Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TOKYO5309
2006-09-14 22:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
JAPAN'S PLANS FOR THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHKO #5309 2572250 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 142250Z SEP 06 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6400 INFO RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL PRIORITY RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON PRIORITY 2164 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 0307 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1947 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 2919
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 005309
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2016
TAGS: UNGA UNSC PGOV PREL BM JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN'S PLANS FOR THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
REF: TOKYO 05187
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor W. Michael Meserve. Reasons
1.4 (b),and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 005309
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2016
TAGS: UNGA UNSC PGOV PREL BM JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN'S PLANS FOR THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
REF: TOKYO 05187
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor W. Michael Meserve. Reasons
1.4 (b),and (d).
1. (U) Summary. Gaining a permanent UNSC seat remains a top
foreign policy objective, according to MOFA UN Policy
Division Director Takizaki, and Japan looks forward to
receiving a U.S. response shortly to Japan's most recent UNSC
reform proposal. Japan's domestic political calendar makes
it impossible to say who will represent Japan at UNGA until
the last moment. Japan expects a tough fight over UN
assessments in the Fifth Committee and seeks U.S. support for
Japan's proposal. Takizaki was noncommittal on Japan's
choice for next UN Secretary General. End Summary.
2. (C) Embassy Tokyo Political Officers met September 13
with MOFA United Nations Policy Division Director Shigeki
Takizaki and United Nations Planning and Administration
Division Principal Deputy Director Katsumi Moriyasu to
discuss a range of UN-related issues. Asked about Japan's
plans for the upcoming UNGA session, Takizaki stressed that
gaining a permanent seat on the Security Council remains
Japan's most important foreign policy goal at the United
Nations. During the recent meeting between Under Secretary
Burns and Deputy Vice Foreign Minister Kohno, he observed,
U/S Burns had suggested that the United States would clarify
its position on Japan's UNSC reform proposal within the next
two weeks, a development that Takizaki clearly appreciated.
3. (C) Regarding Japan's participation in UNGA, Takizaki
explained that Deputy Minister Tsuneo Nishida would
definitely be in New York for the UNGA meetings, but he was
still uncertain who else might participate. Japan's domestic
political calendar made it unlike that the Foreign Minister
or any other high-level politician would attend. The
upcoming LDP presidential election on September 20, followed
by the convening of the extraordinary Diet session and the
selection of new cabinet make it imperative for prominent
politicians to stay in Tokyo. For that reason, it was even
too early to say who would give Japan's September 21 speech
to the UN General Assembly, Takizaki claimed.
4. (C) Having a strong Asian Secretary General was Japan's
second most important foreign policy goal for the United
Nations this year, Takizaki stated. Asked about Japan's
position on the next UN Secretary General, Takizaki was
noncommittal, simply stating that his government's central
strategy was to support an Asian candidate (as are all the
current candidates). Strained relations with South Korea
would not necessarily prevent Japan from considering South
Korea's candidate. Observing that the UNSC would conduct its
second secret "straw poll" on UNSG candidates the following
day, Takizaki expressed some displeasure that the results of
the first poll -- showing ROK FM Ban Ki-moon with the most
positive rating -- had immediately been leaked to the press.
The leak had clearly come from "the country that benefited
the most from the leak," he opined.
5. (C) Turning to the issue of UN assessments, Moriyasu
said Japan would fight hard for a reduction in its UN
contribution. He acknowledged Chinese and Russian resistance
to Japan's proposal on reallocating assessment, noting that
the issue was a zero-sum game. He declined to predict the
outcome of the upcoming Fifth Committee debate but predicted
the arguments would heat up considerably toward the end of
the year. Both Takizaki and Moriyasu urged the United States
to take a public stand in the Fifth Committee in favor of
Japan's proposal; if that was not possible, Moriyasu
suggested that a public expression of neutrality was
preferable to silence.
6. (C) Takizaki reiterated Japan's support for putting Burma
on the UNGA agenda (reftel),saying it would send a "strong
message" from Japan to the regime. Japan would consider any
resolution proposed by the United States on Burma, but was
wary of anything including sanctions.
SCHIEFFER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2016
TAGS: UNGA UNSC PGOV PREL BM JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN'S PLANS FOR THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
REF: TOKYO 05187
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor W. Michael Meserve. Reasons
1.4 (b),and (d).
1. (U) Summary. Gaining a permanent UNSC seat remains a top
foreign policy objective, according to MOFA UN Policy
Division Director Takizaki, and Japan looks forward to
receiving a U.S. response shortly to Japan's most recent UNSC
reform proposal. Japan's domestic political calendar makes
it impossible to say who will represent Japan at UNGA until
the last moment. Japan expects a tough fight over UN
assessments in the Fifth Committee and seeks U.S. support for
Japan's proposal. Takizaki was noncommittal on Japan's
choice for next UN Secretary General. End Summary.
2. (C) Embassy Tokyo Political Officers met September 13
with MOFA United Nations Policy Division Director Shigeki
Takizaki and United Nations Planning and Administration
Division Principal Deputy Director Katsumi Moriyasu to
discuss a range of UN-related issues. Asked about Japan's
plans for the upcoming UNGA session, Takizaki stressed that
gaining a permanent seat on the Security Council remains
Japan's most important foreign policy goal at the United
Nations. During the recent meeting between Under Secretary
Burns and Deputy Vice Foreign Minister Kohno, he observed,
U/S Burns had suggested that the United States would clarify
its position on Japan's UNSC reform proposal within the next
two weeks, a development that Takizaki clearly appreciated.
3. (C) Regarding Japan's participation in UNGA, Takizaki
explained that Deputy Minister Tsuneo Nishida would
definitely be in New York for the UNGA meetings, but he was
still uncertain who else might participate. Japan's domestic
political calendar made it unlike that the Foreign Minister
or any other high-level politician would attend. The
upcoming LDP presidential election on September 20, followed
by the convening of the extraordinary Diet session and the
selection of new cabinet make it imperative for prominent
politicians to stay in Tokyo. For that reason, it was even
too early to say who would give Japan's September 21 speech
to the UN General Assembly, Takizaki claimed.
4. (C) Having a strong Asian Secretary General was Japan's
second most important foreign policy goal for the United
Nations this year, Takizaki stated. Asked about Japan's
position on the next UN Secretary General, Takizaki was
noncommittal, simply stating that his government's central
strategy was to support an Asian candidate (as are all the
current candidates). Strained relations with South Korea
would not necessarily prevent Japan from considering South
Korea's candidate. Observing that the UNSC would conduct its
second secret "straw poll" on UNSG candidates the following
day, Takizaki expressed some displeasure that the results of
the first poll -- showing ROK FM Ban Ki-moon with the most
positive rating -- had immediately been leaked to the press.
The leak had clearly come from "the country that benefited
the most from the leak," he opined.
5. (C) Turning to the issue of UN assessments, Moriyasu
said Japan would fight hard for a reduction in its UN
contribution. He acknowledged Chinese and Russian resistance
to Japan's proposal on reallocating assessment, noting that
the issue was a zero-sum game. He declined to predict the
outcome of the upcoming Fifth Committee debate but predicted
the arguments would heat up considerably toward the end of
the year. Both Takizaki and Moriyasu urged the United States
to take a public stand in the Fifth Committee in favor of
Japan's proposal; if that was not possible, Moriyasu
suggested that a public expression of neutrality was
preferable to silence.
6. (C) Takizaki reiterated Japan's support for putting Burma
on the UNGA agenda (reftel),saying it would send a "strong
message" from Japan to the regime. Japan would consider any
resolution proposed by the United States on Burma, but was
wary of anything including sanctions.
SCHIEFFER