AMBASSADOR KHALILZAD AND JAPANESE PERM REP DISCUSS

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 001008 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/03/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV UNGA UNSC KUNR AF TT JA IR BM PK SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR KHALILZAD AND JAPANESE PERM REP DISCUSS JAPAN'S UPCOMING UNSC ROTATION, SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM, AND UN BUDGET ISSUES Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Japanese Perm Rep Takasu told Ambassador Khalilzad October 31 that Japan would like to take the lead on Timor Leste and Afghanistan in the new Security Council term beginning in January, as well as chair the Peacekeeping Working Group. Japan is reluctant to chair the 1737 (Iran) sanctions committee, given its dependence on Iran for 14 percent of its oil. Takasu said that Indonesia had approached Japan about playing a role on Burma and Japan plans to do so. He said Japan is also interested in joining the Friends of Pakistan Group. On Security Council reform, Takasu agreed that it was important to abide by the timeline set forth in the September 15 UNGA decision, with intergovernmental negotiations starting in February. Both Takasu and Khalilzad agreed that at a November 3 breakfast with the Group of Five Principal Contributors to the UN Budget, six influential developing countries, and the Secretariat, Khalilzad would reiterate the point that the target was to limit the looming 25 percent budget increase to no more than 15 percent and emphasize the Group of Five's commitment to seek decisions on the budget by consensus. End Summary. Japan willing to take Council lead on Timor Leste and Afghanistan -------------- ¶2. (C) Japanese Perm Rep Ambassador Yukio Takasu told Ambassador Khalilzad at a bilateral breakfast October 31 that when Japan becomes a non-permanent member of the Security Council in January it is very interested in taking the lead on issues involving Timor Leste and Afghanistan. Takasu said that the Timor Leste government had contacted Tokyo requesting Japan's involvement. He also confirmed that the GOJ has received good indications from the Afghan government about Japan taking the lead again on that portfolio in the Council (Japan had the lead on Afghanistan when it was last on the Council from 2005-2006). Takasu also said Japan would be willing to reactivate and chair the Peacekeeping Working Group which has largely remained dormant since Japan was last on the Council. Takasu said that Japan would be willing to cede the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions to another Council member, since Japan had chaired the group in the past. Japan opposed to chairing 1737 (Iran) sanction ctte -------------- ¶3. (C) In response to Ambassador Khalilzad's proposal that Japan consider chairing the 1737 (Iran) sanctions committee, Takasu said, "Politically, there is some reluctance." (Note: After the breakfast, Japanese PolOff contacted PolOff (notetaker) to say that he was instructed to stress that the Japanese mission does not/not want to assume chairmanship of the 1737 (Iran) sanctions committee. He explained that there is a sensitive relationship that exists between Japan and Iran because of Japan's importation of 14 percent of its oil from Iran, though it has taken a firm stance on the nuclear issue. End note.) Japan planning to play role on Burma -------------- ¶4. (C) On Burma, Takasu said that Indonesia has approached Japan to play a role in the Council on Burma which Takasu said Japan plans to do with a focus on encouragement as well as pressure. He said the Deputy Minister would go to Burma in December in order to press the NLD not to boycott 2010 elections. Ambassador Khalilzad pushed back on the idea of encouragement, saying that the U.S. has not favored an economic package since it has yielded little to date. Instead, the U.S. prefers pressure. Takasu countered by saying that there is no evidence that sanctions work given the state's long borders with China and India. Khalilzad replied that he was not convinced that sanctions are not felt. While there has been no change in behavior yet, sanctions could still work, and if they are lifted now, the junta would be happy. Takasu quipped in reply, "Just like the North Koreans are happy!" Takasu and Khalilzad both agreed that if Secretary-General Ban travels to Burma, he should only go if there is a concrete outcome. Japan interested in Friends of Pakistan Group -------------- ¶5. (C) Ambassador Khalilzad raised the upcoming Friends of Pakistan group meeting November 17 in Abu Dhabi and cited the possible role for a United Nations point person, such as Jean Arnault, for Pakistan. Ambassador Takasu said that while he did not have a specific comment, he recognized the importance of Pakistan and would want Japan to be part of the group. Ambassador Khalilzad also reviewed at Takasu's request Council business on Afghanistan, DRC, Sudan, Iraq, and Georgia. Japanese delegation keen to visit DC to discuss UNSC issues -------------- ¶6. (C) Ambassador Takasu reacted very positively to the idea of a Japanese delegation visiting Washington to discuss their upcoming Security Council rotation. (Note: Japanese PolOff told PolOff in a call after the breakfast that the second week of December would work best, though Tokyo or its Washington Embassy will coordinate with State on the specific timing. End note.) Security Council reform -------------- ¶7. (C) Ambassador Takasu agreed with Ambassador Khalilzad's assessment that there was no need to accelerate the timeline for intergovernmental negotiations on UN Security Council expansion as it would cause unnecessary unrest amongst the membership. Takasu stressed that the September 15 decision is important and it provides the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG) with one last opportunity to facilitate those negotiations. While the outlook is not good for a successful outcome in the OEWG, he said, the start of negotiations is no longer conditional on a successful outcome. Negotiations will start by the end of February 2009, regardless of the OEWG's outcome. Takasu noted that the President of the General Assembly (PGA)'s decision to hold a meeting November 21 should be honored but the meeting itself should be "proforma." He described the Uniting for Consensus (UFC) bloc as "in a weak position," but that the Group of Four (G-4) needs to "have mercy since we still need a partner for negotiations." Takasu stressed that he was trying to play a constructive role with Afghan Perm Rep Ambassador Zahir Tanin who had been named by the PGA to moderate the negotiations. UN Budget Issues -------------- ¶8. (C) Takasu raised the breakfast that he would host November 3 for the Perm Reps from the Group of Five Principal Contributors to the UN budget (USG, UK, France, Germany and Japan) and six influential developing countries (Brazil, Egypt, India, Mexico, Singapore and South Africa). The Secretariat has also been invited to the breakfast to brief the Perm Reps on the status of the budget. Takasu referred to a concern recently raised with him by his German counterpart that the Group of Five Perm Reps should demonstrate a common front, suggesting that none of the Five go beyond the points set out in a paper prepared by their Fifth Committee Experts. (Note: The paper, entitled "Elements of Points to Make," was provided separately to the Department. End note.) Both Takasu and Khalilzad agreed that, while those elements did not go beyond saying that a 25 percent growth was unacceptable, it was both appropriate and desirable for Khalilzad to reiterate the point that he has frequently made among the Five and with others that the target was to limit the looming 25 percent or more increase to no more than 15 percent. (Comment: Both Takasu and Khalilzad understood that the points made in the paper were not agreed talking points but simply agreed elements upon which each of the five Perm Reps could draw as they deemed fit in presenting their views at the breakfast meeting. End Comment) ¶9. (C) Both Takasu and Khalilzad agreed with the point that their German counterpart made to Takasu that the Five should emphasize at the breakfast their commitment to seeking decisions on the budget by consensus. Both Takasu and Khalilzad also agreed that if the issue of Department of Political Affairs (DPA) and Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) add-ons came up that they would indicate their intention of seeking action on DPA and would engage seriously on the DESA proposal. They also agreed that if the issue of the linkage between the two proposals came up that they would stress that each proposal must be viewed on its own merits. Takasu and Khalilzad also agreed on the need to continue to press the Secretariat to provide a single comprehensive and transparent budget beginning with the "Outline" for the 2010/2011 budget to be presented at this session. Khalilzad