Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TOKYO2185
2007-05-15 07:24:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
JAPAN SHARES U.S. CONCERNS ABOUT IRAN-VENEZUELA
how-toVZCZCXRO5184 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK DE RUEHKO #2185 1350724 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 150724Z MAY 07 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3600 INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 0159
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 002185
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR WHA/AND AND NEA/IRAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/14/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR PHUM MASS ECON PTER VE IR JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN SHARES U.S. CONCERNS ABOUT IRAN-VENEZUELA
REF: STATE 61378
Classified By: Charge d' Affairs Joseph R. Donovan for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 002185
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR WHA/AND AND NEA/IRAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/14/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR PHUM MASS ECON PTER VE IR JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN SHARES U.S. CONCERNS ABOUT IRAN-VENEZUELA
REF: STATE 61378
Classified By: Charge d' Affairs Joseph R. Donovan for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
1. (C) EMBASSY Tokyo Political Officers delivered reftel
demarche May 10 to MOFA Second Middle East Division Iran Desk
Officer Junichi Sumi and May 14 to MOFA South America and
Caribbean Division Principal Deputy Director Akifumi
Mizuguchi. Mizuguchi said Japan shares the U.S. concerns
that Venezuela is damaging international efforts to isolate
Iran. Japan is particularly concerned over the diplomatic
support that Venezuela is giving to Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Mizuguchi was interested in the terrorism implications of
Venezuela's weak document control, saying his office had
never heard of or considered the issue. Mizuguchi said he
would pass the information on to Latin American and Caribbean
Affairs Director-General Akira Miwa.
2. (C) Japan is willing to make its concerns public, but
rarely gets the opportunity to discuss political issues
bilaterally with Venezuela, Mizuguchi explained. DG Miwa was
considering making a trip to Caracas, but cancelled when his
counterpart in the Venezuelan government declined to meet
with him, according to Mizuguchi. Complaining that Venezuela
and Iran are "threatening the world with oil power,"
Mizuguchi said that the Japanese Foreign Ministry is willing
to make its concerns public, and would look for opportunities
to raise the issue with Venezuela bilaterally.
3. (C) Sumi delivered a different message, saying Japan
could only "take note" of the growing relationship between
Iran and Venezuela and "be vigilant." He said there is
nothing Japan can do to prevent two countries it is on good
terms with from increasing/improving their own bilateral
economic and diplomatic ties. Although Sumi expressed
interest in the information about nuclear cooperation, oil
ties, and anti-semitism, he stated that the issues discussed
do not seem to be of concern to Japan.
4. (C) Comment: We consider Mizuguchi's response the more
authoritative of the two. Sumi, who focuses on Iran, seemed
uninformed about Venezuela's recent actions and their wider
ramifications. Nevertheless, Sumi's critical reaction to the
demarche may indicate resistance by some within MOFA to
taking a firm position on Iran's proliferation activities.
SCHIEFFER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR WHA/AND AND NEA/IRAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/14/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR PHUM MASS ECON PTER VE IR JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN SHARES U.S. CONCERNS ABOUT IRAN-VENEZUELA
REF: STATE 61378
Classified By: Charge d' Affairs Joseph R. Donovan for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
1. (C) EMBASSY Tokyo Political Officers delivered reftel
demarche May 10 to MOFA Second Middle East Division Iran Desk
Officer Junichi Sumi and May 14 to MOFA South America and
Caribbean Division Principal Deputy Director Akifumi
Mizuguchi. Mizuguchi said Japan shares the U.S. concerns
that Venezuela is damaging international efforts to isolate
Iran. Japan is particularly concerned over the diplomatic
support that Venezuela is giving to Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Mizuguchi was interested in the terrorism implications of
Venezuela's weak document control, saying his office had
never heard of or considered the issue. Mizuguchi said he
would pass the information on to Latin American and Caribbean
Affairs Director-General Akira Miwa.
2. (C) Japan is willing to make its concerns public, but
rarely gets the opportunity to discuss political issues
bilaterally with Venezuela, Mizuguchi explained. DG Miwa was
considering making a trip to Caracas, but cancelled when his
counterpart in the Venezuelan government declined to meet
with him, according to Mizuguchi. Complaining that Venezuela
and Iran are "threatening the world with oil power,"
Mizuguchi said that the Japanese Foreign Ministry is willing
to make its concerns public, and would look for opportunities
to raise the issue with Venezuela bilaterally.
3. (C) Sumi delivered a different message, saying Japan
could only "take note" of the growing relationship between
Iran and Venezuela and "be vigilant." He said there is
nothing Japan can do to prevent two countries it is on good
terms with from increasing/improving their own bilateral
economic and diplomatic ties. Although Sumi expressed
interest in the information about nuclear cooperation, oil
ties, and anti-semitism, he stated that the issues discussed
do not seem to be of concern to Japan.
4. (C) Comment: We consider Mizuguchi's response the more
authoritative of the two. Sumi, who focuses on Iran, seemed
uninformed about Venezuela's recent actions and their wider
ramifications. Nevertheless, Sumi's critical reaction to the
demarche may indicate resistance by some within MOFA to
taking a firm position on Iran's proliferation activities.
SCHIEFFER