JAPAN OFFERS SUGGESTIONS FOR ASIAN DEMOCRACY

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 002431

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/30/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL XB JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN OFFERS SUGGESTIONS FOR ASIAN DEMOCRACY
PARTNERSHIP

REF: A. STATE 56424


B. TOKYO 2076

C. STATE 23810

Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d).


1. (SBU) This message contains an action request. Please
see para 5.


2. (SBU) Japan supports expanding regional cooperation to
promote democracy, Asian Regional Policy Division Principal
Deputy Director Yasuhiro Kobe told Embassy Tokyo Political
Officer during a May 29 discussion about the U.S. proposal
for an Asian Democracy Partnership (ADP). The Japanese
government is still studying the proposal, stated Kobe,
noting that the new initiative could be a practical way to
implement the principles Foreign Minister Aso espoused in his
November 2006 "Arc of Freedom and Prosperity" speech.


3. (C) Kobe said that the Japanese government would need
more time to give a final answer, but offered the following
comments:

-- Focus on programs, not politics: Kobe worried that some
countries of the region would "react very badly" to the
announced partnership, and suggested that great care be taken
in packaging the announcement to avoid "aggravating these
political sensitivities."

-- Broaden the mandate: Japan wants the mission of the ADP
to include working to eliminate corruption and promoting
transparency in both public administration and the judicial
process.

-- Acknowledge the diversity of Core Group countries: In
addition to the fact that every country has a unique
development assistance policy, Kobe emphasized the difference
between the Core Group's mature democracies and countries
that were still working to develop high-functioning
democracy. The Core Group should not be officially divided
into these two groups, stated Kobe, but the "1st Group" of
mature democracies would need to focus some part of their
efforts on information sharing to assist the "2nd Group"
developing democracies within the Core Group.

-- No joint projects: Coordination of efforts should involve
a clear demarcation of the role played by each participant
country's project, added Kobe, dismissing joint projects as
"very difficult."

-- Prioritize working-level contact: Kobe requested that
plans for an "ADP Leaders Conference" be postponed until
working-level contact was firmly established.

-- Determine public/private partnerships on a case-by-case
basis: ADP countries must be careful not to agitate
countries that are averse to NGO involvement, finished Kobe.


4. (SBU) Kobe asked for clarification about the mechanism
for coordinating existing programs mentioned in ref A
non-paper. He also mentioned that Japan is unclear about the
difference between the Asian Democracy Partnership and the
Partnership for Democratic Governance (PDG, ref C). Noting
the global composition of the PDG and its location in the
OECD, he asked for additional information about how the two
organizations would interface and how their mechanisms for
cooperation compare.


5. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: Post requests that the Department
provide clarification about the mechanism for cooperation and
coordination intended by ADP planners. Post also requests
that the Department provide guidance on the differences and
comparative benefits of the ADP and the PDG.
SCHIEFFER