Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TOKYO6596
2006-11-17 07:05:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
JAPANESE OPPOSITION TO UNGA EMERGENCY SPECIAL
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 006596
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2016
TAGS: PREL UNGA XF IS JA
SUBJECT: JAPANESE OPPOSITION TO UNGA EMERGENCY SPECIAL
SESSION RESOLUTION NOT ASSURED
REF: STATE 188244
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Joe Donovan for reasons 1.4(b),(
d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 006596
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2016
TAGS: PREL UNGA XF IS JA
SUBJECT: JAPANESE OPPOSITION TO UNGA EMERGENCY SPECIAL
SESSION RESOLUTION NOT ASSURED
REF: STATE 188244
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Joe Donovan for reasons 1.4(b),(
d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: A "no" vote or abstention by the Japanese to
the November 17 UNGA Emergency Special Session (ESS)
Resolution on Israel cannot be assured, according to MOFA
United Nations Policy Division Director Shigeki Takizaki.
Although Japan agrees completely that the resolution is
unbalanced and uncalled for, and would strongly prefer to
follow its standard practice of abstaining on such issues,
Tokyo is skittish about the possible effect a "no" vote or
abstention would have on the outcome of their own pending
resolution on Human Rights in North Korea. Takizaki strongly
urged Political Officer to convey to USUN that they should
consult directly with the Japanese Mission on the ESS
resolution. END SUMMARY.
--------------
JAPAN AGREES WITH US...
--------------
2. (C) Per reftel, Embassy Tokyo Political Officer November
17 called on Director Takizaki to strongly urge a Japanese
"no" vote on the ESS resolution targeting Israel. Takizaki
was accompanied by Hirotaka Ishikawa, who specializes in
Middle East issues for MOFA'a United Nations Policy Division.
Takizaki said that Japan strongly agrees with the United
States that the language of the proposed resolution is
completely unbalanced and that the bringing of such a
resolution in an ESS is uncalled for. He reported that the
Japanese Mission in New York is working with the Qataris to
try to persuade them to insert more balanced language.
However, he fears that given the size of the General Assembly
it may be difficult to prevail upon the Qataris to insert
Japan's moderating language. Takizaki also noted that in
addition to engaging the Qataris in New York, Japanese
embassies in the Middle East and Gulf regions have been
tasked to approach their host governments to urge them to
balance the language.
--------------
...BUT...
--------------
3. (C) Despite Japan's misgivings about the resolution,
Takizaki said he could not guarantee that Japan will oppose
it or abstain if the resolution comes to a vote. This is
because Japan has heard "rumors" in New York and Geneva that
some Arab countries will vote against Japan's pending
resolution on Human Rights in North Korea, scheduled for a
vote on November 17 in the Third Committee, if Japan does not
support the anti-Israel measure. Calling this a "real
headache" for MOFA, Takizaki said that passage of the North
Korea resolution is currently Japan's major priority at the
United Nations, and Tokyo is skittish about anything that
could jeopardize its success. Accordingly, Japan must fully
weigh the impact a "negative" vote on the Israel resolution
would have on the North Korea resolution. When asked by
Political Officer which countries were trying to trade
support for one resolution against the other, Takizaki denied
that any country had overtly tied the two measures together
and said that Toyko's embassies in the Middle East are
currently trying to "investigate."
4. (C) Takizaki also said that, as far as he knew, USUN has
not directly consulted with the Japanese Mission about the
TOKYO 00006596 002 OF 002
ESS resolution. He strongly recommended direct contact
between our two missions on issues of such sensitivity and
importance.
5. (C) Political Officer thanked Takizaki for his
information, but concluded by noting that Washington would
consider a Japanese vote in support of the ESS resolution a
very unfortunate development.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
6. (C) The Japanese are clearly spun up about their North
Korea resolution and are possibly being overly concerned
about things they may or may not have heard from members of
Arab delegations that support the ESS resolution. That said,
they aren't inclined to take any chances that might
jeopardize one of Tokyo's top foreign policy priorities.
Embassy agrees that it would be helpful for USUN to directly
engage the Japanese delegation on this issue in an attempt to
alleviate any unfounded fears they may have.
DONOVAN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2016
TAGS: PREL UNGA XF IS JA
SUBJECT: JAPANESE OPPOSITION TO UNGA EMERGENCY SPECIAL
SESSION RESOLUTION NOT ASSURED
REF: STATE 188244
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Joe Donovan for reasons 1.4(b),(
d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: A "no" vote or abstention by the Japanese to
the November 17 UNGA Emergency Special Session (ESS)
Resolution on Israel cannot be assured, according to MOFA
United Nations Policy Division Director Shigeki Takizaki.
Although Japan agrees completely that the resolution is
unbalanced and uncalled for, and would strongly prefer to
follow its standard practice of abstaining on such issues,
Tokyo is skittish about the possible effect a "no" vote or
abstention would have on the outcome of their own pending
resolution on Human Rights in North Korea. Takizaki strongly
urged Political Officer to convey to USUN that they should
consult directly with the Japanese Mission on the ESS
resolution. END SUMMARY.
--------------
JAPAN AGREES WITH US...
--------------
2. (C) Per reftel, Embassy Tokyo Political Officer November
17 called on Director Takizaki to strongly urge a Japanese
"no" vote on the ESS resolution targeting Israel. Takizaki
was accompanied by Hirotaka Ishikawa, who specializes in
Middle East issues for MOFA'a United Nations Policy Division.
Takizaki said that Japan strongly agrees with the United
States that the language of the proposed resolution is
completely unbalanced and that the bringing of such a
resolution in an ESS is uncalled for. He reported that the
Japanese Mission in New York is working with the Qataris to
try to persuade them to insert more balanced language.
However, he fears that given the size of the General Assembly
it may be difficult to prevail upon the Qataris to insert
Japan's moderating language. Takizaki also noted that in
addition to engaging the Qataris in New York, Japanese
embassies in the Middle East and Gulf regions have been
tasked to approach their host governments to urge them to
balance the language.
--------------
...BUT...
--------------
3. (C) Despite Japan's misgivings about the resolution,
Takizaki said he could not guarantee that Japan will oppose
it or abstain if the resolution comes to a vote. This is
because Japan has heard "rumors" in New York and Geneva that
some Arab countries will vote against Japan's pending
resolution on Human Rights in North Korea, scheduled for a
vote on November 17 in the Third Committee, if Japan does not
support the anti-Israel measure. Calling this a "real
headache" for MOFA, Takizaki said that passage of the North
Korea resolution is currently Japan's major priority at the
United Nations, and Tokyo is skittish about anything that
could jeopardize its success. Accordingly, Japan must fully
weigh the impact a "negative" vote on the Israel resolution
would have on the North Korea resolution. When asked by
Political Officer which countries were trying to trade
support for one resolution against the other, Takizaki denied
that any country had overtly tied the two measures together
and said that Toyko's embassies in the Middle East are
currently trying to "investigate."
4. (C) Takizaki also said that, as far as he knew, USUN has
not directly consulted with the Japanese Mission about the
TOKYO 00006596 002 OF 002
ESS resolution. He strongly recommended direct contact
between our two missions on issues of such sensitivity and
importance.
5. (C) Political Officer thanked Takizaki for his
information, but concluded by noting that Washington would
consider a Japanese vote in support of the ESS resolution a
very unfortunate development.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
6. (C) The Japanese are clearly spun up about their North
Korea resolution and are possibly being overly concerned
about things they may or may not have heard from members of
Arab delegations that support the ESS resolution. That said,
they aren't inclined to take any chances that might
jeopardize one of Tokyo's top foreign policy priorities.
Embassy agrees that it would be helpful for USUN to directly
engage the Japanese delegation on this issue in an attempt to
alleviate any unfounded fears they may have.
DONOVAN