BOSNIA: JAPAN TO JOIN CONSENSUS ON OHR ISSUE,

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 000785 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL BK JA SUBJECT: BOSNIA: JAPAN TO JOIN CONSENSUS ON OHR ISSUE, SHARES U.S. VIEWS ON REFORM REF: STATE 20031 Classified By: Political Minister Counselor W. Michael Meserve. Reason: 1.4 (b)(d). (C) Contacted February 23 by Embassy Tokyo Political Officer regarding reftel demarche, MOFA Central and Southeast Europe Division Director Hitoshi Ozawa observed that the most important issue is whether or not to extend the mandate of the Office of the High Representative (OHR). In the past, Japan had opposed extension. Now, however, because of the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Tokyo will not stand in the way of extension. Japan's preferred option would be a six-month extension followed by a review to determine whether an additional six-month extension is required. Japan, he stressed, is prepared to be flexible and to go with the consensus. Ozawa, who will attend the February 26-27 Steering Board meeting in Brussels, pointed out that Japan's funding of the OHR will end in June. He was mildly hopeful that MOFA would be able to come up with additional financial support through an eventual supplemental budget. On the broader issue of Bosnian reform, Ozawa assured that Japan shares "basically the same views" as the United States. DONOVAN