MOFA ASKS ABOUT U.S. ROLE IN THE UN-AU HYBRID

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 003592

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR EAP/J, IO/PSC, AF/SPG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/02/2017
TAGS: PREL KPKO PREF SU JA
SUBJECT: MOFA ASKS ABOUT U.S. ROLE IN THE UN-AU HYBRID
FORCE FOR DARFUR


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


1. (U) This cable contains an action request. Please see
paragraph 4.


2. (C) Media reports are premature that Japan will provide
50 billion yen (USD 417 million) to PKOs in Sudan, said MOFA
First Africa Division Deputy Director Sotaro Ozaki during a
meeting with Embassy Tokyo Political Officer on August 2.
Ozaki expected Japan's contribution to be around 20 percent
of the UN operational budget, but noted that it would take
weeks, not days, before his division finishes budget-planning
coordination with MOFA's UN Planning and Administration
Division. Ozaki asked how much financial assistance the
United States would give to the peacekeeping operation in
Darfur.


3. (C) Japan is unlikely to contribute personnel to the
peacekeeping forces, stated Ozaki. In addition to Japan's
constitutional limitations on military operations, the
international community should emphasize African
participation in the hybrid force, he added. He finished by
asking if the United States would be contributing personnel
to peacekeeping forces in Darfur.


4. (SBU) Action Request: Please provide guidance on how the
Department would like Post to respond to MOFA's request for
information on our financial and personnel support for the
UN-AU Hybrid Force in Darfur.
SCHIEFFER