GOJ STRATEGY FOR IAEA ELECTION; REQUEST FOR

S E C R E T TOKYO 001193 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR D(S),P, T, IO, ISN, EAP/J DOE FOR NA-20 NSC FOR CONNERY NRC FOR DOANE, SCHWARTZMAN E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/26/2034 TAGS: PARM ENRG TRGY PUNE IAEA JA SUBJECT: GOJ STRATEGY FOR IAEA ELECTION; REQUEST FOR COMMENT ON CHINA AND RUSSIA REF: A. VIENNA 209 ¶B. STATE 46302 ¶C. VIENNA 189 Classified By: EMIN Robert F. Cekuta, Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) ¶1. (U) Please note action request contained in para 5. ¶2. (SBU) The GOJ is aware of and greatly appreciates U.S. advocacy on behalf of its candidate for International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Non-proliferation, Science, and Nuclear Energy Division Deputy Director Naoto Ito. Econoff met with Ito and Special Assistant Toshio Kaneko May 22 to discuss the ongoing campaign for IAEA Director General and Japan's efforts on behalf of its candidate Ambassador Yukiya Amano. ¶3. (S) Ito briefly outlined Japan's thinking regarding election dynamics. The GOJ expects Ernest Petric and Jean-Pol Poncelet will be eliminated early. In discussing the three-way race that would then ensue, he said Japan has become concerned about dynamics within the EU and the possible challenge that Luis Echavarri could pose to Amano. Given this situation, the GOJ now hopes to see Echavarri eliminated from the race, leaving Amano to face off against Minty once again. To this end, the GOJ has begun focusing efforts on countries supporting Echavarri. ¶4. (S) According to Ito, because the U.S. has stressed the importance of Japanese engagement at high levels with Minty-supporting countries such as Brazil and India, MOFA is drafting a list of high-level GOJ demarches to share with the USG via the Japanese Embassy in Washington. The constraints the Diet schedule put on travel by the PM and Foreign Minister may rule out or severely limit visits by these top officials to other capitals, but MOFA is working to see what trips may be possible. The Foreign Ministry is also engaging METI, the science ministry (MEXT),and the Cabinet Office in the lobbying campaign. ¶5. (S) Ito provided a list of countries he said Japan has asked the U.S. to approach regarding Amano's candidacy. The list includes the UK, Germany, Mexico, Ireland, Romania, China, Russia, Argentina, Brazil, India, and Saudi Arabia. Ito noted the GOJ welcomes all USG engagement with governments in support of Amano, but said the above list is focused on those where USG approaches are the most important. He specifically noted the inclusion of Russia and China in the list and made a special request regarding the two countries. Approaching their governments may be more delicate, he said, because of concern that a strong approach would foster the impression that "Japan belongs to the U.S." Ito requested thoughts from the USG on whether it is a good idea for Japan to request continued U.S. support in demarching Russia and China. Action request: Embassy would appreciate points to use in response to Ito's request. ZUMWALT