Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TOKYO3052
2007-07-05 02:21:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
JAPANESE OFFICIAL DISCUSSES G-8 PLANNING
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C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 003052
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR TONG
PARIS FOR USOECD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/02/2022
TAGS: ECON EFIN ETRD JA PGOV PREL SENV
SUBJECT: JAPANESE OFFICIAL DISCUSSES G-8 PLANNING
Classified By: Ambassador Schieffer for reasons 1.4 (b/d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 003052
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR TONG
PARIS FOR USOECD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/02/2022
TAGS: ECON EFIN ETRD JA PGOV PREL SENV
SUBJECT: JAPANESE OFFICIAL DISCUSSES G-8 PLANNING
Classified By: Ambassador Schieffer for reasons 1.4 (b/d)
1. (C) Summary. Prime Minister Abe is very fond of his
slogan "Beautiful Country" and will likely use some version
of that slogan as the overall theme for the 2008 G-8 summit
to be held in Lake Toya Hokkaido, Ministry of Foreign
Affair's Deputy Director for the G-8 Summit Office and
Economic Policy Division Kohei Nakamura told Econoff on June
28. Japan stands with the United States in its belief that
the so-called "Outreach 5" (Brazil, South Africa, Mexico,
China and India) should not automatically be invited to each
summit, and is considering South Korea as a possible outreach
candidate. Nakamura stated that MOFA will announce the
formation of a new division in early July that will be
responsible for the overall planning of the summit and which
will be headed by an Ambassador-level official. End Summary.
2. (C) Prime Minister Abe is very fond of his slogan
"Beautiful Country" and will likely use some version of that
slogan as the overall theme for the 2008 G-8 summit to be
held in Lake Toya Hokkaido, said Ministry of Foreign Affair's
(MOFA) Deputy Director for the G-8 Summit Office and Economic
Policy Division Kohei Nakamura during a June 28 meeting with
Econoff. The summit will focus on the environment and
climate change, but other topics could include "civil
diplomacy" (i.e. spreading democracy, reducing poverty) and
the development of Africa. The latter is of particular
interest given Japan's hosting of the fourth meeting of the
Tokyo International Conference for African Development
(TICAD) in Yokohama in May 2008, Nakamura stated.
3. (C) Japan stands with the United States in its belief that
the so-called "Outreach 5" (Brazil, South Africa, Mexico,
China and India) should not automatically be invited to each
summit, Nakamura continued. Other countries with large or
developing economies should also be considered. Nakamura
suggested that Japan views South Korea as one such country.
4. (C) MOFA will announce the formation of a new division in
early July that will be responsible for the overall planning
of the summit, Nakamura continued. An Ambassador-ranked
official will head the division supported by three
Director-level officials. "Several dozen" will initially
staff the office after which it will ramp-up to approximately
100 as the summit draws closer. Nakamura stated that the top
officials had already been decided upon but that he couldn't
recall their names. Nakamura and others in his division will
travel to Berlin the week of July 2 to be de-briefed on
lessons learned from the Government of Germany.
5. (C) Following precedent, ministerial meetings leading up
to the summit will each be planned by the respective Ministry
within the Government of Japan, Nakamura affirmed. The
process will be overseen by an interagency task force headed
by Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki, he said.
6. (C) Rumors suggesting Japanese G-8 Sherpa Masaharu Kono
will be replaced are unfounded, Nakamura stated. Kono and PM
Abe are very close and Kono has every intention of continuing
in his current role. Sous-Sherpa Yoichi Otabe, MOFA's
Director General for Economic Affairs, will also remain in
place.
SCHIEFFER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR TONG
PARIS FOR USOECD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/02/2022
TAGS: ECON EFIN ETRD JA PGOV PREL SENV
SUBJECT: JAPANESE OFFICIAL DISCUSSES G-8 PLANNING
Classified By: Ambassador Schieffer for reasons 1.4 (b/d)
1. (C) Summary. Prime Minister Abe is very fond of his
slogan "Beautiful Country" and will likely use some version
of that slogan as the overall theme for the 2008 G-8 summit
to be held in Lake Toya Hokkaido, Ministry of Foreign
Affair's Deputy Director for the G-8 Summit Office and
Economic Policy Division Kohei Nakamura told Econoff on June
28. Japan stands with the United States in its belief that
the so-called "Outreach 5" (Brazil, South Africa, Mexico,
China and India) should not automatically be invited to each
summit, and is considering South Korea as a possible outreach
candidate. Nakamura stated that MOFA will announce the
formation of a new division in early July that will be
responsible for the overall planning of the summit and which
will be headed by an Ambassador-level official. End Summary.
2. (C) Prime Minister Abe is very fond of his slogan
"Beautiful Country" and will likely use some version of that
slogan as the overall theme for the 2008 G-8 summit to be
held in Lake Toya Hokkaido, said Ministry of Foreign Affair's
(MOFA) Deputy Director for the G-8 Summit Office and Economic
Policy Division Kohei Nakamura during a June 28 meeting with
Econoff. The summit will focus on the environment and
climate change, but other topics could include "civil
diplomacy" (i.e. spreading democracy, reducing poverty) and
the development of Africa. The latter is of particular
interest given Japan's hosting of the fourth meeting of the
Tokyo International Conference for African Development
(TICAD) in Yokohama in May 2008, Nakamura stated.
3. (C) Japan stands with the United States in its belief that
the so-called "Outreach 5" (Brazil, South Africa, Mexico,
China and India) should not automatically be invited to each
summit, Nakamura continued. Other countries with large or
developing economies should also be considered. Nakamura
suggested that Japan views South Korea as one such country.
4. (C) MOFA will announce the formation of a new division in
early July that will be responsible for the overall planning
of the summit, Nakamura continued. An Ambassador-ranked
official will head the division supported by three
Director-level officials. "Several dozen" will initially
staff the office after which it will ramp-up to approximately
100 as the summit draws closer. Nakamura stated that the top
officials had already been decided upon but that he couldn't
recall their names. Nakamura and others in his division will
travel to Berlin the week of July 2 to be de-briefed on
lessons learned from the Government of Germany.
5. (C) Following precedent, ministerial meetings leading up
to the summit will each be planned by the respective Ministry
within the Government of Japan, Nakamura affirmed. The
process will be overseen by an interagency task force headed
by Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki, he said.
6. (C) Rumors suggesting Japanese G-8 Sherpa Masaharu Kono
will be replaced are unfounded, Nakamura stated. Kono and PM
Abe are very close and Kono has every intention of continuing
in his current role. Sous-Sherpa Yoichi Otabe, MOFA's
Director General for Economic Affairs, will also remain in
place.
SCHIEFFER