NEPAL: JAPANESE TO ASSESS AREAS FOR ASSISTANCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000096 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/18/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER EAID JA NP SUBJECT: NEPAL: JAPANESE TO ASSESS AREAS FOR ASSISTANCE REF: 06 KATHMANDU 3209 Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty for reasons 1.4(b/d). Japanese Fact-Finding Mission Soon On The Ground -------------- -------------- ¶1. (SBU) On January 17, Ambassador Moriarty met with Japanese Ambassador to NEPAL Tsutomu Hiraoka to discuss U.S. and Japanese assistance plans as a follow up to their December meeting (reftel). Now that the Security Council was close to a resolution on Nepal, Hiraoka reported, Japan's Director General for South and Southeast Asia would soon visit NEPAL on a fact-finding mission. Ambassador Moriarty described his recent consultations in Washington as positive, although concern about Maoist intentions remained. The Ambassador told Hiraoka that he had requested an additional USD 10-15 million to support an improved security environment and election preparations. Japan Undecided on How To Deal With Maoist Ministers -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) Hiraoka worried that an interim government, including Maoists, would govern the country for an extended period until parliamentary elections were held. The Ambassador replied that the interim government would only sit for six to ten months, until after Constituent Assembly elections, at which point the Constituent Assembly would become the governing legislative body. With the prospect of Maoists joining an interim government, Hiraoka indicated that Japan was trying to decide whether and when to talk directly with Maoists. The Ambassador suggested that, if the United States needed to discuss official business with a minister, we would do so even if that minister were a Maoist, although we would try to avoid communication at the ambassadorial level until the Maoists had clearly amended their ways. Comment -------------- ¶3. (SBU) We are pleased to see Japan ready to move forward with an assistance package for Nepal. In December, Hiraoka had indicated that Japanese assistance to the peace process would have to wait until UN Security Council action. While Japan has committed to providing ballot boxes, there remains a significant need for additional support to Nepal's election preparations. Post believes we should encourage Japan, to the extent possible, to assist this process. MORIARTY