DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON JOINT DECLARATION FOR

UNCLAS TOKYO 000889 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS PASS TO EAP/J; NSC FOR PBROWN; EEB FOR K. DILLION; STATE FOR MHUMPHREY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ENRG ETTC KNNP PREL TRGY RS JA SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON JOINT DECLARATION FOR NUCLEAR ENERGY AND NONPROLIFERATION REF: STATE 32249 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. NOT FOR INTERNET. ¶1. (SBU) ESToff delivered letter in ref from Ambassador Wolcott to MOFA's International Nuclear Energy Cooperation Division Director Yasuyoshi Komizo March 31. On April 1, Director Komizo expressed appreciation for the letter and asked Post to forward the response in para 2 to Ambassador Wolcott. ¶2. (SBU) BEGIN TEXT OF LETTER: April 1, 2008 Dear Ambassador Jackie Wolcott, Please allow me to express my heartiest congratulations on your new assumption of the post of Special Envoy for Nuclear Nonproliferation. Thank you very much for informing me of the current state of play with regard to the U.S.-Russia Joint Declaration on Nuclear Energy and Nonproliferation by your letter dated 25 March 2008, which I received yesterday from the US Embassy in Tokyo. I fully share your view that the expansion of nuclear energy should meet the highest nuclear nonproliferation, safety, and security standards, and believe that international cooperation in this regard is most valid and useful. As you may be well informed, Japan as G8 chair has proposed launching a G8 initiative which aims at assisting developing countries in ensuring 3Ss (nuclear nonproliferation/safeguards, safety, and security) at Hokkaido Toyako Summit in July this year. I firmly believe that we, as the G8, should send a message to the international community that 3Ss should be ensured in the use of nuclear power at this time of what is called "Nuclear Renaissance," when a growing number of countries worldwide have expressed their interest in embarking on nuclear power program. Over the last year I have discussed this proposed initiative with your colleagues mainly in the U.S. State Department on various occasions, and we appreciate very much valuable inputs and comments that the U.S. side has provided for us. We are also most grateful that the U.S. delegation clearly extended its strong support to the proposed initiative during the discussion at the G8 forum. As there should be a follow-up deliberation after the initiative is launched, we would like to continue our discussion with the U.S. Government on this important issue. In this regard as well, I hope that we would be able to discuss this important issue of 3Ss sometime at an earliest opportunity of our mutual convenience either in the States, Japan or any other place. Let us keep in touch on this matter. Sincerely, Yasuyoshi Komizo Director, International Nuclear Energy Cooperation Division Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Science Department Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan END TEXT. SCHIEFFER