(U) Secretary Rice's February 27, 2008, Meeting

S E C R E T PARTO 022807 (Note: the unique message record number (MRN) has been modified. The original MRN was 08 PARTO 000007, which duplicates a previous PARTO telegram number.) SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (SUBJECT) STATE PASS UTSR FOR AMB. SCHWAB STATE ALSO PASS USDA FOR SECRETARY SCHAFER USFJ FOR LTGEN RICE E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/27/2028 TAGS: OVIP RICE CONDOLEEZZA PREL ECON MOPS PHUM JA, KS, KN, BM SUBJECT: (U) Secretary Rice's February 27, 2008, Meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura (U) Classified by: Uzra Zeya, Deputy Executive Secretary, S/ES, Department of State. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) February 27, 2008; 6:00 p.m.; Tokyo, Japan ¶2. (U) Participants: United States The Secretary Amb. J. Thomas Schieffer A/S Sean McCormack, PA Lt Gen William Fraser, III, Assistant to the Chairman, JCS NSC Senior Director for East Asian Affairs Dennis Wilder Paul Hersey, Interpreter Chris Wurzel, Notetaker Japan Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura Deputy Foreign Minister Kenichiro Sasae Akitaka Saiki, Director General, Asian and Oceanic Affairs, MOFA Shinichi Nishimiya, Director General, North American Affairs, MOFA Kanji Yamanouchi, Director, First North American Division, MOFA Makita Shimokawa, Private Secretary to FM Koumura Shuji Maeda, Interpreter Shogo Yoshitake, Notetaker ¶3. (S) SUMMARY. In response to Secretary Rice's expression of deep regret over the recent Okinawa rape incident, Foreign Minister Koumura called for "coordinated, comprehensive, and continuous" measures to prevent such incidents in the future. The Secretary and the Foreign Minister stressed the importance of implementing the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan and of deepening the alliance. They also agreed on the need for a complete and accurate declaration by North Korea regarding its nuclear program and on the value of trilateral cooperation with South Korea and Australia. Secretary Rice asked Japan to initiate a dialogue with Burmese opposition groups in addition to measures already taken against the ruling junta. Koumura noted he had personally pressed the Burmese to accept an early visit by UN Special Envoy Gambari but suggested China's influence in Burma may exceed Japan's. He also urged the United States not to oppose Prime Minister Fukuda's proposal, included in a letter to President Bush, to seek approval from the GOJ's Food Safety Commission to allow imports of U.S. beef from cattle under 30 months old. END SUMMARY. -------------- Okinawa Rape Incident -------------- ¶4. (C) Secretary Rice expressed deep regret for the rape incident in Okinawa and stressed U.S. concern for the welfare of the Japanese girl concerned. She added the United States hoped justice would be done and noted the decision by U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) to establish a task force to address the issues arising from the case. Koumura expressed appreciation for the fast public response by Amb. Schieffer and USFJ in response to the rape case but called for "coordinated, comprehensive, and continuous" measures to prevent future such incidents. -------------- U.S.-Japan Alliance -------------- ¶5. (C) Koumura reaffirmed Japanese support for the alliance despite the recent incident in Okinawa and noted security cooperation had deepened between the United States and Japan. He indicated that, although the National Diet had approved the Special Measures Law reauthorizing refueling operations by the Maritime Self- Defense Force (SDF) in the Indian Ocean, the Japanese government was still consulting internally about the General SDF Dispatch Law, with the current situation in the Diet leading to uncertainty about its passage. Nevertheless, Koumura said Japan would continue security cooperation with the United States to the extent allowed under the existing legal framework. In addition, Japanese determination to work with the United States to carry out the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan had not changed. The Secretary emphasized the importance of implementing the Defense Policy Review Initiative and expressed appreciation for passage of the Special Measures Law and other cooperative efforts by Japan. -------------- Six-Party Talks -------------- ¶6. (S) Secretary Rice noted North Korea had made progress in fulfilling its denuclearization commitments by completing Phase I with the shutdown of the Yongbyon nuclear reactor. Disabling of the reactor was underway but not yet complete. The next important step would be a complete and current declaration of North Korea's nuclear facilities. In Phase III, we would require an accounting for and elimination of the fissile material extracted from the reactor. The Secretary stressed the participants in the Six-Party Talks needed to work on North Korea to produce a declaration that created confidence regarding how North Korea may have engaged in nuclear proliferation in the past as well as what its future potential for proliferation might be. She also acknowledged Japanese concerns about the possible U.S. delisting of North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism without resolution of the issue of the abductions of Japanese citizens by North Korean agents. Koumura agreed North Korea must provide a complete and accurate declaration regarding its nuclear program. He stressed JapanFs deep concerns over the possible U.S. delisting of North Korea from the group of state sponsors of terrorism and noted that JapanFs efforts to engage the North Koreans on the issue had been disappointing. -------------- Burma -------------- ¶7. (C) The Secretary said the Burmese junta's plan for constitutional reform would marginalize Burmese opposition groups and could not be taken seriously. Acknowledging Japan's decision to suspend development aid and discourage investment, she observed it would be helpful if Japan would also initiate a dialogue with the Burmese opposition. She noted UN Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari would return to Burma soon and stressed that all concerned countries should assist Burma to realize genuine national reconciliation. Koumura recounted he had personally pressed the Burmese foreign minister to accept a visit by Gambari before April. He added Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan, who had recently visited Japan, told him the Burmese would accept a visit from Gambari in early March, about which the Japanese had been unaware. Koumura suggested Tang's statement indicated China had more leverage with the Burmese than Japan. Secretary Rice emphasized Japan also had influence that would be important to use to help Burma. Koumura noted Gambari was the only international figure with access both to the Burmese junta and the opposition, including Aung San Suu Kyi, and said the international community should be united in support for his efforts. -------------- Strategic Dialogue with Korea, Australia -------------- ¶8. (C) With the inauguration of the new government in South Korea, the Secretary suggested the possibility of reinvigorating trilateral discussions with Japan and South Korea as well as holding another trilateral meeting with Koumura and the new Australian foreign minister. She also encouraged Japan to reach out to NATO. Koumura said Japan-South Korea relations had entered a new stage with the inauguration of President Lee Myung-bak and the bilateral summit with PM Fukuda on February 25. He indicated Japan looked forward to coordinating with the South Korea on North Korea and other issues. He noted Japan was looking for more dialogue with NATO. Koumura also offered to host trilateral strategic talks with the United States and Australia on the margins of the G8 Foreign Ministers' meeting in June. He added that Japan hoped to discuss Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, and North Korea at that meeting in order to form common positions on those countries as well as to establish ways to strengthen cooperation on issues such as the environment, climate change, and African development prior to the G8 Summit. -------------- Beef -------------- ¶9. (C) Acknowledging the U.S. desire for Japan to accept international standards for the import of U.S. beef, Koumura said the best way to move toward this result, as outlined in the letter from PM Fukuda to President Bush, would be for Japan to send a request to the Japanese Food Safety Commission to consider importation of U.S. beef from cattle up to 30 months of age in the hope of achieving a decision prior to the G8 Summit in July. It was important, however, that the United States not oppose this decision. Agreeing it would be good if the beef issue could be resolved before the G8, the Secretary indicated she would convey Koumura's message to U.S. Trade Representative Schwab and Agriculture Secretary Schafer. RICE