JAPAN ADVISED OF NEED TO CONCLUDE IRAQ DEPLOYMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 002489 SIPDIS DEPT FOR PM, NEA, NEA/I, S/I, EAP E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/09/2018 TAGS: MOPS PREL IZ JA SUBJECT: JAPAN ADVISED OF NEED TO CONCLUDE IRAQ DEPLOYMENT REF: STATE 96122 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Jim Zumwalt for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: MOFA Deputy Foreign Minister for Foreign Policy Bessho was advised by Charge September 9 that Iraq has decided to decrease the number of non-U.S. coalition partners effective January 2009, and that accordingly, Japan will no longer be required to deploy Air Self Defense Force (ASDF) assets in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Bessho asked whether this was an Iraqi or a U.S. decision and subsequent calls to the Charge from the offices of the Foreign Minister and Chief Cabinet Secretary inquired why Japan was being informed by the United States of a decision made by the Iraqi government. Japanese officials were disappointed that President Bush did not mention Japan when he listed a number of other coalition partners at his September 9 speech at the National Defense University. Embassy also advised the Iraqi Ambassador to Tokyo of our demarche. He had not received any instructions on the issue from Baghdad and said he will check with his ministry before discussing this issue with the Japanese. Means to acknowledge and recognize Japanese participation in OIF could include letters of thanks from the highest levels of the U.S. and Iraqi governments, as well as participation in ceremonies and events to mark the successful conclusion of missions performed by coalition members. END SUMMARY. -------------- MOFA ADVISED OF DECISION TO DRAW DOWN -------------- ¶1. (C) The Charge met September 9 with MOFA Deputy Vice Minister for Foreign Policy Koro Bessho to convey reftel points regarding the withdrawal from Iraq of some coalition forces this December, including Japan's. Charge emphasized how grateful we and the Iraqis are for Japan's support for Iraq over the past few years, particularly noting the deployment of both Ground and Air Self Defense Force (ASDF) assets, and explained that the Iraqis have determined that a smaller coalition presence will be required starting in January. Accordingly, the continued deployment of Japan's ASDF personnel and aircraft in Kuwait will no longer be necessary. He told Bessho that we will continue to count on Japan for ongoing contributions to the cause of freedom and prosperity in Iraq, and also hope that with the successful completion of the ASDF mission, Japan will be able to commit SDF resources to other regions where they are needed, Afghanistan in particular. The Charge also told Bessho that while details regarding the timing and withdrawal of Japan's assets will be discussed at the working level, we are hopeful the ASDF will remain until the end of December. ¶2. (C) Bessho thanked Charge Zumwalt for alerting him to this decision prior to the September 9 NSC briefing and said that Japan is very proud of the role its Self Defense Forces have played in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He had a number of questions regarding the decision to draw down coalition forces, the first of which was whether this is an Iraqi decision or one made by the U.S. He also wondered about when and how it would be announced to the public, how many troops would be departing and how many would remain, and which members of the coalition would be asked to remain and why. The Charge replied that this was an Iraqi decision and that other details regarding the way forward would be disclosed at the NSC briefing. He subsequently received late-night telephone calls from the offices of Foreign Minister Koumura and Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura seeking more details and expressing concern that Japan was being advised by the United States of what was ostensibly an Iraqi decision. ¶3. (C) MOFA officials subsequently contacted us to say they were disappointed there had been no reference to Japan when President Bush mentioned other coalition partners during his September 9 address at the National Defense University. They explained that a failure to acknowledge Japan's contributions would make more difficult their public diplomacy efforts to convince the Japanese public that its forces are playing a key role and are appreciated. We replied that the list the President cited was not meant to be exhaustive and that those he mentioned included countries whose military personnel had suffered casualties. (NOTE: Although Japan suffered no TOKYO 00002489 002 OF 002 casualties among its military personnel, two MOFA diplomats were killed in Iraq. END NOTE.) -------------- IRAQI AMBASSADOR ADVISED -------------- ¶4. (C) Iraqi Ambassador to Tokyo Ghanim Al-Jumaily was advised by political officer September 10 of our discussions with Bessho. Jumaily reported he had not received any word of this or any instructions from Baghdad but that he was not surprised, given the fact that Prime Minister Al-Maliki had told him when they last met during the summer that non-U.S. coalition forces would be drawn down when the current UNSCR authorizing their presence expires on December 31. He said that he would seek guidance from Baghdad before discussing this issue with Japanese officials, but was grateful to learn of our demarche from us, rather than from the Japanese or from the press. -------------- - SUGGESTED ACTIONS TO ACKNOWLEDGE PARTICIPATION -------------- - ¶5. (C) With regard to appropriate actions to acknowledge Japanese participation in the coalition, we recommend letters of thanks to counterparts should be sent by the President, the Secretary, the Secretary of Defense, and the National Security Advisor. Similar letters from the Iraqis should also be encouraged. In addition, Japan should be included in any ceremonial events organized in Baghdad or elsewhere to commemorate the participation of our coalition partners and the successful completion of their missions. It would also be fitting if high-level U.S. and Iraqi military and civilian officials be present to bid farewell to Japanese ASDF personnel when they depart Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait for the last time. Finally, if invited by the Japanese, high-level U.S. and Iraqi officials should participate in any welcoming or recognition ceremonies held in Japan to mark the end of this deployment. ZUMWALT