovan discussed the Immigration Advisory Program (IAP),the U.S.-Japan-Australia Counterterrorism Trilateral and the bilateral Counterterrorism Working Group. The DCM apologized for the miscommunication that had prolonged negotiations on IAP, and expressed appreciation for International Counterterrorism Cooperation Division Director Michii's efforts to negotiate the terms of the Note Verbale. The USG is now prepared to return to the March draft of the Note Verbale, the DCM stated, and use it as the basis for further negotiations. Ambassador Suda welcomed the message and thanked the DCM for his efforts to find a solution. ¶3. (C) A few points in the draft require further attention, the DCM continued. To that end, we are prepared to send an interagency team to Tokyo, led by APEC Ambassador Michael Michalak, to work out the final details. The team can be available on August 28 and 29. Suda promised to check on the dates and reply to the Embassy as soon as possible. Michii asked if MOFA could receive a copy of the proposed changes to the Note Verbale prior to the meeting and Ambassador Suda agreed that advance notice would very helpful. The DCM commented that he had not yet received a draft of the proposed changes but would convey this request to Washington. CT Trilateral -------------- ¶4. (C) Moving on to the U.S.-Japan-Australia Counterterrorism Trilateral, the DCM shared that Ambassador Crumpton proposed October 16, 17 and 18 as a possible window for meetings in Tokyo. Suda apologized that his predecessor had to cancel the Trilateral scheduled for July, and said he was happy to hear that Ambassador Crumpton would be available in October. Michii promised to confirm Japan's availability, check on Australia's availability and let the Embassy know whether the October 16 timeframe would work. Unless he heard otherwise from the United States or Australia, Michii said he would proceed with the previously agreed upon format (one full day of meetings, including a few courtesy calls in Tokyo, plus a working dinner). CTWG -------------- ¶5. (C) The bilateral Counterterrorism Working Group (CTWG) is a good way to maintain and strengthen momentum on counterterrorism efforts and we would like to hold the next meeting as soon as possible, the DCM urged. Suda agreed that it would be useful to restart the CTWG before too long. A combined, comprehensive meeting on counterterrorism would be valuable for both sides, he observed. Bio Note -------------- ¶6. (C) Ambassador Suda explained that he was in charge of Counterterrorism and North Korea's Nuclear Issues (Dismantlement and Verification). The North Korea issue is "not moving at all," but he expected that counterterrorism would keep him busy. His predecessor had also been in charge of Iraq Reconstruction Activities and Ambassador Suda expressed relief that the topic had been reassigned to someone else. Suda shared that he had just arrived from Colombo two weeks ago. He had served as Japan's Ambassador to SRI LANKA for 2 years and 9 months and thought it was a "wonderful country." Although he is familiar with SRI Lanka's domestic terrorist groups, he has limited experience with and knowledge of international terrorism, he stated. ¶7. (U) Participants: U.S. Joe Donovan, Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Cox, DHS Representative, Embassy Tokyo Tandy Matsuda, Political Officer Japan Akio Suda, Ambassador in Charge of International Counterterrorism Cooperation and North Korea Nuclear Issues (Dismantlement and Verification) Rokuichiro Michii, International Counterterrorism Cooperation Division Director Mikiko Masuda, International Counterterrorism Cooperation Division Officer DONOVAN