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