MESSAGE FROM SECRETARY ON IRAQ COMPACT DELIVERED;

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 001742 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR S/I SATTERFIELD AND NEA/I TAECKER TREASURY FOR DEPUTY SECRETARY KIMMITT, IA/SAEED, MATHIASEN AND ALVO E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2017 TAGS: EAID EFIN PREL IZ RS JA SUBJECT: MESSAGE FROM SECRETARY ON IRAQ COMPACT DELIVERED; FM ASO STILL UNDECIDED REF: STATE 50497 Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4(b) and (d ) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Foreign Minister Aso told Ambassador and Iraqi Foreign Minister Zebari that his agreement to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov in Moscow on May 3 precludes his participation in the Compact meeting. However, he suggested that if Lavrov were to propose moving their meeting to Sharm el-Sheikh, he would agree to the change. Aso suggested we contact Lavrov to plant this idea without attributing it to him. Zebari reportedly agreed to call Lavrov with the same suggestion. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) Ambassador April 18 spoke with Foreign Minister Aso to convey the Secretary's oral message encouraging him to personally attend the Iraq Compact meeting May 3 in Sharm el-Sheikh, per reftel instructions. Aso explained that he is scheduled to meet with Russian FM Lavrov in Moscow on that day and does not wish to cancel the meeting as he was the one who proposed it. Nor does he wish to propose a change of venue. However, if Lavrov were to propose a meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh instead of Moscow on May 3, Aso said he would agree. Aso suggested to Ambassador that we make this suggestion to Lavrov but asked that we not tell the Russians that he had made this proposal. ¶3. (C) Iraqi Foreign Minister Zebari also telephoned Aso April 18 to request his presence at the Compact meeting, according to press reports confirmed by Iraqi Ambassador Ghanim al-Jumaily. According to Jumaily, Aso responded to Zebari that he understands the importance of the meeting and will actively consider participating, but that he feels he cannot break his agreement to meet Lavrov in Moscow. Zebari told Aso he would "take care of Lavrov" by calling to convince him he should meet with Aso in Egypt. ¶4. (C) MOFA Second Middle East Division Principal Deputy Director Motosada Matano confirmed to Political Officer that, as of April 19, Aso is still planning to attend the May 4 Neighbors Meeting but has not committed to attending the May 3 Compact meeting. Deputy Chief of Mission on April 20 will call on MOFA Director General for Middle Eastern Affairs Okuda to emphasize yet again the importance we attach to Aso's participation at the Compact meeting. SCHIEFFER