JAPAN INVITED TO IRAQ NEIGHBORS CONFERENCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 001027 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR S/I AND NEA/I E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/08/2017 TAGS: PREL OIC UN IZ JA SUBJECT: JAPAN INVITED TO IRAQ NEIGHBORS CONFERENCE REF: STATE 28320 Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4(b) and (d ) ¶1. (C) Japan has received an invitation to attend the opening session of the March 10 Iraq Neighbors conference, according to Iraqi Ambassador to Japan Ghanim Al-Jumaily. Al-Jumaily told Embassy Tokyo Political Officer that he had lobbied hard with his Ministry and also convinced Vice President Tariq Al-Hashimi to lobby Prime Minister Al-Maliki on Japan's behalf. Ultimately the decision to invite Japan and Germany had been agreed upon although, according to Al-Jumaily, "it hadn't been easy!" MOFA Second Middle East Division Deputy Director Masaki Yasumatsu subsequently confirmed to Political Officer that Iraqi Foreign Minister Zebari had contacted the Japanese Embassy in Baghdad the evening of March 8 to extend the invitation. He indicated Japan will be represented at the meeting by its Charge d'Affaires, as their new ambassador is not scheduled to arrive until March 17. SCHIEFFER