FM KOUMURA VISITS TANZANIA, TALKS ECONOMICS AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 000097

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/10/2018
TAGS: EAID ECON JA PGOV PREL AF
SUBJECT: FM KOUMURA VISITS TANZANIA, TALKS ECONOMICS AND
TICAD


Classified By: CDA Joseph R. Donovan; Reasons: 1.4 (b/d)


1. (C) Summary. In an effort to highlight Japan's relations
with Africa while shoring up support for the May 2008 Tokyo
International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV),
Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura visited Tanzania January
4-7 (after scaling back plans to visit Kenya as well). The
FM won Tanzania's pledge to attend TICAD IV, expressed
concern about the ongoing unrest in Kenya and pledged
Japanese support for Tanzanian efforts to create a dialogue
between Kenyan President Kibaki and the opposition. Koumura
and his counterpart also inked grant agreements for budget
support and food assistance, and the Tanzanians declared
their support for Japan's UN Security Council seat. Our MOFA
Africa contact reiterated that TICAD invitations were sent to
governments, not individual leaders, and that Japan would not
put restrictions on Robert Mugabe's participation. End
Summary.


2. (C) FM Koumura's January 4-7 visit was primarily focused
on economic aid and development issues and included a
Japanese pledge to help Tanzania with budgetary issues and
food assistance, MOFA Africa II Division official Osamu
Sakashita told Embassy Tokyo January 10. While Koumura had
also planned to visit Kenya, the recent unrest forced the
Japanese to adjust the FM's schedule. During bilateral
discussions, the Tanzanians underscored their need for
infrastructure-oriented development assistance. To that end,
Koumura pledged to send a senior Japan International
Cooperation Agency (JICA) economic expert to meet with
President Kikwete to discuss their budgetary issues.


3. (C) Regarding Koumura's discussions on Kenya, Sakashita
reported that Koumura's interlocutors told him that that "all
parties involved in the Kenyan political structure" have sent
representatives to Dar-Es-Salaam. Furthermore, President
Kikwete is in "close contact" with those parties. For his
part, Koumura expressed the Government of Japan's hope that
Tanzania can serve a useful role in brokering an end to the
Kenyan violence.


4. (C) According to Sakashita, the Tanzanian government
declared their support for Japanese efforts to gain a seat on
the Security Council. Similarly, the Tanzanians were
"supportive" of the Japanese stance against North Korea on
the nuclear issue and abductions.


5. (C) President Kikwete told Koumura that Tanzania plans to
attend the May 28 - 30 Fourth Tokyo International Conference
on African Development (TICAD IV. Septel). Sakashita added
that the Japanese have confirmations from more than 30
countries that they will send their heads of state to the
conference. He emphasized that the invitations were sent to
the governments of the respective countries, not to
individuals, and if leaders like Robert Mugabe are selected
to come to the TICAD, the Japanese will not restrict their
participation (Septel). Beyond those 30 declarations,
Sakashita said he expects other countries to send
ministerial-level attendees. He also asked that donors,
including the U.S. Government, to give a "head's up" to the
Japanese if any new initiatives are going to be announced at
the TICAD.


6. (C) Comment. Koumura's trip is indicative of the push the
Japanese are making to engage Africa as the TICAD approaches,
and follows, for example, their recent effort to secure rare
metals from South Africa by pledging World Cup-related
assistance. That said, there is still the perception here
that Japan is playing catch-up to the Chinese, an image that
the Japanese hope to erase with a successful - and
well-attended - TICAD. We will continue to press the Japanese
at all levels regarding Mugabe's invitation to the forum.
DONOVAN