JAPAN KEEPING A WATCHFUL EYE ON UNSCR-LISTED

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 002097 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2017 TAGS: UNSC PREL PBTS PARM KNNP IR JA SUBJECT: JAPAN KEEPING A WATCHFUL EYE ON UNSCR-LISTED IRANIANS REF: STATE 61222 Classified By: Acting Deputy Chief of Mission W. Michael Meserve for re asons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Embassy Political Officer delivered reftel demarche May 9 to UN Policy Division Principal Deputy Director Kentaro Fujimoto. Fujimoto said that Japan has very strict border controls in place, and immigration officials have instructions to notify the Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately if any UNSCR-listed individuals apply for entry. MOFA has also passed the list to its consular officers at Japanese Embassies and Consulates abroad. Although resolutions 1737 and 1747 do not ban travel, it would be "inconceivable" that any listed Iranians would be able to enter Japan, said Fujimoto. ¶2. (C) Japan is unlikely to talk to its Russian contacts about the issue, stated Fujimoto. Russia is "already embarrassed," he said, and Japan doesn't see value added in further pointing out that Iran had taken advantage of Russian hospitality. DONOVAN