Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TOKYO438
2007-01-31 10:21:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
JAPAN SUPPORTS U.S. POSITION ON CLUSTER MUNITIONS
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 000438
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2016
TAGS: MOPS PARM PREL NATO JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN SUPPORTS U.S. POSITION ON CLUSTER MUNITIONS
REF: STATE 06667
Classified By: Ambassador J.Thomas Schieffer. Reasons 1.4 (B) (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 000438
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2016
TAGS: MOPS PARM PREL NATO JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN SUPPORTS U.S. POSITION ON CLUSTER MUNITIONS
REF: STATE 06667
Classified By: Ambassador J.Thomas Schieffer. Reasons 1.4 (B) (D)
1. (SBU) This message contains an action request. See para 8.
2. (C) Summary. Japan supports the U.S. position on cluster
munitions (CM) and believes that the Convention on Certain
Conventional Weapons (CCW) is the best venue for discussing
the issue, according to MOFA officials. Japanese authorities
are ""bewildered"" by Norway's attempt to circumvent the CCW
process, but understand that the Oslo initiative will not
seek a total ban on CM. End Summary.
3. (C) On January 30, Embassy political officer delivered
reftel demarche seeking Japan's cooperation on cluster
munitions (CM) to Maiko Tamagawa in MOFA's Conventional Arms
Division. Tamagawa promised to pass the demarche to the
International Policy Planning Division at the Ministry of
Defense (MOD). MOD officials will review reftel proposal for
direct military-to-military discussions on the use of CM and
provide a response as soon as possible, she said. Tamagawa
asked that the U.S. provide specific information and details
on how the direct dialogue would take shape.
4. (C) According to Tamagawa, Japan maintains CM for
defensive purposes, believing such weapons to be both
necessary and effective. At the same time, discussion in the
Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) should take
into account the humanitarian issues associated with the use
of cluster munitions. Japan looks to balance the
humanitarian vs. military-security aspects of CM. However,
in order to be effective, the discussion on CM must involve
the main countries that produce, possess, and use CM, she
said. Japan believes that the CCW is the most appropriate
venue for discussing CM because the convention provides a
forum in which the countries that are most involved in the
use of cluster munitions can attempt to balance CM's
humanitarian vs. military aspects.
5. (C) Japanese officials are ""bewildered,"" Tamagawa said, by
Norway's move to go outside of the CCW process at a time when
the CCW is just about to discuss the issue. She said that it
would be important for all the parties to have substantive
talks at the next CCW session so as not to boost Norway's
effort to go outside the CCW process. Japanese officials
have heard, however, that the Norway proposal is not intended
to exclude discussion on CM at the CCW. The Norwegians, she
noted, do not seek to obtain the kind of total ban on CM
that, e.g., the Ottawa Treaty imposes on anti-personnel
landmines.
6. (C) Norway did not invite Japan to the Oslo conference and
Tokyo is considering whether it will ask for an invitation,
Tamagawa reported. Tokyo authorities have heard that
Australia, Canada, Finland, and Italy are likewise
considering whether or not to request invitations. Japan
will attend the April ICRC meeting in Montreux, where Tokyo
hopes a have a more balanced discussion vis--vis the
negotiations that are expected to take place at the Oslo
meeting. Tamagawa noted that the June 19-22 government
experts meeting would take stock of the ICRC gathering,
thereby giving the April Montreux discussion added
importance. Japanese officials have not yet developed a
final position on the potential legal or political
restrictions on CM use that might arise during the
negotiations.
7. (C) Tamagawa said that, for domestic political reasons,
the Japanese government would find it impossible to ignore
CM. Public interest in CM, and in Norway's proposed Oslo
conference, continues to grow. Newspapers and other media
have reported on the issue, and a few NGO's have expressed
support for the Oslo process. MOFA expects some opposition
Diet members to take up the issue during the current
legislative session.
8. (C) ACTION REQUEST: Per Tamagawa's request, please
provide more specific information on the proposed
military-to-military discussions on the use of CM.
SCHIEFFER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2016
TAGS: MOPS PARM PREL NATO JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN SUPPORTS U.S. POSITION ON CLUSTER MUNITIONS
REF: STATE 06667
Classified By: Ambassador J.Thomas Schieffer. Reasons 1.4 (B) (D)
1. (SBU) This message contains an action request. See para 8.
2. (C) Summary. Japan supports the U.S. position on cluster
munitions (CM) and believes that the Convention on Certain
Conventional Weapons (CCW) is the best venue for discussing
the issue, according to MOFA officials. Japanese authorities
are ""bewildered"" by Norway's attempt to circumvent the CCW
process, but understand that the Oslo initiative will not
seek a total ban on CM. End Summary.
3. (C) On January 30, Embassy political officer delivered
reftel demarche seeking Japan's cooperation on cluster
munitions (CM) to Maiko Tamagawa in MOFA's Conventional Arms
Division. Tamagawa promised to pass the demarche to the
International Policy Planning Division at the Ministry of
Defense (MOD). MOD officials will review reftel proposal for
direct military-to-military discussions on the use of CM and
provide a response as soon as possible, she said. Tamagawa
asked that the U.S. provide specific information and details
on how the direct dialogue would take shape.
4. (C) According to Tamagawa, Japan maintains CM for
defensive purposes, believing such weapons to be both
necessary and effective. At the same time, discussion in the
Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) should take
into account the humanitarian issues associated with the use
of cluster munitions. Japan looks to balance the
humanitarian vs. military-security aspects of CM. However,
in order to be effective, the discussion on CM must involve
the main countries that produce, possess, and use CM, she
said. Japan believes that the CCW is the most appropriate
venue for discussing CM because the convention provides a
forum in which the countries that are most involved in the
use of cluster munitions can attempt to balance CM's
humanitarian vs. military aspects.
5. (C) Japanese officials are ""bewildered,"" Tamagawa said, by
Norway's move to go outside of the CCW process at a time when
the CCW is just about to discuss the issue. She said that it
would be important for all the parties to have substantive
talks at the next CCW session so as not to boost Norway's
effort to go outside the CCW process. Japanese officials
have heard, however, that the Norway proposal is not intended
to exclude discussion on CM at the CCW. The Norwegians, she
noted, do not seek to obtain the kind of total ban on CM
that, e.g., the Ottawa Treaty imposes on anti-personnel
landmines.
6. (C) Norway did not invite Japan to the Oslo conference and
Tokyo is considering whether it will ask for an invitation,
Tamagawa reported. Tokyo authorities have heard that
Australia, Canada, Finland, and Italy are likewise
considering whether or not to request invitations. Japan
will attend the April ICRC meeting in Montreux, where Tokyo
hopes a have a more balanced discussion vis--vis the
negotiations that are expected to take place at the Oslo
meeting. Tamagawa noted that the June 19-22 government
experts meeting would take stock of the ICRC gathering,
thereby giving the April Montreux discussion added
importance. Japanese officials have not yet developed a
final position on the potential legal or political
restrictions on CM use that might arise during the
negotiations.
7. (C) Tamagawa said that, for domestic political reasons,
the Japanese government would find it impossible to ignore
CM. Public interest in CM, and in Norway's proposed Oslo
conference, continues to grow. Newspapers and other media
have reported on the issue, and a few NGO's have expressed
support for the Oslo process. MOFA expects some opposition
Diet members to take up the issue during the current
legislative session.
8. (C) ACTION REQUEST: Per Tamagawa's request, please
provide more specific information on the proposed
military-to-military discussions on the use of CM.
SCHIEFFER