ATTORNEY GENERAL MUKASEY'S MEETING WITH JAPANESE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 001633 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/16/2018 TAGS: KHLS PINR PGOV PREL PTER KTIA JA SUBJECT: ATTORNEY GENERAL MUKASEY'S MEETING WITH JAPANESE STATE MINISTER IZUMI Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4 (b) and ( d). Subject: Attorney General Mukasey's Meeting with State Minister Izumi ¶1. (C) Attorney General Mukasey and Ambassador Schieffer met National Public Safety Commission Chairman and Minister of State Shinya Izumi on June 13 in Tokyo to discuss: --Ways to improve information sharing and terrorist watch information; --The possibility of Japan joining the FBI's Fingerprint Exchange Program; --Strengthening measures to protect classified information; --Cyber Crime and progress on the revision to Japan's child pornography law that will criminalize simple possession; -- The importance of training programs to boost bilateral cooperation, including the Mansfield Program. Increasing Information Sharing -------------- ¶2. (C) Attorney General Mukasey and Ambassador Schieffer held a 30-minute bilateral meeting with Minister of State Shinya Izumi on the margins of the G-8 Justice and Home Affairs Ministerial in Tokyo on June 13. Attorney General Mukasey raised the need to improve bilateral information sharing, especially regarding biometric information on known or suspected terrorists (KST),and urged Japan to accept the FBI's invitation to join its Foreign Fingerprint Exchange program. He noted that Germany recently joined and explained that Germany's strict privacy laws did not prevent its participation. Minister Izumi praised the close cooperation Japanese authorities currently have with the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo on KST information and agreed on the importance of continuing to boost cooperation. Minister Izumi acknowledged that he was not familiar with the FBI Fingerprint Exchange Program and stated that Japan will study the program carefully and follow up with the Embassy to discuss Japan's possible participation. ¶3. (C) The United States and Japan need to boost cooperation on transnational crime and cyber crime, Attorney General Mukasey suggested. The United States recently ratified the Council of Europe Convention on Cyber Crime, and the United States hopes Japan will ratify this treaty soon, he added. Minister Izumi agreed that strengthening cooperation on cyber crime is important and noted that the High-Tech Crime Sub-Group of the G-8 Roma-Lyon group to be held in Japan this fall will provide a good opportunity to bolster cooperation. U.S. Thanks Japan for Progress on Child Pornography Law -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) Attorney General Mukasey applauded Japan's efforts to combat child pornography and praised Japan for moving forward on legislation to criminalize the simple possession of child pornography. The United States appreciates Japan's support and welcomes the new legislation, he emphasized. Minister Izumi affirmed Japan's commitment to protecting children and explained that the bill introduced in the Diet on June 10 is an amendment to a law passed in 1999. He added that he expects the bill to be passed in the fall. Developing Ways to Protect Classified Information -------------- -------------- ¶5. (C) The United States would like to help Japan develop additional ways to protect classified information so we can increase the amount of sensitive information we share, Attorney General Mukasey continued. Minister Izumi replied that protecting private information has become more of a priority for Japan. He acknowledged that he was aware Japan has leaked some sensitive defense-related information, but added that those incidents did not occur "under his watch." Sharing classified information is very important and Minister Izumi pledged to emphasize this throughout the Japanese Government. Attorney General Mukasey responded that the United States would be very happy to help Japan establish a protocol aimed at protecting sensitive information and will cooperate with Japan in any way it can. Japanese Society and Islamic Radicalization -------------- TOKYO 00001633 002 OF 002 ¶6. (C) There are approximately 90,000 foreigners in Japan from Islamic nations, Minister Izumi stated. It is important to take steps so they will not become marginalized, but at the same time, Japan is concerned about the possibility that they will invite young Japanese people to participate in radical Islamic activities. Japan would welcome training on how to prevent this, Minister Izumi said. Attorney General Mukasey replied that the United States has experience in "deradicalization" aimed at helping individuals realize that "some of the philosophies of radical Islam are not correct," and are not faithful to the Islamic religion. The United States has had some success with this and would be happy to share this information with Japan, he stated. ¶7. (C) Attorney General Mukasey and Minister Izumi agreed to continue efforts to increase already strong bilateral cooperation. Minister Izumi highlighted the Mansfield Program and training opportunities for National Police Agency officers at the FBI Academy. They agreed on the need to continue these programs and Attorney General Mukasey emphasized that the United States welcomes Japan's participation. Izumi said he is looking forward to the G-8 Summit meeting in July because it will provide an additional opportunity for Japan to further bolster cooperative ties with the United States. ¶8. (U) This message has been cleared by the Department of Justice delegation. SCHIEFFER