JAPANESE VFM YAMANAKA'S AUGUST 2 MEETING WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 001485 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/02/2011 TAGS: PREL UNSC KUNR UN JA SUBJECT: JAPANESE VFM YAMANAKA'S AUGUST 2 MEETING WITH AMBASSADOR BOLTON Classified By: Ambassador John R. Bolton, Permanent Representative, for reasons 1.4 b,d. ¶1. (U) Summary. Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Akiko Yamanaka told Ambassador Bolton on August 2 that the GOJ was extremely appreciative of U.S. support for strong Security Council action following the DPRK's missile launches in July. She reiterated Japanese support for aggressive UN reform, including on mandate review and management reform, and emphasized the need to find a joint U.S.-Japan approach to expand the Security Council. Yamanaka, who had just returned from a trip through Latin America, said the GOJ would remain strong supporters of UN operations in Haiti and would continue to work with its friends in the region to prevent Venezuela from being elected to the Security Council this fall. Ambassador Bolton noted that Japanese leadership on the Council in the aftermath of the DPRK's latest provocations demonstrated the important role Japan plays in maintaining international peace and security. End Summary. ¶2. (U) Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Akiko Yamanaka, accompanied by Japan's Permanent Representative Kenzo Oshima, called on Ambassador Bolton on August 2 to discuss U.S.-Japan cooperation at the UN. She opened by expressing appreciation, on behalf of FM Aso, for U.S. cooperation in the aftermath of the DPRK's missile launches in July. She and Ambassador Bolton agreed that the Council had taken strong action, by passing the first resolution on the DPRK since 1993, and further isolated the Pyongyang regime from the rest of the international community. Ambassador Bolton noted that Japanese leadership on the Council in the aftermath of the DPRK's provocation reinforced our shared goal to see Japan occupy a permanent seat on the Council. ¶3. (U) Yamanaka emphasized the importance that Japan places on UN reform, highlighting in particular the need for progress on mandate review and management reform. She noted that the progress in each of these areas had been limited and too slow. In pursuit of a permanent Council seat, Tokyo would continue to pursue good relations with the other members of the G-4, but would focus its efforts on work with the U.S. to find a common position. Yamanaka noted that Indian support for Shashi Tharoor's candidacy for the Secretary-General position made it more complicated for New SIPDIS Delhi to simultaneously pursue permanent membership on the Council. ¶4. (C) Yamanaka then described some of the highlights of her recent trip to Latin America, including stops in Haiti, Peru and Ecuador. On Haiti, Japan would continue to be strong supporters of MINUSTAH, though Tokyo was worried that China was trying to leverage its support for the Preval government to achieve a diminution in Haiti-Taiwan relations. In Peru, Yamanaka said that she had sensed that the strained bilateral relationship with Japan was now past. She called the recent outcome of the Presidential election a "good sign for all of Latin America" as the candidate supported by Venezuelan President Chavez had been defeated and President Garcia appeared to have matured and committed to democracy. In Ecuador, she reported good working relations with each of the candidates in the upcoming Presidential elections, noting that the "hidden mission" of her stop in Quito was to bolster Ecuador's support for Guatemala's candidacy for the Security Council. Ambassador Bolton reiterated our strong support for Guatemala and our concern that - based on its actions in other UN forums - it was clear that Venezuela would prove disruptive on the Council, to the detriment of the work of the UN and our collective interests. However, it was important not to give Chavez an excuse to successfully characterize the race as "Venezuela vs. the U.S." It would be helpful if other countries committed publicly to Guatemala. ¶5. (U) In closing, Yamanaka reiterated Japan's willingness to help "in any way" resolve the current crisis in the Middle East. BOLTON