JAPANESE REPRESENTATION AT ICI MEETING

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 001195 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/I/ECON TAECKER TREAS FOR M.POGGI, R.KAPROTH, AND A.SHARMA E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/30/2018 TAGS: PREL ECON EAID EFIN IZ JA SUBJECT: JAPANESE REPRESENTATION AT ICI MEETING REF: STATE 43799 Classified By: Ambassador J.Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Japanese Foreign Minister Koumura and most of his senior deputies will be tied up hosting the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV) on May 29 and will therefore not be able to attend the International Compact with Iraq (ICI) meeting in Stockholm that same day. At this point, it seems likely - although not yet certain - that Japan will be represented at the ICI meeting by MOFA Parliamentary Secretary and Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Osamu Uno, who is responsible for Middle Eastern and Latin American Affairs. He will be visiting South America immediately preceding the ICI meeting, and MOFA officials are attempting to make travel arrangements that will allow him to be in Stockholm for the meeting. ¶2. (C) MOFA officials to whom we spoke realize it would be better to have ministerial representation at the ICI meeting, but given the fact that over forty African heads of state are expected to attend TICAD, it simply is not possible for the Foreign Minister or his most senior deputies to be absent from Japan at that time. In addition, our contacts again impressed upon us the fact that the unsettled DOMESTIC political situation in Japan makes it very difficult for any cabinet minister or Diet member to leave the country to attend international meetings. MOFA Second Middle East Division Principal Deputy Director Matano undertook to notify Embassy in the event that someone other than Uno is selected to lead Japan's delegation. SCHIEFFER