JAPAN RENEWS LATIN AMERICAN TIES DURING APEC SUMMIT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 003317 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2018 TAGS: PREL ETRD EINV JA SUBJECT: JAPAN RENEWS LATIN AMERICAN TIES DURING APEC SUMMIT Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer. Reasons 1.4 (B) (D) ¶1. (C) Summary. Japanese officials reached agreement on two investment treaties but balked at proposals to begin EPA negotiations during talks with officials from Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru during the November APEC Summit in Lima. Japan and Peru used their discussion to repair relations damaged by the controversy regarding former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori. In Colombia, FM Nakasone, making the first official visit by a Japanese foreign minister in 23 years, agreed to begin negotiations on an investment treaty, but deflected President Uribe's request to begin EPA talks. PM Aso and Mexican President Calderon agreed to undertake measures proposed during the recent G-20 Summit ) and called on APEC to do the same. End Summary. ¶2. (C) MOFA Latin American and Caribbean Affairs Bureau contacts briefed Embassy Tokyo on a series of bilateral meetings between Japanese senior officials and several Latin American leaders held on the margins of the November 22-24 APEC Summit in Lima. According to South American Division Principal Deputy Director Akifumi Mizuguchi, and Mexico, Central America and Caribbean Division Principal Deputy Director Noritsugu Takahashi, Prime Minister Taro Aso and Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone conducted brief talks with counterparts from Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru. -------------- Peru -------------- ¶3. (C) Mizuguchi characterized FM Nakasone's November 20 meeting with FM Jose Garcia-Belaunde as "good," but having "no specific substance." During a 30-minute discussion, the two men confirmed plans for the leaders' bilateral summit ) set to take place the next day - and acknowledged an earlier agreement marking 2009 as the 110th anniversary of Japanese emigration to Peru. ¶4. (C) PM Aso began an "official" bilateral visit to Peru on November 21 with activities which included a one-hour summit meeting and banquet dinner with President Alan Garcia before joining the APEC discussions the following day. Mizuguchi, noting Aso was the first Prime Minister to visit Peru in 11 years, indicated the leaders consolidated many of the understandings reached by Garcia and former PM Yasuo Fukuda during the Peruvian President's March 2008 visit to Tokyo. Aso signed a bilateral investment treaty ) a Fukuda-Garcia initiative which both sides only began negotiating in May ¶2008. The PM inked a second document which would provide a yen ODA assistance loan covering four projects aimed at improving water, drainage, and electrical power systems. ¶5. (C) Both sides viewed the discussion as important to repairing a "relationship damaged" by Japan's decision to offer asylum to former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori. According to Mizuguchi, President Garcia "drew a clear line between Fujimori and the bilateral relationship." Garcia promised to return to Tokyo in February 2009 to attend a JETRO Expo on Peru. Aso promised to give "positive consideration" to Lima's proposal to launch Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations. Mizuguchi said Japan "hopes" to announce the start of EPA negotiations during Garcia's 2009 visit. -------------- Colombia -------------- ¶6. (C) Following APEC Foreign Ministers' gathering, FM Nakasone made an official visit to Colombia on November 21. Nakasone, the first Japanese foreign minister to visit Bogota in 23 years, held a one-hour breakfast meeting with FM Jaime Bermudez and a 40-50 minute talk with President Alvaro Uribe, Mizuguchi observed. Nakasone's discussions covered three main topics: -- Nakasone agreed to a Colombian proposal to begin TOKYO 00003317 002 OF 002 negotiations on an investment treaty. Uribe, who Mizuguchi said "seemed to take for granted" Japan's eventual approval of the investment accord, pressed Nakasone to begin EPA talks after the investment deal is concluded. Tokyo agreed to take note of Uribe's request. -- Japan offered support for Colombia's efforts at peace-building by focusing on education, vocational training, and landmine removal. Mizuguchi noted Tokyo has provided approximately USD 100 million for these efforts over the last six-seven years. -- Colombia sought Nakasone's support for Bogota's efforts to join APEC. Mizuguchi noted Japan, which will assume the APEC chairmanship, took the request seriously but "was not able to give a positive answer." ¶7. (C) On November 22, PM Aso held a 20-minute talk with President Uribe, which Mizuguchi characterized as "symbolic only." (This year marks the 100th year of Japan-Colombia relations.) The two men confirmed the results of Nakasone's just-completed dialogue with Colombian officials but failed to raise new issues. -------------- Chile -------------- ¶8. (C) Aso and Chilean President Michelle Bachelet said "hello" and confirmed their bilateral EPA was working well during a brief get together, according to Mizuguchi. -------------- Mexico -------------- ¶9. (C) Takahashi described the Japanese Prime Minister's dialogue with Mexican President Felipe Calderon as "fruitful" and "good," with both men striving to give new energy to a bilateral relationship important to both countries. Discussion covered the following points: -- Aso relayed condolences regarding the recent death of Interior Minister Juan Mourino ) a close friend of Calderon who died in an airplane accident, according to MOFA. The Japan side wondered how the absence of Mourino, who Takahashi said played an important role in United States-Mexico cooperation on drug trafficking, would impact the war on drugs. Calderon promised to continue the fight. -- The leaders acknowledged celebrations marking the 120th anniversary of the establishment of Japan-Mexico diplomatic relations, while noting 2009 will mark 400 years of cultural exchanges between the two nations. Calderon and former PM Fukuda first agreed to recognize the quadrennial event during the Lake Toya G-8 summit. Calderon promised to visit Tokyo in 2009. -- Japan and Mexico agreed to take actions to address the current fiscal crisis, particularly steps mentioned at the recent G-20 Washington Summit. The two opined APEC should also work toward implementing the G-20 recommendations. -- The Prime Minister praised Mexico's involvement on climate change issues. Tokyo agreed to provide energy conservation technology and offered to cooperate with Calderon on a future climate change framework when the Kyoto Protocol expires in ¶2013. The President said developing countries should bear some of the burden, but added that the amount should depend on the capacity of each. Calderon again asked Japan to consider funding Mexico's "Green Fund" proposal to address climate change, but Japan again provided no response. SCHIEFFER