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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 001002 SIPDIS SIPDIS MOSCOW PASS VLADIVOSTOK HELSINKI PASS ST. PETERSBURG E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2018 TAGS: PREL MARR PARM JA RS SUBJECT: MOSCOW LINKS EUROPEAN AND ASIAN SECURITY ENVIRONMENTS DURING JAPAN-RUSSIA STRATEGIC DIALOGUE REF: A. TOKYO 960 ¶B. 07 TOKYO 5019 ¶C. 07 TOKYO 2690 Classified By: Charge d' Affaires, a.i., W. Michael Meserve. Reasons 1 .4 (B) (D) ¶1. (C) Summary. Moscow officials expressed renewed concerns about Tokyo's missile defense cooperation with the United States during the April 7 Japan-Russia Strategic Dialogue meeting held in Tokyo. First Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Denisov drew links between the security environments in Europe and the Asia-Pacific, while arguing that missile proliferation concerns should be dealt with through diplomatic, rather than military means. "Collective measures," rather than military power, should be used to address security threats. On bilateral issues, Tokyo and Moscow prepared to renew a defense and security dialogue which had been on hold since 2003. The two sides examined ways to strengthen cooperation under the Initiative for Strengthening Japan-Russia Cooperation in the Far East and Eastern Siberia, but avoided detailed discussion of the contentious Northern Territories issue. Moscow, mindful of the large Buddhist population living inside its own borders, warned against possible destabilization in China caused by problems in Tibet. Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura will visit Russia April 12-14. End Summary. ¶2. (U) On April 9, MOFA Russia Division Principal Deputy Director Kotaro Otsuki briefed Embassy Tokyo on the 4th Japan-Russia Strategic Dialogue, which was held in Tokyo on April 7. Vice Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka and First Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Denisov covered a range of topics during their four-hour meeting and lunch, including missile defense, bilateral issues, developments in the Asia-Pacific region, economic cooperation, and the visits to Russia of Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura (Ref A). -------------- Renewed Concerns on Missile Defense -------------- ¶3. (C) Denisov noted that, although ballistic missile defense (BMD) issues have been discussed in the European context, missile defense is also an important issue in the Asia-Pacific region. The Russian DFM said that the Far East is "not divided from security issues in Europe;" in fact, the Asia-Pacific security environment is connected to that of Europe. Russia believes missile proliferation concerns should be dealt with through diplomatic, rather than military, means. ¶4. (C) "Collective measures," rather than military power, would best address any threat, Denisov observed. Though he failed to define the term "collective measures," Tokyo officials interpreted the remark to mean that Moscow might want to establish a forum for discussing regional security issues, such as the Six-Party Talks (6PT). (Note: Otsuki observed that "the United States and Japan hope the 6PT will eventually develop into a mechanism for addressing Northeast Asian security problems if/after the DPRK nuclear situation is resolved." End Note.) ¶5. (C) Otsuki asked that the United States keep Japan informed about the development of security issues in Europe; Tokyo would particularly be interested in developments at the NATO and Sochi Summits. -------------- New Japan-Russia Security Dialogue TOKYO 00001002 002 OF 002 -------------- ¶6. (C) Deputy Foreign Minister Kenichiro Sasae plans to discuss defense and security issues with Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kislyak on April 11 in Tokyo, according to Otsuki. Tokyo decided to renew the meeting, the first since 2003, after Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov raised concerns about United States-Japan BMD cooperation during an October 2007 Tokyo visit (Ref B). Otsuki said that Japanese Ministry of Defense officials will participate in discussions that will include defense policy and regional issues. -------------- Economics and Northern Territories -------------- ¶7. (C) Yabunaka and Denisov only briefly touched on a series of bilateral issues, Otsuki observed. The two men reviewed areas for economic development, including ways to strengthen cooperation on the joint Initiative for Strengthening Japan-Russia Cooperation in the Far East and Eastern Siberia (Ref C). The Northern Territories issue received little mention because, according to Otsuki, both sides agreed that the dialogue should focus on regional and strategic issues. -------------- PM and FM Visits -------------- ¶8. (C) Japanese officials have finalized, but have not yet announced, plans for FM Koumura to visit Russia April 12-14. Koumura will first visit Japanese automakers, including Toyota, Nissan, and Suzuki, in St. Petersburg and pay a call on Governor Valentina Matvienko, whom Otsuki said is a former Vice Prime Minister. In Moscow, Koumura will meet with FM Lavrov and discuss economic issues with Industry and Energy Minister Viktor Khristenko. Otsuki said plans for PM Fukuda's trip to Russia, which the Japanese Foreign Ministry had earlier suggested might take place in early May, are still "under discussion" owing to the difficult political situation in the Diet. -------------- China, Other Regional and Global Issues -------------- ¶9. (C) Denisov said that Moscow does not want China to become destabilized by problems in Tibet. Two and a half million Buddhists of the Tibetan Llama sect live within the Federation, many of whom are eager to invite the Dalai Llama to Russia, Denisov related. ¶10. (C) The Strategic Dialogue raised few substantive issues during brief discussions on India, Iran, North Korea, Central Asia, the Middle East peace process, UN Security Council reform, and Kosovo. The two men also reviewed preparations for the July 7-9 G8 Summit at Hokkaido's Lake Toya. MESERVE