Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TOKYO3203
2008-11-19 08:30:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
JAPAN ON FUTURE OF EMBASSY IN MAURITANIA
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHKO #3203 3240830 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 190830Z NOV 08 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8956 INFO RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 0385 RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR PRIORITY 0204 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 2265 RUEHNK/AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT PRIORITY 0129 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 6343
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 003203
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF
ADDIS PLEASE PASS TO USMISSION USAU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV MR JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN ON FUTURE OF EMBASSY IN MAURITANIA
REF: A. STATE 122627
B. NOUAKCHOTT 655
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 003203
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF
ADDIS PLEASE PASS TO USMISSION USAU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV MR JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN ON FUTURE OF EMBASSY IN MAURITANIA
REF: A. STATE 122627
B. NOUAKCHOTT 655
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4(b) and (d
)
1. (C) Japan will not open its new embassy in Nouakchott
under the current political situation, according to MOFA
First Africa Division Principal Deputy Director Naoaki
Kamoshida. Responding to ref A talking points, Kamoshida
said Japan completely shares our view on the need to avoid
giving inadvertent support to the military junta. He
provided a copy of MOFA's August 8 press statement expressing
deep concern over the coup in Mauritania and calling for the
restoration of the constitutional order and democratic system
as soon as possible. Japan considers the change in
government "illegitimate and illegal", said Kamoshida. Japan
will not recognize the current regime as the legitimate
government of Mauritania, he continued, and until it extends
official recognition, Tokyo can not open an embassy, even at
the Charge d'Affaires level.
2. (C) Kamoshida stated there is a debate taking place within
MOFA about whether certain conditions, such as a firm
timeline for the restoration of democracy, or the release and
return of President Abdallahi, might lead to recognition by
Japan, but MOFA remains "deeply concerned" about the current
situation and that if things remain the same, Tokyo cannot
extend recognition or open an embassy. Kamoshida said that
in addition to assessing the situation on its own, Japan will
also seriously take into consideration the stance of the
international community toward the situation in Mauritania.
3. (C) The original plan was to open the embassy on January
1, 2009, said Kamoshida, but it is now highly unlikely that
this will take place. That said, Kamoshida noted that the
situation seems somewhat fluid and funds to open an embassy
have been appropriated for this fiscal year, which ends in
March. Accordingly, MOFA is at least putting in place
contingency plans to open their mission in the unlikely event
there is a change for the better. Hence the recent
preparatory mission reported in ref B.
SCHIEFFER
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF
ADDIS PLEASE PASS TO USMISSION USAU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV MR JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN ON FUTURE OF EMBASSY IN MAURITANIA
REF: A. STATE 122627
B. NOUAKCHOTT 655
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4(b) and (d
)
1. (C) Japan will not open its new embassy in Nouakchott
under the current political situation, according to MOFA
First Africa Division Principal Deputy Director Naoaki
Kamoshida. Responding to ref A talking points, Kamoshida
said Japan completely shares our view on the need to avoid
giving inadvertent support to the military junta. He
provided a copy of MOFA's August 8 press statement expressing
deep concern over the coup in Mauritania and calling for the
restoration of the constitutional order and democratic system
as soon as possible. Japan considers the change in
government "illegitimate and illegal", said Kamoshida. Japan
will not recognize the current regime as the legitimate
government of Mauritania, he continued, and until it extends
official recognition, Tokyo can not open an embassy, even at
the Charge d'Affaires level.
2. (C) Kamoshida stated there is a debate taking place within
MOFA about whether certain conditions, such as a firm
timeline for the restoration of democracy, or the release and
return of President Abdallahi, might lead to recognition by
Japan, but MOFA remains "deeply concerned" about the current
situation and that if things remain the same, Tokyo cannot
extend recognition or open an embassy. Kamoshida said that
in addition to assessing the situation on its own, Japan will
also seriously take into consideration the stance of the
international community toward the situation in Mauritania.
3. (C) The original plan was to open the embassy on January
1, 2009, said Kamoshida, but it is now highly unlikely that
this will take place. That said, Kamoshida noted that the
situation seems somewhat fluid and funds to open an embassy
have been appropriated for this fiscal year, which ends in
March. Accordingly, MOFA is at least putting in place
contingency plans to open their mission in the unlikely event
there is a change for the better. Hence the recent
preparatory mission reported in ref B.
SCHIEFFER