JAPAN UNCERTAIN ON ATTENDANCE AT CENTCOM IRAQ

UNCLAS TOKYO 005564 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA/I FOR EVANS CENTCOM FOR LTCOL JAMES WATSON BAGHDAD FOR POLMILCOUNS MEARKLE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MARR MOPS PREL IZ JA SUBJECT: JAPAN UNCERTAIN ON ATTENDANCE AT CENTCOM IRAQ CONFERENCE REF: STATE 155973 ¶1. This is an ACTION REQUEST. See paragraph 3. ¶2. Per reftel, DCM called on Japan's Ambassador for Iraq Reconstruction Gotaro Ogawa September 26 to present Ambassador Satterfield's invitation for Japan to send a civilian representative to the October 3-5 CENTCOM Conference on Iraq in Warsaw. Ogawa was aware of the conference but said Japan had not decided whether to send anyone. He wondered whether it would be permissible for Japan to be represented by someone from its Embassy in Poland. DCM replied that this was Japan's decision, but that the conference organizers are hoping to attract representatives who are well-versed in what is taking place in Iraq. Ogawa replied that he would give further consideration to Japan's attendance at the conference and asked for information on who else will be attending. He also wondered whether the CENTCOM conference was coordinated in any way with the Compact With Iraq drafting meeting that is scheduled to begin in Baghdad on October 6. ¶3. ACTION REQUEST: Embassy Tokyo requests information from conference organizers concerning confirmed civilian attendees that we can share with Ambassador Ogawa. SCHIEFFER