JAPANESE OPPOSITION TO UNGA EMERGENCY SPECIAL

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