JAPAN SEEKS UN OCHA POST

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 007133

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/25/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL UN JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN SEEKS UN OCHA POST


Classified By: Charge d'Affairs Joe Donovan for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).


1. (SBU) MOFA Deputy Vice Minister Kojiro Shiojiri contacted
Charge December 26 to request U.S. support for MOFA
Director-General for Global Issues Ambassador Koji Tsuruoka's
bid to become UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian
Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator (OCHA). Japan
believed that UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon would be
shuffling UN Deputy-Secretary-General and
Under-Secretary-General positions in the immediate future and
hoped the United States would convey to Ban Ki Moon our
support for Tsuruoka before the end of January, Shiojiri said.


2. (C) In a follow up meeting with Charge, Ambassador in
Charge of UN Affairs Masato Kitera asked the U.S. to support
his "good friend" Tsuruoka in obtaining the
Under-Secretary-General position. Kitera described
Tsuruoka's 36-year career at MOFA, much of it spent on UN

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affairs, which he said made him a particularly good candidate
for the OCHA job. Kitera reiterated the government of
Japan's request that the United States use its influence with
Secretary General Ban Ki Moon to lobby on behalf of Tsuruoka.

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Kitera noted a potential U.S. bid for the
Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, saying
that Japan would be "closely watching" U.S. action on the
OCHA position.


3. (SBU) Charge thanked Ambassador Kitera for the
information and said he would convey the government of
Japan's request to Washington.


4. (U) Embassy Tokyo has sent Ambassador Tsuruoka's CV to
EAP/J by fax December 26.
DONOVAN