Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TOKYO3403
2008-12-15 09:14:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
AMBASSADOR FOLLOWS UP ON PAKISTAN DONORS CONFERENCE
how-toVZCZCXRO6122 OO RUEHLH DE RUEHKO #3403/01 3500914 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 150914Z DEC 08 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9457 INFO RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA IMMEDIATE 0286 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING IMMEDIATE 6837 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD IMMEDIATE 2127 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL IMMEDIATE 0649 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE 2289 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI IMMEDIATE 8645 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS IMMEDIATE 6365 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME IMMEDIATE 2217 RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI IMMEDIATE 0095 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE IMMEDIATE 0021 RUSHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR IMMEDIATE 0056 RHMFISS/USFJ IMMEDIATE RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO IMMEDIATE 1302 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 2938
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 003403
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/PB
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2018
TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN IBRD PREL IMF PK JA
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR FOLLOWS UP ON PAKISTAN DONORS CONFERENCE
REF: A. TOKYO 3382
B. STATE 129615
Classified By: AMBASSADOR J. THOMAS SCHIEFFER, REASONS 1.4(B),(D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 003403
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/PB
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2018
TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN IBRD PREL IMF PK JA
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR FOLLOWS UP ON PAKISTAN DONORS CONFERENCE
REF: A. TOKYO 3382
B. STATE 129615
Classified By: AMBASSADOR J. THOMAS SCHIEFFER, REASONS 1.4(B),(D).
1. (C) Summary. Japan recognizes the importance of Pakistan
to the war on terror and is committed to remain a top donor,
VFM Yabunaka assured the Ambassador on December 15. At the
same time, he said, Japan is "perplexed" by the immediacy of
a planned donors conference in January and unclear on the
goals, particularly given the IMF's recent commitment to
provide USD 7.6 billion to assist with the most immediate
balance of payments problems. Other needs can be addressed
after the IMF has an opportunity to undertake a more detailed
analysis in March 2009, he added. The Ambassador promised to
seek additional clarification from Washington. He also
expressed appreciation for the December 15 passage of the OEF
refueling legislation, which will allow Japan to continue its
refueling efforts in the Indian Ocean. Yabunaka confirmed
that Southwest Asia DG Inomata will travel to Washington on
December 17 for discussions on the region. End Summary.
2. (C) This is an action request. Please see para 5.
3. (C) Ambassador Schieffer telephoned Vice Foreign Minister
Mitoji Yabunaka December 15 to follow up a December 12
demarche (Ref A) urging Japan's participation in a donors
conference on Pakistan in January (Ref B). "Japan
understands the importance of Pakistan to the war on terror,"
Yabunaka assured the Ambassador, and there is "no reluctance"
on the part of the government to providing assistance. Japan
is already one of the top donors to Pakistan, he continued,
and he expressed confidence that Japan will remain "if not
the number one donor, then the number two donor to Pakistan"
for the foreseeable future. Japan is currently disbursing
over USD 500 million in yen loans pledged for the fiscal year
ending on March 31, 2009, he explained, covering four
projects related to the eventual construction of an oil
pipeline. This doubling of yen loans over the previous
commitment illustrates Japan's understanding of the
importance of Pakistan, he stated. Japan will also provide
an additional USD 75 million in grants and technical
cooperation during this period, he added.
4. (C) At the same time, Yabunaka observed, Japan is
"perplexed" by the sudden timing of the conference and
unclear on the actual objectives. While the call for donors
appears to be based on an immediate need to rectify
Pakistan's balance of payments problems, a recent commitment
from the IMF to extend USD 7.6 billion should be sufficient
to bridge the gap, he indicated. Pakistan has other needs as
well, he said, but the IMF will review those in greater
detail in March. Based on that assessment, Yabunaka
questioned the analysis of Pakistan's current needs and the
purpose of the conference. He also expressed confusion over
the mix of proposals on the table, which include the donors
conference in January and a Friends of Pakistan meeting in
February. He reiterated his concern that the goals are
unclear and requested further clarification. If the meetings
are somehow integrated, he remarked, Japan might be
interested in hosting. Yabunaka confirmed that Southeast and
Southwest Asia Director General Hiroshi Inomata will be
traveling to Washington for a meeting with SCA Assistant
Secretary Richard Boucher on December 17 and will be
"prepared to sit and talk."
5. (C) Action Requested: Please provide additional
clarification on the immediate need for additional assistance
to Pakistan and on the separate goals for the donors
conference in January and the Friends of Pakistan meeting the
following month.
6. (C) The Ambassador also thanked Yabunaka for his role in
gaining passage of legislation to authorize the continuation
of Japan's refueling efforts in the Indian Ocean in support
TOKYO 00003403 002 OF 002
of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). Yabunaka noted Prime
Minister Taro Aso's strong commitment to enacting the measure.
SCHIEFFER
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/PB
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2018
TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN IBRD PREL IMF PK JA
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR FOLLOWS UP ON PAKISTAN DONORS CONFERENCE
REF: A. TOKYO 3382
B. STATE 129615
Classified By: AMBASSADOR J. THOMAS SCHIEFFER, REASONS 1.4(B),(D).
1. (C) Summary. Japan recognizes the importance of Pakistan
to the war on terror and is committed to remain a top donor,
VFM Yabunaka assured the Ambassador on December 15. At the
same time, he said, Japan is "perplexed" by the immediacy of
a planned donors conference in January and unclear on the
goals, particularly given the IMF's recent commitment to
provide USD 7.6 billion to assist with the most immediate
balance of payments problems. Other needs can be addressed
after the IMF has an opportunity to undertake a more detailed
analysis in March 2009, he added. The Ambassador promised to
seek additional clarification from Washington. He also
expressed appreciation for the December 15 passage of the OEF
refueling legislation, which will allow Japan to continue its
refueling efforts in the Indian Ocean. Yabunaka confirmed
that Southwest Asia DG Inomata will travel to Washington on
December 17 for discussions on the region. End Summary.
2. (C) This is an action request. Please see para 5.
3. (C) Ambassador Schieffer telephoned Vice Foreign Minister
Mitoji Yabunaka December 15 to follow up a December 12
demarche (Ref A) urging Japan's participation in a donors
conference on Pakistan in January (Ref B). "Japan
understands the importance of Pakistan to the war on terror,"
Yabunaka assured the Ambassador, and there is "no reluctance"
on the part of the government to providing assistance. Japan
is already one of the top donors to Pakistan, he continued,
and he expressed confidence that Japan will remain "if not
the number one donor, then the number two donor to Pakistan"
for the foreseeable future. Japan is currently disbursing
over USD 500 million in yen loans pledged for the fiscal year
ending on March 31, 2009, he explained, covering four
projects related to the eventual construction of an oil
pipeline. This doubling of yen loans over the previous
commitment illustrates Japan's understanding of the
importance of Pakistan, he stated. Japan will also provide
an additional USD 75 million in grants and technical
cooperation during this period, he added.
4. (C) At the same time, Yabunaka observed, Japan is
"perplexed" by the sudden timing of the conference and
unclear on the actual objectives. While the call for donors
appears to be based on an immediate need to rectify
Pakistan's balance of payments problems, a recent commitment
from the IMF to extend USD 7.6 billion should be sufficient
to bridge the gap, he indicated. Pakistan has other needs as
well, he said, but the IMF will review those in greater
detail in March. Based on that assessment, Yabunaka
questioned the analysis of Pakistan's current needs and the
purpose of the conference. He also expressed confusion over
the mix of proposals on the table, which include the donors
conference in January and a Friends of Pakistan meeting in
February. He reiterated his concern that the goals are
unclear and requested further clarification. If the meetings
are somehow integrated, he remarked, Japan might be
interested in hosting. Yabunaka confirmed that Southeast and
Southwest Asia Director General Hiroshi Inomata will be
traveling to Washington for a meeting with SCA Assistant
Secretary Richard Boucher on December 17 and will be
"prepared to sit and talk."
5. (C) Action Requested: Please provide additional
clarification on the immediate need for additional assistance
to Pakistan and on the separate goals for the donors
conference in January and the Friends of Pakistan meeting the
following month.
6. (C) The Ambassador also thanked Yabunaka for his role in
gaining passage of legislation to authorize the continuation
of Japan's refueling efforts in the Indian Ocean in support
TOKYO 00003403 002 OF 002
of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). Yabunaka noted Prime
Minister Taro Aso's strong commitment to enacting the measure.
SCHIEFFER