JAPAN OPPOSES NORWEGIAN DRAFT TEXT ON CLUSTER

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 002268 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2016 TAGS: MOPS NATO PARM PREL JA SUBJECT: JAPAN OPPOSES NORWEGIAN DRAFT TEXT ON CLUSTER MUNITIONS REF: A. STATE 66596 ¶B. TOKYO 02004 Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer. Reasons 1.4 (B) (D) ¶1. (C) On May 18, Embassy Tokyo delivered ref (A) demarche regarding U.S. concerns about the Norwegian draft text on cluster munitions (CM) to MOFA Conventional Arms Division official Maiko Tamagawa. Tamagawa, noting that Tokyo was "really concerned" about the draft text, reiterated that Japan remained opposed to a complete ban on CM. Japanese officials believe that the Oslo-provided wording amounts to a total ban on CM and, if left unchallenged, would have a negative impact on alliance interoperability. ¶2. (C) Japan attaches great importance to the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) process and wants to see discussion on CM continue in that forum, Tamagawa said. However, as related during DAS Ruggiero's April 27 Tokyo visit (ref B),Japan will attend the Lima conference, where MOFA and Ministry of Defense representatives will share their concerns about the Oslo-supplied text with France, the UK, and others. She noted, however, the importance of adopting a formal negotiating mandate in order to achieve tangible progress in the CCW. Tamagawa promised to relay the demarche to defense officials in MOD's International Policy Planning Division. SCHIEFFER