TOKYO'S RESPONSE TO DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH CUBAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 001380 SIPDIS FOR EAP/PD, E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/19/2018 TAGS: KDEM PHUM PREL KPAO SOCI CU JA SUBJECT: TOKYO'S RESPONSE TO DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH CUBAN PEOPLE REF: A. STATE 45792 ¶B. STATE 51536 Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4 (b) and ( d). ¶1. (C) Embassy Tokyo Public Affairs and Political Officers met May 20 with MOFA Mexico and Central America Division Director Takahiro Nakamae to follow up on the Deputy Secretary's May 9 request to FM Koumura that Japan make a public statement in support of Cuban democracy. Japan shares the U.S. perception of Cuba, said Nakamae, noting that MOFA released a public statement in February expressing hope for democratization in Cuba. Although Japan will not make a public statement on the Day of Solidarity with the Cuban People, Latin American and Caribbean Affairs Director General Akira Miwa has asked Japan's Ambassador in Havana to invite Cuban Vice President of the Council of State Carlos Lage to the Ambassador's Residence "within one week" to lobby for democratic change, Nakamae finished. ¶2. (U) In addition to our discussions with the Japanese government, Embassy Tokyo has taken the following actions in support of the Day of Solidarity with the Cuban People. Because Japanese newspapers will only accept op-eds written exclusively for them, we have posted the op-ed from paragraph 9 of Ref B on the Embassy Tokyo website in both English and Japanese. We have also faxed the op-ed in both languages to all Japanese and international media outlets in Tokyo. Additionally, the Embassy Tokyo Information Resources Center (IRC) and IRCs in Osaka, Fukuoka, Nagoya, and Sapporo will send the op-ed to Distribution Record System members and subscribers to our information alert service. These alert messages will reach a total of 3,400 subscribers active in academia, business, government, media, think tanks, and professional organizations and associations throughout Japan. SCHIEFFER