JAPANESE PARTICIPATION AT IRAQ EXPANDED NEIGHBORS

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 000987 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/I J.DAVIS AND EAP/J F.YANG E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/09/2018 TAGS: PREL IZ JA SUBJECT: JAPANESE PARTICIPATION AT IRAQ EXPANDED NEIGHBORS MINISTERIAL REF: A. STATE 35471 ¶B. TOKYO 833 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires W. Michael Meserve for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Japan will most likely be represented at the Iraq Expanded Neighbors Ministerial meeting in Kuwait on April 22 by Senior Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Itsunori Onodera, according to MOFA Second Middle East Division Principal Deputy Director Motosada Matano. While Matano and his colleagues would prefer it if the Foreign Minister could attend, it is highly unlikely he will be able to do so given unsettled domestic political conditions in Tokyo. Matano cautioned that Onodera's participation has not yet been officially decided upon, but said all indications are that he will lead the Japanese delegation. ¶2. (C) Matano said Japan will continue to publicly support the Maliki government and will keep urging Iraqi political leaders to pursue the path of reconciliation, rather than violence. Japan last month hosted another of its periodic reconciliation seminars for Iraqi political figures, hosting eleven parliamentarians who met with Foreign Minister Koumura and other senior government officials and parliamentarians, and attended lectures by experts on peace consolidation. The delegation was in Japan March 20-27 and consisted of five Shittes, four Sunnis, and two Kurds. ¶3. (C) With regard to refugee relief, as reported ref B, Japan shares our concerns about the region's growing refugee and IDP problem, and has contributed over USD 18 million in the last year to the ICRC and UNHCR. MESERVE