Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TOKYO1606
2008-06-12 06:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:  

JAPAN-RUSSIA DISCUSS POSSIBLE PUTIN VISIT TO TOKYO

Tags:  PREL ECON ETRD JA RS XH KN 
pdf how-to read a cable
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 001606 

SIPDIS

STATE PASS EEB/IEC/ENR HENGEL AND HAYMOND
MOSCOW PASS VLADIVOSTOK
HELSINKI PASS ST PETERSBURG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2016
TAGS: PREL ECON ETRD JA RS XH KN
SUBJECT: JAPAN-RUSSIA DISCUSS POSSIBLE PUTIN VISIT TO TOKYO

REF: A. TOKYO 1074

B. TOKYO1095

C. 07 TOKYO 2690

D. 07 TOKYO 5270

Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer. Reasons 1.4 (B) (D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 001606

SIPDIS

STATE PASS EEB/IEC/ENR HENGEL AND HAYMOND
MOSCOW PASS VLADIVOSTOK
HELSINKI PASS ST PETERSBURG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2016
TAGS: PREL ECON ETRD JA RS XH KN
SUBJECT: JAPAN-RUSSIA DISCUSS POSSIBLE PUTIN VISIT TO TOKYO

REF: A. TOKYO 1074

B. TOKYO1095

C. 07 TOKYO 2690

D. 07 TOKYO 5270

Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer. Reasons 1.4 (B) (D)


1. (C) Summary. Japan and Russia discussed, but did not set
dates for, a possible Tokyo visit by Prime Minister Vladimir
Putin during a June 3 Deputy Foreign Ministers' meeting in
Tokyo. During discussions designed to set a positive tone
for the July 7-9 G-8 meeting at Hokkaido's Lake Toya, the
DFMs reviewed prospects for developing the continental shelf
near the Southern Kurile Islands and discussed a framework
for continued cooperation under the Initiative for
Strengthening Japan-Russia Cooperation in the Russian Far
East and Eastern Siberia. The Russian delegation did not
raise concerns about Japan's ballistic missile defense (BMD)
system or United States-Japan BMD cooperation. Japan made no
progress toward resolving the dispute over the Northern
Territories. In brief discussions on North Korea, DFM
Borodavkin said he was "not optimistic" about prospects for
achieving progress in the Six-Party Talks, but noted Russia
did not want North Korea to be a nuclear state. End Summary.



2. (C) On June 9, Russia Division Principal Deputy Director
Kotaro Otsuki briefed Embassy Tokyo on discussions between
Deputy Foreign Minister Kenichiro Sasae and Russian Deputy
Foreign Minister Alexei Borodavkin, which were held in Tokyo
on June 3. Tokyo and Moscow agreed to conduct the talks,
which were designed to set a positive tone for the July 7-9
G-8 summit meeting at Hokkaido's Lake Toya, during Foreign
Minister Masahiko Koumura's April visit to Russia (Ref A).
According to Otsuki, the two men, whose six-hour conversation
included a working dinner, focused mainly on bilateral
relations, with a small amount of time devoted to North
Korea. The Russian delegation did not raise concerns,
expressed most recently by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
(Ref B),regarding Japan's ballistic missile defense (BMD)
system or United States-Japan BMD cooperation.

--------------
Political Dialogue
--------------


3. (C) The two delegations discussed a number of possible
visits by Russian officials to Tokyo, including Prime
Minister Vladimir Putin, Deputy Premier Sergey Ivanov, FM
Lavrov and Industry and Trade Minister Viktor Khristenko,
Otsuki reported. No dates have been set for any of the
proposed visits. FM Koumura invited Lavrov to Japan last
April. The Ministers discussed programs on bilateral nuclear
cooperation, mutual legal assistance, and youth exchanges.

--------------
Northern Territories
--------------


4. (C) Sasae and Borodavkin reviewed, but made no progress
toward resolving, the dispute over the Northern Territories.
The Russian side, according to Otsuki, maintained its
previous position, while the foreign ministry expressed
concern and raised questions regarding the intent of Moscow's
decision to increase the level of economic development on the
islands.

--------------
Economic, Energy Cooperation
--------------

TOKYO 00001606 002 OF 002




5. (C) The two men, Otsuki related, reviewed prospects for
developing the continental shelf near the Southern Kurile
Islands and discussed a framework for continued cooperation
under the Initiative for Strengthening Japan-Russia
Cooperation in the Russian Far East and Eastern Siberia - a
Tokyo initiative presented to Moscow on the margins of the
June 2007 Heiligendamm G-8 Summit. Otsuki pointed out that
Russia has not yet appointed a permanent representative to
co-chair a joint intergovernmental committee to foster
cooperation under the initiative. During a brief
conversation on energy, Borodavkin expressed interest in
importing energy saving and environmentally friendly
technology from Japan.

--------------
Transportation
--------------


6. (C) The Deputy Ministers shared views on Russia,s intense
interest, as related by Otsuki, in developing rail
transportation in Russia. Moscow hopes to develop: a)
trans-Siberian rail lines to carry cargo east and west, and
b) a high-speed rail link (Refs C, D).

--------------
North Korea
--------------


7. (C) Borodavkin said he was "not optimistic" about
achieving progress in the Six-Party Talks, but noted Russia
does not want North Korea to be a nuclear state. Sasae
stressed the importance of obtaining a clear and complete
nuclear declaration. Otsuki noted the DPRK conversation was
limited, but that Borodavkin held more comprehensive talks on
North Korea with Asian and Oceanian Affairs Director-General
Akitaka Saiki during the visit.
SCHIEFFER