UNCLAS TOKYO 000238

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SENSITIVE
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DEPT FOR NEA/RA SHAUNFIELD
ROME PLEASE PASS DG MFO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MFO PKO JA
SUBJECT: JAPANESE FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MFO

REF: A. STATE 3590

B. LAROCCO-DONOVAN E-MAIL 12/15/06

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED, PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY


1. (SBU) Japan recognizes the important mission played by the
MFO in maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East,
but is precluded by budget constraints from increasing its
voluntary contribution to the organization at this time,
according to Yusuke Yamasaki, Senior Deputy Director of
MOFA's First Middle East Division. Embassy Tokyo Political
Officer met with Yamasaki January 17 to convey the points
contained in reftel, thanking Japan for its continuing
support for the MFO and for its active engagement in Iraq and
Afghanistan, but also asking that it return its MFO
contribution to earlier levels or consider funding one of the
projects mentioned.


2. (SBU) Yamasaki replied that Japan believes the work done
by the MFO is critical to maintaining peace in the region,
and pointed out that Tokyo has contributed over $70 million
to the MFO since its inception. Japan takes note of and
gives serious consideration to demarches from both the MFO
secretariat and from member nations asking for continued and

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additional support. Unfortunately, the state of the Japanese
economy over the past few years has meant diminishing funds
for such programs, and Japanese foreign assistance has been
cut across the board. For this reason, Japan regrets that it
cannot make further commitments to the MFO at this time, he
explained.


3. (SBU) Deviating from his prepared response to our
demarche, Yamasaki said he believes the economic situation in
Japan is improving, and he is hopeful that additional sums
may be available for such programs in the future. That said,
he cautioned that it would be misleading of him to say for
certain that Japan will increase its current contribution to
the MFO anytime soon.
SCHIEFFER