Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TOKYO2954
2008-10-22 08:58:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
MAYOR OF TEHRAN VISITS JAPAN
VZCZCXRO1199 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK DE RUEHKO #2954 2960858 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 220858Z OCT 08 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8178 INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 0532 RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 2890 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 4315 RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 1105
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 002954
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/22/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV KNNP IR JA
SUBJECT: MAYOR OF TEHRAN VISITS JAPAN
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 TOKYO 002954
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/22/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV KNNP IR JA
SUBJECT: MAYOR OF TEHRAN VISITS JAPAN
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4(b) and (d
)
1. (C) Tehran Mayor Mohammad-Baqer GHALIBAF visited Japan
October 16 - 21, confirmed MOFA Second Middle East Director
Motosada Matano. According to Matano, GHALIBAF was invited
by the Japanese under the auspices of their "Opinion Leader
Program." The Japanese view him as important because he is
the mayor of Tehran and also because he is a major national
political figure who challenged President Ahmadinejad in the
last election and is likely do to so again in the next.
GHALIBAF was accompanied to Japan by his wife and
approximately 10 other associates, said Matano.
2. (C) While in Tokyo between October 16-19, GHALIBAF met
with the Governor of Tokyo, had dinner with Vice Minister for
Foreign Affairs Mitoji Yabunaka, and attended a breakfast
with ten members of the Japan-Iran Parliamentary Friendship
Association, including Diet members Taro Nakayama and Yoriko
Koike. He also met with Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone,
addressed the Foreign Correspondents Club, met with the
Japan-Iran Economic Committee of the Keidanren (Japan's
business association) led by Shimizu Corporation Chairman
Tetsuya Nomura, and attended a dinner hosted by the Iranian
Ambassador at which Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign
Affairs Masahiko Shibayama was a guest.
3. (C) GHALIBAF's discussion with both Yabunaka and Nakasone
focused on the nuclear issue, Iran's upcoming elections, and
Iran's economy, according to Matano. With regard to Iran's
nuclear program, Yabunaka advised GHALIBAF that Iran must
overcome the credibility problem it has developed and improve
the image of Iran in the international community. The first
step would be to comply with the United Nations Security
Council resolutions that have been enacted concerning Iran's
nuclear program. GHALIBAF replied by repeating the usual
Iranian arguments about their right to produce nuclear power
and the "fact" that the program is for peaceful purposes
only. GHALIBAF also cited a "double standard" in that the
West seems to be willing to make accommodations for nuclear
programs in India and North Korea. Matano said that GHALIBAF
did not use any charged or emotional language when making his
points, but it was clear to the Japanese that the Iranians
are watching very closely U.S. behavior and reactions to the
Iranian program.
4. (C) Concerning Iranian elections and the economy, GHALIBAF
told his interlocutors that the election will bring "very
tough competition" and that the main issue will be the
domestic economy, which is now beginning to suffer even more
due to the downturn in oil prices. Another major issue,
GHALIBAF predicted, would be the role and values of Islam in
society. (NOTE: GHALIBAF is considered to be conservative on
religious issues. END NOTE.) Motosada reported that
GHALIBAF's conversation with FM Nakasone also included many
pleasantries and a historical review of the close relations
between Japan and Iran over the years.
5. (C) GHALIBAF's remarks to the press tracked with those
reported by Matano during the official meetings. He told
reporters Iran must make efforts to foster mutual trust with
the international community, including engaging in dialogue
with the world in "a better way." He indicated Iran needs to
work more closely with the IAEA to prove that it is
developing its nuclear program within the framework of the
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and criticized the apparent
double-standard employed by the United States in offering
support to countries, such as India, that have developed
nuclear weapons and which are not signatories to the NPT.
GHALIBAF criticized Ahmadinejad's economic policies stating
that too many imports and the failure to improve productivity
have resulted in a severe crisis of inflation. He is quoted
as telling the press: "The president and I are good friends
as we have worked together before. It is exactly because I
have respect for him that I criticize his mistakes."
6. (C) In addition to his meetings, GHALIBAF toured a variety
of sites in Tokyo, and visited Hiroshima (where he met the
mayor and toured atomic bomb exhibits) and Kobe (where he
learned about earthquake response and toured a mosque). The
Japanese found GHALIBAF to be a "calm, decent, and pleasant"
man who was very smart and well-informed.
SCHIEFFER
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/22/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV KNNP IR JA
SUBJECT: MAYOR OF TEHRAN VISITS JAPAN
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4(b) and (d
)
1. (C) Tehran Mayor Mohammad-Baqer GHALIBAF visited Japan
October 16 - 21, confirmed MOFA Second Middle East Director
Motosada Matano. According to Matano, GHALIBAF was invited
by the Japanese under the auspices of their "Opinion Leader
Program." The Japanese view him as important because he is
the mayor of Tehran and also because he is a major national
political figure who challenged President Ahmadinejad in the
last election and is likely do to so again in the next.
GHALIBAF was accompanied to Japan by his wife and
approximately 10 other associates, said Matano.
2. (C) While in Tokyo between October 16-19, GHALIBAF met
with the Governor of Tokyo, had dinner with Vice Minister for
Foreign Affairs Mitoji Yabunaka, and attended a breakfast
with ten members of the Japan-Iran Parliamentary Friendship
Association, including Diet members Taro Nakayama and Yoriko
Koike. He also met with Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone,
addressed the Foreign Correspondents Club, met with the
Japan-Iran Economic Committee of the Keidanren (Japan's
business association) led by Shimizu Corporation Chairman
Tetsuya Nomura, and attended a dinner hosted by the Iranian
Ambassador at which Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign
Affairs Masahiko Shibayama was a guest.
3. (C) GHALIBAF's discussion with both Yabunaka and Nakasone
focused on the nuclear issue, Iran's upcoming elections, and
Iran's economy, according to Matano. With regard to Iran's
nuclear program, Yabunaka advised GHALIBAF that Iran must
overcome the credibility problem it has developed and improve
the image of Iran in the international community. The first
step would be to comply with the United Nations Security
Council resolutions that have been enacted concerning Iran's
nuclear program. GHALIBAF replied by repeating the usual
Iranian arguments about their right to produce nuclear power
and the "fact" that the program is for peaceful purposes
only. GHALIBAF also cited a "double standard" in that the
West seems to be willing to make accommodations for nuclear
programs in India and North Korea. Matano said that GHALIBAF
did not use any charged or emotional language when making his
points, but it was clear to the Japanese that the Iranians
are watching very closely U.S. behavior and reactions to the
Iranian program.
4. (C) Concerning Iranian elections and the economy, GHALIBAF
told his interlocutors that the election will bring "very
tough competition" and that the main issue will be the
domestic economy, which is now beginning to suffer even more
due to the downturn in oil prices. Another major issue,
GHALIBAF predicted, would be the role and values of Islam in
society. (NOTE: GHALIBAF is considered to be conservative on
religious issues. END NOTE.) Motosada reported that
GHALIBAF's conversation with FM Nakasone also included many
pleasantries and a historical review of the close relations
between Japan and Iran over the years.
5. (C) GHALIBAF's remarks to the press tracked with those
reported by Matano during the official meetings. He told
reporters Iran must make efforts to foster mutual trust with
the international community, including engaging in dialogue
with the world in "a better way." He indicated Iran needs to
work more closely with the IAEA to prove that it is
developing its nuclear program within the framework of the
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and criticized the apparent
double-standard employed by the United States in offering
support to countries, such as India, that have developed
nuclear weapons and which are not signatories to the NPT.
GHALIBAF criticized Ahmadinejad's economic policies stating
that too many imports and the failure to improve productivity
have resulted in a severe crisis of inflation. He is quoted
as telling the press: "The president and I are good friends
as we have worked together before. It is exactly because I
have respect for him that I criticize his mistakes."
6. (C) In addition to his meetings, GHALIBAF toured a variety
of sites in Tokyo, and visited Hiroshima (where he met the
mayor and toured atomic bomb exhibits) and Kobe (where he
learned about earthquake response and toured a mosque). The
Japanese found GHALIBAF to be a "calm, decent, and pleasant"
man who was very smart and well-informed.
SCHIEFFER