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