Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TOKYO347
2008-02-08 08:46:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
JAPAN PREPARED TO SUBSCRIBE TO WELLINGTON
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 000347
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/08/2016
TAGS: PREL NATO JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN PREPARED TO SUBSCRIBE TO WELLINGTON
DECLARATION ON CLUSTER MUNITIONS
Classified By: Charge d' Affaires Joseph R. Donovan. Reasons 1.4 (B) (
D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 000347
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/08/2016
TAGS: PREL NATO JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN PREPARED TO SUBSCRIBE TO WELLINGTON
DECLARATION ON CLUSTER MUNITIONS
Classified By: Charge d' Affaires Joseph R. Donovan. Reasons 1.4 (B) (
D)
1. (C) Summary. Japanese authorities will subscribe to the
Wellington Declaration on cluster munitions (CM) if the
parties attending the New Zealand meeting agree to treat as
relevant four Japanese proposals which Tokyo will present at
the April Dublin Diplomatic Conference, Foreign Ministry
officials tell Embassy Tokyo. Dublin Conference participants
would not/not be required to adopt the proposals - only to
consider them. Japanese officials stress, however, that
Japan's basic position on CM has not changed - Tokyo will not
support a ban on CM and will not agree to any treaty that
negatively impacts United States-Japan security arrangements.
End Summary.
2. (C) On February 8, Disarmament, Non-proliferation and
Science Department Deputy Director-General Masatoshi Shimbo
related to Embassy Tokyo Political-Minister Counselor Japan's
position on the draft declaration that will be discussed at
the Wellington Conference on Cluster Munitions, to be held
February 18-22 in New Zealand. Shimbo said that proponents of
the Oslo process were prepared to "put Japan to a test" at
the Wellington meeting. If Tokyo did not subscribe to the
Wellington Declaration, Japan would not be invited to the
follow on Dublin meeting in April.
3. (C) As a result, Shimbo continued, Japanese authorities
were "on the verge of making a decision" that would permit
Japan to subscribe to the Wellington document. Shimbo opined
that wording in the final sentence contained in the last
paragraph at the bottom of page one of the text constituted a
"saving clause" that would allow Japan flexibility to embrace
the declaration. (Note: The clause reads "together with
other relevant proposals which may be put forward there."
4. (C) Drawing on the opening provided by the "saving
clause," Tokyo was prepared to subscribe to the Wellington
Declaration if the parties attending the New Zealand meeting
would agree to treat as relevant at the April Dublin
Diplomatic Conference four Japanese proposals:
-- Prohibit the use of unreliable and inaccurate cluster
munitions.
-- Establish a "reasonable" transition period (regarding the
use of CM).
-- Consider interoperability with Allies who are not parties
to the Oslo process.
-- Implement an immediate ban on production, development, and
transfer of unreliable and inaccurate CM.
5. (C) According to Shimbo, the decision to subscribe to the
Wellington Declaration - conditioned on an agreement to treat
the four proposals as relevant - had been approved at the
Director-General levels at the foreign and defense
ministries, but had not yet been approved by the respective
ministers or by the Prime Minister's office. Following the
meeting, however, Conventional Arms Division Director Ryuichi
Hirano said the proposal would "probably be accepted."
6. (C) Hirano emphasized that Tokyo was prepared to subscribe
to the Wellington Declaration simply on the condition that
the Oslo participants agree to consider the four proposals at
the Dublin meeting. The Dublin Conference participants would
not/not be required to adopt the proposals - only to consider
them. Tokyo was prepared to subscribe even if the proposals
were not adopted.
7. (C) Shimbo stressed that Japan's basic position on CM had
TOKYO 00000347 002 OF 002
not changed - Tokyo would not support a ban on CM and would
not agree to any treaty that negatively impacted United
States-Japan security arrangements. The DDG said that as the
United States did not intend to send a delegation to the
Wellington Conference, Tokyo wished to advise Washington of
Japan's planned approach so as to avoid the perception that
Tokyo had reversed its position on CM. Hirano drew attention
to the fact that the Wellington Declaration itself does not
ban CM. However, Wellington participants will consider a
Draft Cluster Munitions Convention, and propose that the
draft CM convention be put forward "as the basic proposal for
consideration at the Dublin Diplomatic Conference."
DONOVAN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/08/2016
TAGS: PREL NATO JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN PREPARED TO SUBSCRIBE TO WELLINGTON
DECLARATION ON CLUSTER MUNITIONS
Classified By: Charge d' Affaires Joseph R. Donovan. Reasons 1.4 (B) (
D)
1. (C) Summary. Japanese authorities will subscribe to the
Wellington Declaration on cluster munitions (CM) if the
parties attending the New Zealand meeting agree to treat as
relevant four Japanese proposals which Tokyo will present at
the April Dublin Diplomatic Conference, Foreign Ministry
officials tell Embassy Tokyo. Dublin Conference participants
would not/not be required to adopt the proposals - only to
consider them. Japanese officials stress, however, that
Japan's basic position on CM has not changed - Tokyo will not
support a ban on CM and will not agree to any treaty that
negatively impacts United States-Japan security arrangements.
End Summary.
2. (C) On February 8, Disarmament, Non-proliferation and
Science Department Deputy Director-General Masatoshi Shimbo
related to Embassy Tokyo Political-Minister Counselor Japan's
position on the draft declaration that will be discussed at
the Wellington Conference on Cluster Munitions, to be held
February 18-22 in New Zealand. Shimbo said that proponents of
the Oslo process were prepared to "put Japan to a test" at
the Wellington meeting. If Tokyo did not subscribe to the
Wellington Declaration, Japan would not be invited to the
follow on Dublin meeting in April.
3. (C) As a result, Shimbo continued, Japanese authorities
were "on the verge of making a decision" that would permit
Japan to subscribe to the Wellington document. Shimbo opined
that wording in the final sentence contained in the last
paragraph at the bottom of page one of the text constituted a
"saving clause" that would allow Japan flexibility to embrace
the declaration. (Note: The clause reads "together with
other relevant proposals which may be put forward there."
4. (C) Drawing on the opening provided by the "saving
clause," Tokyo was prepared to subscribe to the Wellington
Declaration if the parties attending the New Zealand meeting
would agree to treat as relevant at the April Dublin
Diplomatic Conference four Japanese proposals:
-- Prohibit the use of unreliable and inaccurate cluster
munitions.
-- Establish a "reasonable" transition period (regarding the
use of CM).
-- Consider interoperability with Allies who are not parties
to the Oslo process.
-- Implement an immediate ban on production, development, and
transfer of unreliable and inaccurate CM.
5. (C) According to Shimbo, the decision to subscribe to the
Wellington Declaration - conditioned on an agreement to treat
the four proposals as relevant - had been approved at the
Director-General levels at the foreign and defense
ministries, but had not yet been approved by the respective
ministers or by the Prime Minister's office. Following the
meeting, however, Conventional Arms Division Director Ryuichi
Hirano said the proposal would "probably be accepted."
6. (C) Hirano emphasized that Tokyo was prepared to subscribe
to the Wellington Declaration simply on the condition that
the Oslo participants agree to consider the four proposals at
the Dublin meeting. The Dublin Conference participants would
not/not be required to adopt the proposals - only to consider
them. Tokyo was prepared to subscribe even if the proposals
were not adopted.
7. (C) Shimbo stressed that Japan's basic position on CM had
TOKYO 00000347 002 OF 002
not changed - Tokyo would not support a ban on CM and would
not agree to any treaty that negatively impacted United
States-Japan security arrangements. The DDG said that as the
United States did not intend to send a delegation to the
Wellington Conference, Tokyo wished to advise Washington of
Japan's planned approach so as to avoid the perception that
Tokyo had reversed its position on CM. Hirano drew attention
to the fact that the Wellington Declaration itself does not
ban CM. However, Wellington participants will consider a
Draft Cluster Munitions Convention, and propose that the
draft CM convention be put forward "as the basic proposal for
consideration at the Dublin Diplomatic Conference."
DONOVAN