Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TOKYO1658
2007-04-16 08:39:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTER UNDECIDED ON ATTENDANCE
how-toVZCZCXRO6359 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHKO #1658 1060839 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 160839Z APR 07 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2684 INFO RUEATRS/TREASURY DEPT WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUALSFJ/COMUSJAPAN YOKOTA AB JA PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFITT/USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 001658
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/I TAECKER
TREASURY FOR DEPSEC KIMMITT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/15/2017
TAGS: PREL EAID EFIN IZ JA
SUBJECT: JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTER UNDECIDED ON ATTENDANCE
AT IRAQ COMPACT SIGNING
REF: STATE 47346
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Joe Donovan for reasons 1.4(b) a
nd (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 001658
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/I TAECKER
TREASURY FOR DEPSEC KIMMITT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/15/2017
TAGS: PREL EAID EFIN IZ JA
SUBJECT: JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTER UNDECIDED ON ATTENDANCE
AT IRAQ COMPACT SIGNING
REF: STATE 47346
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Joe Donovan for reasons 1.4(b) a
nd (d)
1. (C) Japanese Foreign Minister Aso has not yet decided
whether he will attend the International Compact With Iraq
signing ceremony May 3 in Sharm el-Sheikh, MOFA Second Middle
East Division Principal Deputy Director Motosada Matano told
Embassy Tokyo Political Officer April 16. However, he will
attend the Neighbors Meeting on May 4. According to Matano,
current plans call for National Security Advisor Yoriko Koike
to attend the Compact meeting. She will be with Prime
Minister Abe when he visits Cairo on May 2 and will remain
behind to attend the meetings in Sharm el-Sheik.
2. (C) The problem is one of scheduling. At the moment, Aso
is scheduled to be in Moscow on May 3 to meet with Foreign
Minister Lavrov and have dinner with him that evening. He
would then fly overnight to reach Egypt in time for the
Neighbors Meeting on the 4th. Matano said that Iraqi Prime
Minister al-Maliki had personally extended the invitation to
Aso when the two met in Tokyo last week, and that MOFA has
received DepSecTreas Kimmitt's letter and made note of the
strong desire it evinces to have Aso attend. The Middle East
and African Affairs Bureau has presented to the Foreign
Minister's office their recommendation that he attend the
Compact meeting, continued Matano. But at the same time, the
European Affairs Bureau has urged him to keep his appointment
to visit Moscow. Embassy Tokyo Political Officer thanked
Matano for the information but reiterated that Foreign
Minister Aso's attendance at the Compact signing would be
highly desired, particularly given the key role Japan has
played in providing assistance to Iraq and with the Compact
process. NOTE: Aso will be in Washington to meet with the
Secretary at the Two-Plus-Two meeting scheduled for May 1 and
SIPDIS
will also be giving a presentation at CSIS on May 2 before
departing for either Moscow or Egypt, depending upon his
decision. END NOTE.
SCHIEFFER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/I TAECKER
TREASURY FOR DEPSEC KIMMITT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/15/2017
TAGS: PREL EAID EFIN IZ JA
SUBJECT: JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTER UNDECIDED ON ATTENDANCE
AT IRAQ COMPACT SIGNING
REF: STATE 47346
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Joe Donovan for reasons 1.4(b) a
nd (d)
1. (C) Japanese Foreign Minister Aso has not yet decided
whether he will attend the International Compact With Iraq
signing ceremony May 3 in Sharm el-Sheikh, MOFA Second Middle
East Division Principal Deputy Director Motosada Matano told
Embassy Tokyo Political Officer April 16. However, he will
attend the Neighbors Meeting on May 4. According to Matano,
current plans call for National Security Advisor Yoriko Koike
to attend the Compact meeting. She will be with Prime
Minister Abe when he visits Cairo on May 2 and will remain
behind to attend the meetings in Sharm el-Sheik.
2. (C) The problem is one of scheduling. At the moment, Aso
is scheduled to be in Moscow on May 3 to meet with Foreign
Minister Lavrov and have dinner with him that evening. He
would then fly overnight to reach Egypt in time for the
Neighbors Meeting on the 4th. Matano said that Iraqi Prime
Minister al-Maliki had personally extended the invitation to
Aso when the two met in Tokyo last week, and that MOFA has
received DepSecTreas Kimmitt's letter and made note of the
strong desire it evinces to have Aso attend. The Middle East
and African Affairs Bureau has presented to the Foreign
Minister's office their recommendation that he attend the
Compact meeting, continued Matano. But at the same time, the
European Affairs Bureau has urged him to keep his appointment
to visit Moscow. Embassy Tokyo Political Officer thanked
Matano for the information but reiterated that Foreign
Minister Aso's attendance at the Compact signing would be
highly desired, particularly given the key role Japan has
played in providing assistance to Iraq and with the Compact
process. NOTE: Aso will be in Washington to meet with the
Secretary at the Two-Plus-Two meeting scheduled for May 1 and
SIPDIS
will also be giving a presentation at CSIS on May 2 before
departing for either Moscow or Egypt, depending upon his
decision. END NOTE.
SCHIEFFER