Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TOKYO307
2007-01-23 07:18:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
JAPANESE RECONSIDER, WILL SEND MINISTER TO PARIS
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C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 000307
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR DB/IFD/OFD WAECHTER AND NEA/ELA ALLEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/2017
TAGS: PREL ECON EFIN EAID LE JA
SUBJECT: JAPANESE RECONSIDER, WILL SEND MINISTER TO PARIS
III CONFERENCE ON LEBANON
REF: A. TOKYO 231
B. STATE 2781
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4(b) and (d
)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 000307
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR DB/IFD/OFD WAECHTER AND NEA/ELA ALLEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/2017
TAGS: PREL ECON EFIN EAID LE JA
SUBJECT: JAPANESE RECONSIDER, WILL SEND MINISTER TO PARIS
III CONFERENCE ON LEBANON
REF: A. TOKYO 231
B. STATE 2781
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4(b) and (d
)
1. (C) Japanese MOFA officials informed Lebanese Charge
d'Affaires in Tokyo January 23 that after further
consideration, Japan has decided to send Minister of
Environment Masotoshi Wakabyashi to lead its delegation to
the Paris III International Conference for Support to
Lebanon, and will make a small financial contribution as
well. This decision marks a reversal of Japan's initial
inclination to dispatch a lower level delegation and to hold
off on making any additional contributions (reftel A).
Wakabyashi will be accompanied by Shinsuke Sugiyama, Deputy
Director General of MOFA's First Middle East Division.
2. (C) Lebanese Charge d'Affaires Toufic Jaber told Embassy
Tokyo Political Officer that he attributes this shift to
President Chirac's personal intervention with Prime Minister
Abe, and also to a telephone conversation between Lebanese
Prime Minister Siniora and Foreign Minister Aso, which took
place the evening of January 22. (NOTE: Jaber said he
believes that PM Siniora spoke about this with the Secretary
and that she was going to call Aso as well to press for
ministerial representation. END NOTE.) In addition to
sending a minister, Tokyo will contribute between 4-5 million
USD for two projects, the first to help with demining
activities in South Lebanon, the second to provide technical
assistance focusing on economic reform with particular
emphasis on reducing the government deficit. In addition,
Japan said it is willing to discuss debt relief, but only in
the context of multilateral forums. If there is
international consensus concerning debt relief, arrived at
through institutions such as the Paris Club, World Bank, or
IMF, then Japan will be willing to consider participating,
according to Jaber.
3. (C) Japanese officials initially told us and the Lebanese
that they could not send a minister, as the Paris III meeting
is taking place on the same day as the opening session of the
Diet. They originally said they would consider sending their
Special Envoy for the Middle East or, when pressed by Jaber,
perhaps a Vice Foreign Minister. They also said that
Lebanon's overall economic situation precluded ODA
contributions. (Ref A.) Although the amount they are
prepared to pledge still remains minimal, and even though
Wakabyashi may not be the most appropriate or knowledgeable
minister to send, Jaber considers these last minute
developments to be about as much as could be expected.
4. (C) The above information was subsequently confirmed by
First Middle East Division Syria Desk Officer Hitoshi
Ishizuka, who also said that Foreign Minister Aso would speak
later today with the Secretary to confirm to her this
decision.
SCHIEFFER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR DB/IFD/OFD WAECHTER AND NEA/ELA ALLEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/2017
TAGS: PREL ECON EFIN EAID LE JA
SUBJECT: JAPANESE RECONSIDER, WILL SEND MINISTER TO PARIS
III CONFERENCE ON LEBANON
REF: A. TOKYO 231
B. STATE 2781
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4(b) and (d
)
1. (C) Japanese MOFA officials informed Lebanese Charge
d'Affaires in Tokyo January 23 that after further
consideration, Japan has decided to send Minister of
Environment Masotoshi Wakabyashi to lead its delegation to
the Paris III International Conference for Support to
Lebanon, and will make a small financial contribution as
well. This decision marks a reversal of Japan's initial
inclination to dispatch a lower level delegation and to hold
off on making any additional contributions (reftel A).
Wakabyashi will be accompanied by Shinsuke Sugiyama, Deputy
Director General of MOFA's First Middle East Division.
2. (C) Lebanese Charge d'Affaires Toufic Jaber told Embassy
Tokyo Political Officer that he attributes this shift to
President Chirac's personal intervention with Prime Minister
Abe, and also to a telephone conversation between Lebanese
Prime Minister Siniora and Foreign Minister Aso, which took
place the evening of January 22. (NOTE: Jaber said he
believes that PM Siniora spoke about this with the Secretary
and that she was going to call Aso as well to press for
ministerial representation. END NOTE.) In addition to
sending a minister, Tokyo will contribute between 4-5 million
USD for two projects, the first to help with demining
activities in South Lebanon, the second to provide technical
assistance focusing on economic reform with particular
emphasis on reducing the government deficit. In addition,
Japan said it is willing to discuss debt relief, but only in
the context of multilateral forums. If there is
international consensus concerning debt relief, arrived at
through institutions such as the Paris Club, World Bank, or
IMF, then Japan will be willing to consider participating,
according to Jaber.
3. (C) Japanese officials initially told us and the Lebanese
that they could not send a minister, as the Paris III meeting
is taking place on the same day as the opening session of the
Diet. They originally said they would consider sending their
Special Envoy for the Middle East or, when pressed by Jaber,
perhaps a Vice Foreign Minister. They also said that
Lebanon's overall economic situation precluded ODA
contributions. (Ref A.) Although the amount they are
prepared to pledge still remains minimal, and even though
Wakabyashi may not be the most appropriate or knowledgeable
minister to send, Jaber considers these last minute
developments to be about as much as could be expected.
4. (C) The above information was subsequently confirmed by
First Middle East Division Syria Desk Officer Hitoshi
Ishizuka, who also said that Foreign Minister Aso would speak
later today with the Secretary to confirm to her this
decision.
SCHIEFFER