Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TOKYO391
2007-01-29 09:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
JAPAN LEERY OF TRYING TO INFLUENCE AFRICAN UNION
how-toVZCZCXRO1044 OO RUEHROV DE RUEHKO #0391 0290940 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 290940Z JAN 07 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0157 INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA IMMEDIATE 0371
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 000391
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/28/2017
TAGS: PREL XA XW SU JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN LEERY OF TRYING TO INFLUENCE AFRICAN UNION
CHAIR ELECTIONS
REF: STATE 09783
Classified By: Acting Deputy Chief of Mission W. Michael Meserve. Reas
ons: 1.4 (b) and (d).
(C) Embassy political officer delivered reftel talking points
January 29 to First Africa Division Principal Deputy Director
Fumihiro Kawakami. Japan shares U.S. concerns about Darfur
and the possibility that Sudanese President Bashir might be
elected as African Union Chair, but does not intend to become
involved, explained Kawakami. Japan sent a delegation to the
summit meeting, but only as observers. Prime Minister Abe
would have to be involved in any attempt to influence the
election, stated Kawakami, because ministers are not allowed
access to the deliberations. Any diplomacy at a
lower-than-ministerial level would be ineffective because of
"African political dynamics," he asserted.
DONOVAN