Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TOKYO2186
2008-08-08 08:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:  

REES-CAMPONOVO JAPAN MEETINGS ON APDP AND HUMAN

Tags:  PGOV PREL PHUM MG IR KN BM JA 
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FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6461
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHZU/ASIAN PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION PRIORITY
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA PRIORITY 1679
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE PRIORITY 3048
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RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/USFJ PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 002186 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM MG IR KN BM JA
SUBJECT: REES-CAMPONOVO JAPAN MEETINGS ON APDP AND HUMAN
RIGHTS

TOKYO 00002186 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 002186

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM MG IR KN BM JA
SUBJECT: REES-CAMPONOVO JAPAN MEETINGS ON APDP AND HUMAN
RIGHTS

TOKYO 00002186 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d).


1. (C) Summary: Strengthening and expanding the Asia Pacific
Democracy Partnership (APDP) initiative will help achieve the
shared goals of the United States and Japan of promoting
universal values, human rights, and democracy in Asia,
Ambassador Grover Joseph Rees and DRL Senior Advisor
Christopher Camponovo told Japanese officials during July 30
Tokyo meetings. On APDP membership, their interlocutors
stressed the importance of including as many members as
possible and on forming transparent rules and procedures for
joining. Rees and Camponovo suggested using the Community of
Democracies membership as an initial APDP participant list.
Turning to the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly and
country-specific human rights resolutions, MOFA officials
stated it would be difficult for Japan to have UN resolution
suggestions drafted by September because Japan will be
focused on the Human Rights Council. End Summary.


2. (C) Ambassador Rees and DRL Senior Advisor Camponovo
briefed MOFA Oceanian Affairs Bureau Deputy Director-General
Masahiro Kohara, Regional Policy Division officer Hideto
Nakajima, Ambassador in Charge of Human Rights and
Humanitarian Affairs and special assistant to the MOFA
Hideaki Ueda, and Foreign Policy Bureau Human Rights and
Humanitarian Affairs Division Deputy Director Yoko Tsuda on
APDP progress and on possible country-specific human rights
resolutions for the Third Committee of the UN General
Assembly for Fall 2008. Rees and Camponovo thanked Japan for
its support on APDP, expressed appreciation for Japan's
financial support for election monitoring in Mongolia, and
reiterated the value of creating a partnership of governments
that focus on elections and election assistance.

Strengthening Regional Architecture and Democratic
Institutions in Asia
-------------- --------------

3. (C) It is important to support democratic institutions in
Asia, and supporting free and fair electoral processes is one

important step, Kohara stated. Japan welcomes U.S. long-term
engagement in Asia via APDP, and APDP complements existing
frameworks, especially since the U.S. is not a member of the
East Asia Summit or ASEAN Plus Three, Kohara noted.


4. (C) Japan has sent election monitors to numerous countries
in Asia and understands the importance of observing elections
to ensure they are free and fair, Kohara stated. It is also
important to promote the rule of law, independent media, and
civil society and to provide assistance to build democratic
institutions and systems in Asia, Kohara said. Strengthening
human capacity building, ensuring transparent judicial
systems, and stepping up efforts to eradicate corruption are
also critical, he explained.


5. (C) Kohara noted that pushing or forcing other countries
to accept our assistance will not help us achieve our shared
goals. Each country requires a different approach due to its
history, culture, and social situation, and the best way to
achieve our shared goals is to have dialogue with developing
countries because their processes to realize democracy are
different, Kohara explained.


Promoting Participation in APDP
--------------

6. (C) It is important to include as many members as possible
in APDP and it should be an inclusive and open partnership,
Kohara stated. Japan will not oppose a decision to base
membership on certain conditions, but it is best to include
as many participants as possible, Kohara noted. Strict
membership requirements would not be appropriate, he
emphasized. Some countries, such as Indonesia, are concerned
APDP will be a "closed partnership," Kohara continued. Using
the Community of Democracies membership as an APDP membership
list would be one way to establish transparent participation
conditions, Camponovo suggested. If the partnership is "too
open" and includes countries such as Burma and North Korea,
then "shared universal values" means nothing, Camponovo
emphasized. The United States is open to inviting other
countries to join, but there is a delicate balance between
inclusive and "watering down the meaning" of APDP, he stated.
Discussing specific conditions on joining the APDP
initiative and promoting a transparent and inclusive

TOKYO 00002186 002.2 OF 002


participation process is very important, Kohara replied.


7. (C) In response to Camponovo's question on whether Japan
would be willing to host an APDP senior officials meeting
this fall, Kohara stated that Japan's diplomatic schedule is
very full and it would be difficult for Japan. Hosting even
a small meeting in 2008 would not be feasible, Kohara said.
Promoting democracy in Asia is very important to Japan and
MOFA is always happy to have dialogue with the United States
on this shared goal, Kohara added.

UN General Assembly Third Committee and Human Rights
Resolutions
-------------- --------------

8. (C) It is important for Japan and the United States to
strategize together early on regarding country-specific human
rights resolutions in the UN General Assembly Third Committee
this fall, Rees told Ambassador Hideaki Ueda and Foreign
Policy Bureau Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs Division
Deputy Director Yoko Tsuda. We may need to include a
resolution on Zimbabwe, and submit new resolutions on Iran,
Burma, North Korea, and Belarus, Rees noted. Ueda responded
that there will not be a drastic change in Japan's policy
from last year, and agreed that it is important for Japan and
the United States to cooperate closely on this. However,
following the meeting Deputy Director Tsuda hinted it would
be difficult for Japan to have UN resolution ideas drafted by
September because Japan will very busy working with the Human
Rights Council.

North Korea, Abductions Issue, and the Six Party Talks
-------------- --------------

9. (C) North Korea has not fulfilled its June 2008 commitment
to restart investigations on the Japanese citizens abducted
by North Korea, Ueda stated. The Japanese public was very
angry the Japanese government softened its position and is
skeptical about North Korea's intent, Ueda explained. In
addition, the Japanese pubic disagree with the U.S. decision
to possibly rescind North Korea's designation as a state
sponsor of terror, Ueda emphasized. North Korea needs to
make some progress on the abduction issue before Japan will
provide financial compensation for Japan's colonization of
Korea.


10. (C) The United States, in Six Party Talks meetings, has
tried to make it clear that even if North Korea meets the
expectations of the member countries on nuclear issues, it
does not mean that all other issues are resolved, Rees
replied. The United States still expects North Korea to
fulfill its other responsibilities, he explained. The United
States knows Japan is nervous North Korea will get a clean
slate on all issues, including human rights, but the United
States will not stop caring about human rights, Rees assured
Ueda and Tsuda.

Bio Note on Ambassador Hideaki Ueda
--------------

11. (C) After serving as ambassador to Australia from
2003-2007, Ueda officially retired from MOFA. MOFA requested
he serve as "Ambassador in Charge of Human Rights and
Humanitarian Affairs" in 2008. Ueda simultaneously works at
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and is a visiting professor at a
university in Kyoto. He is only in his MOFA office once a
week. Ueda told Rees that Yamada Saiki handles the substance
on abductee issues whereas Ueda fills in for Saiki at
receptions on human rights and other social events. Ueda
added that he also meets with the families of abductees.


12. (U) Ambassador Rees has cleared this cable.
SCHIEFFER