JAPAN ON RESOLUTIONS ON IRAN, BURMA, AND THE DPRK

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 003100 SIPDIS DEPT FOR DRL/MLGA SICADE AND GRUNDER, EAP-J, AND IO/UNP E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/06/2018 TAGS: PHUM PREL UNGA IR BM KN JA SUBJECT: JAPAN ON RESOLUTIONS ON IRAN, BURMA, AND THE DPRK REF: STATE 117889 Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4(b) and (d ) ¶1. (C) Japan sees "eye to eye" with the United States on UNGA Third Committee resolutions on Iran, Burma, and the DPRK, and will vote with us on them, Deputy Vice Minister for Foreign Policy Koro Bessho told DCM Jim Zumwalt November 7. He assured DCM that Japan opposes "no action" motions on principle and will vote against them. However, there are slight nuances between our positions on Iran and Burma that Bessho wanted to flag. ¶2. (C) IRAN: Bessho stated that Japan supports the Canadian resolution on Iran and will vote with us on it. However, Japan will not sign on as a cosponsor. Bessho noted that Japan has an ongoing human rights dialogue with Iran (the Fifth Iran-Japan Human Rights Dialogue meeting was recently held October 26 in Tehran) and wants to maintain contact with Iran through this channel to advance Japan's human rights agenda vis-a-vis Tehran. That said, Japan shares the same goals and will vote with the United States on the resolution. ¶3. (C) BURMA: Japan, again, shares our views on the situation in Burma but will not be in a position to cosponsor, said Bessho. Japan "is inclined to vote for" the resolution, Bessho continued, provided certain changes can be made to it. Japan agrees on the need to push the regime in a positive direction, but Tokyo wants to be cautious not to isolate Burma. Japan is not happy with the roadmap and deems the recent elections unsatisfactory, explained Bessho, but at least these developments and the recent release of political prisoners are something to work from. Accordingly, Japan believes both should be acknowledged in the resolution. ¶4. (C) DPRK: Bessho assured DCM that Japan will continue to play a leading role towards the passage of the DPRK resolution. ¶5. (C) Bessho confirmed he will be traveling to Washington on December 9 to attend briefings hosted by IO/UNP in advance of Japan's return to the Security Council in January. He looks forward to working closely with Department officials to coordinate the actions of both our governments in the Security Council. SCHIEFFER