Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TOKYO950
2007-03-06 10:18:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
JAPAN WISHES TO PARTICIPATE IN IRAQ NEIGHBORS
how-toVZCZCXRO6680 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHKO #0950 0651018 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 061018Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1293 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD IMMEDIATE 0196 RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUALSFJ/COMUSJAPAN YOKOTA AB JA IMMEDIATE RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHMFITT/USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 000950
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR S/I AND NEA/I
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/05/2017
TAGS: PREL IZ JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN WISHES TO PARTICIPATE IN IRAQ NEIGHBORS
CONFERENCES
REF: BAGHDAD 782
Classified By: Ambassador J.Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 000950
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR S/I AND NEA/I
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/05/2017
TAGS: PREL IZ JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN WISHES TO PARTICIPATE IN IRAQ NEIGHBORS
CONFERENCES
REF: BAGHDAD 782
Classified By: Ambassador J.Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
1. (C) Japan has expressed disappointment that it has not
been invited to attend the upcoming Baghdad extended
neighbors conference, according to Iraqi Ambassador to Tokyo
Ghanim Al-Jumaily. Al-Jumaily told Embassy Tokyo Political
Officer he had recently dined with Japan's departing
Ambassador to Iraq Yamaguchi who complained that some of the
P-5 countries who are invited have done far less for Iraq
than has Japan, and that Japan is tired of being "viewed as a
banker" for Iraq yet not included in major meetings. (NOTE:
We understand that Japanese diplomats in Washington have
expressed similar concerns about the lack of an invitation to
these important upcoming events. END NOTE.) Al-Jumaily told
us he is urging his government to extend an invitation to
Japan, as he views it as critical to keep Tokyo fully engaged
in Iraq.
2. (C) Political Officer subsequently met at MOFA with Masaki
Amadera, First Secretary in Japan's Embassy in Baghdad, who
is currently in Tokyo on a brief temporary assignment to the
Iraq desk. He said it was very embarrassing for Japan to be
excluded from such a meeting, given the fact they are the
second largest financial contributor to Iraq. "What" he
asked, "have China, France or Russia given?"
3. (C) COMMENT: Embassy shares Al-Jumaily's concern and
concurs that steps should be taken to urge the government of
Iraq to invite Japan to the neighbors' meetings. Japan has
played a major role in the reconstruction of Iraq and has
strongly supported the Compact process. The Abe
Administration has taken a number of steps to reaffirm
Japan's support for U.S. policies in Iraq. Most recently, it
decided to extend for an additional two years the special law
that enables Japanese Air Self Defense Forces to deploy to
Iraq, in spite of growing political opposition to Japan's
continued involvement in Iraq. We note in reftel that Iraqis
have agreed among themselves to G-8 participation in the
ministerial, and would urge that they be approached about
inviting Japan to the subministerial as well. END COMMENT.
SCHIEFFER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR S/I AND NEA/I
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/05/2017
TAGS: PREL IZ JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN WISHES TO PARTICIPATE IN IRAQ NEIGHBORS
CONFERENCES
REF: BAGHDAD 782
Classified By: Ambassador J.Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
1. (C) Japan has expressed disappointment that it has not
been invited to attend the upcoming Baghdad extended
neighbors conference, according to Iraqi Ambassador to Tokyo
Ghanim Al-Jumaily. Al-Jumaily told Embassy Tokyo Political
Officer he had recently dined with Japan's departing
Ambassador to Iraq Yamaguchi who complained that some of the
P-5 countries who are invited have done far less for Iraq
than has Japan, and that Japan is tired of being "viewed as a
banker" for Iraq yet not included in major meetings. (NOTE:
We understand that Japanese diplomats in Washington have
expressed similar concerns about the lack of an invitation to
these important upcoming events. END NOTE.) Al-Jumaily told
us he is urging his government to extend an invitation to
Japan, as he views it as critical to keep Tokyo fully engaged
in Iraq.
2. (C) Political Officer subsequently met at MOFA with Masaki
Amadera, First Secretary in Japan's Embassy in Baghdad, who
is currently in Tokyo on a brief temporary assignment to the
Iraq desk. He said it was very embarrassing for Japan to be
excluded from such a meeting, given the fact they are the
second largest financial contributor to Iraq. "What" he
asked, "have China, France or Russia given?"
3. (C) COMMENT: Embassy shares Al-Jumaily's concern and
concurs that steps should be taken to urge the government of
Iraq to invite Japan to the neighbors' meetings. Japan has
played a major role in the reconstruction of Iraq and has
strongly supported the Compact process. The Abe
Administration has taken a number of steps to reaffirm
Japan's support for U.S. policies in Iraq. Most recently, it
decided to extend for an additional two years the special law
that enables Japanese Air Self Defense Forces to deploy to
Iraq, in spite of growing political opposition to Japan's
continued involvement in Iraq. We note in reftel that Iraqis
have agreed among themselves to G-8 participation in the
ministerial, and would urge that they be approached about
inviting Japan to the subministerial as well. END COMMENT.
SCHIEFFER