Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TOKYO2175
2008-08-07 07:55:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:  

JAPAN "NOT COMPLACENT" ABOUT BID FOR NON-PERMANENT

Tags:  PREL UNSC IR JA 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0002
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKO #2175 2200755
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 070755Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6421
INFO RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 002175 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR IO ACTING A/S HOOK

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/06/2018
TAGS: PREL UNSC IR JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN "NOT COMPLACENT" ABOUT BID FOR NON-PERMANENT
SEAT

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Jim Zumwalt for reasons 1.4(b) a
nd (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 002175

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR IO ACTING A/S HOOK

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/06/2018
TAGS: PREL UNSC IR JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN "NOT COMPLACENT" ABOUT BID FOR NON-PERMANENT
SEAT

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Jim Zumwalt for reasons 1.4(b) a
nd (d)


1. (C) Japan is "doing our best" to line up support for its
bid to win a non-permanent seat on the Security Council for
next session, according to MOFA U.N. Policy Division Director
Naoto Hisajima. He refused to be drawn out on details or
numbers, but said Japanese missions abroad are working in
capitals and in New York to get support for its bid against
the Iranians for the seat. MOFA, he continued, took
advantage of hosting the Tokyo International Conference on
African Development (TICAD IV) last May to directly seek
support from the more than 40 African heads of state who
attended. While Iran was granted permission to dispatch an
observer delegation to TICAD, MOFA is reasonably certain the
Iranians refrained from lobbying the Africans on Japan's home
turf, reported both Hisajima and Second Middle East Division
Deputy Director Michiko Miyano. At the same time, Japan is
under no illusions about Iranian efforts to gain votes, and
notes that Tehran was probably pressing this hard when it
hosted the Non-Aligned Movement meeting last week. The
bottom line for Japan on this, said Hisajima, is that "we are
making steady progress but it is dangerous to be complacent,
and we will make very serious efforts until the last moment."

SCHIEFFER