IAEA: JAPAN OPPOSES IRAN AND SYRIA BUT UNDECIDED

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 002610 SIPDIS ISN/RA FOR RICHARD NEPHEW AND JODY DANIEL IO/T FOR HEATHER VON BEHREN E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/22/2018 TAGS: IAEA PARM MNUC JA SUBJECT: IAEA: JAPAN OPPOSES IRAN AND SYRIA BUT UNDECIDED ON AFGHANISTAN FOR MESA GROUP SEAT ON BOARD OF GOVERNORS REF: STATE99745 Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer, reasons 1.4 b and d ¶1. (C) A/EMIN delivered demarche in ref. to MOFA Nonproliferation, Science and Nuclear Energy Division Director Tomiko Ichikawa September 19. Ichikawa said Japan agreed with the U.S. that Syria and Iran were unacceptable candidates for the IAEA Middle East and South Asia group Board of Governors seat. However, she said Japan would need more information on the status of Kazakhstan within the MESA group before making its final decision on whether to support Afghanistan. She said Japan's delegation to the IAEA in Vienna was consulting with U.S. and other delegations to clarify Kazakhstan's status. While Japan could support Afghanistan's candidacy in principle, she said Japan would like to support Kazakhstan if it were confirmed as a member of MESA. A/EMIN replied that the U.S. supports Kazakhstan in its effort to join MESA, but is concerned its status would not be resolved in time and that votes for Kazakhstan in the BOG election could be challenged. Ichikawa said Japan would prefer MESA to come to consensus on an acceptable candidate. Regarding Syria's cooperation with the IAEA investigation, she referenced Japan's statement on Syria at the IAEA in June and said Japan has stressed the need for full compliance with IAEA requests in its meetings with Syria. ¶2. (SBU) Note: The DCM was to speak with MOFA Disarmament, Nonproliferation, and Science Director General Toshio Sano later that day to go over the demarche points, but, after being briefed by Ichikawa, Sano said he fully understood the USG position and said there was no need to speak with the DCM. End note SCHIEFFER