JAPAN'S RESPONSE TO ENDORSING DOCUMENTS AT THE

UNCLAS TOKYO 006248

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PREL JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN'S RESPONSE TO ENDORSING DOCUMENTS AT THE
GLOBAL INITIATIVE MEETING IN MOROCCO

REF: A. REF A: SECSTATE 178121


B. REF B: WARDEN-HOBBS EMAIL OF 10/25


1. THIS IS AN ACTION MESSAGE. SEE PARAGRAPHS 3-5.

2. On October 25, U.S. and Russian embassy officers delivered
global initiative documents to MOFA's International Nuclear
Energy Cooperation Principal Deputy Director Zentaro
Naganuma. Japan expressed appreciation for the new draft. On
October 26, Embassy officer passed the revised agenda and the
points raised in ref B. (NOTE: Russian officer could not be
reached and did not attend today's meeting.)

3. Naganuma said that Japan wants to endorse the documents.
But, in order to do so, two sentences must be deleted.

A. In the Statement of Principles, delete the following text:
Partners reaffirm that issues related to safeguarding nuclear
weapons and other nuclear facilities, installations and
materials used for military purposes remain strictly the
national prerogative of the nuclear weapons state' party to
the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapon (NPT),
for which they bear special responsibility.
In MOFA's view, this statement could create a domestic
political problem for Japan. Furthermore, the GOJ sees it as
discriminating against developing nations (India). Finally,
in the GOJ view it disregards the Convention on the Physical
Protection of Nuclear Material and its 2005 Amendment under
Article 1A.

B. In the Explanatory Notes, delete the following text:(NOTE:
Japan is aware that IPNs will not be asked to endorse the
Explanatory Notes. However, Japan says the comment may be
offensive to developing nations who join the initiative
later):
Initial partner nations reaffirm that issues related to
safeguarding nuclear weapons and other nuclear facilities,
installation and materials used for military purposes remain
strictly the national prerogative of the nuclear weapons
state parties to the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons
Treaty (NPT),for which they bear special responsibility.

4. MOFA seeks clarification on three drafting points.

A. Statement of Principles: 3rd bullet:
...to include cooperation. Is this an adverbial or adjectival
phrase? Japan would appreciate clarification on what the to
refers to in this principle.

B. IAG Function and Participation no. 2:...with a view to
make it more. Japan believes the text should read: ...with a
view to making it more...

C. Responsibilities of Initiative Participants no. 2: Japan
said the word, seek, may be missing and the sentence should
read: ...the Initiative and seek that operational...

5. Japan made it clear that they would like an opportunity to
elaborate further on the Explanatory Notes at a future time.

6. MOFA has conveyed these concerns to its Embassy in
Washington as well. MOFA pointed out that Ambassador Nakane
may also raise these points directly with U.S. and Russian
officials at the meeting in Morocco.
SCHIEFFER