JAPAN SUPPORTS FRANCO-U.S. DE-LISTING PROPOSAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 006120 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2016 TAGS: PREL PTER UNSC FR JA SUBJECT: JAPAN SUPPORTS FRANCO-U.S. DE-LISTING PROPOSAL REF: STATE 174057 Classified By: Political Minister Counselor W. Michael Meserve. Reason: 1.4 (b)(d). ¶1. (C) Political Section Deputy joined French Embassy Political Counselor Pauline Carmona on October 19 to deliver reftel demarche to MOFA International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation Division officer Miyako Ishimura. Ishimura explained that Japan believes it is important to have due process for all de-listing petitioners, that Japan had supported the Franco-U.S. position at the October 18 meeting of the 1267 Committee and that it would continue to do so. ¶2. (C) Separately, Japan believes that any additional expense for the de-listing "focal point " should be absorbed by the UN Secretariat within the current budget level, Ishimura continued. Japan is encouraging the Secretariat to do its best to accommodate this request, but if additional expenses are required, Japan hopes that the secretariats of the various committees responsible for U.N. sanctions can try to identify areas of duplication with each other and with the newly proposed "focal point" and work together to reduce expenses. SCHIEFFER