WHALING: JAPAN UNLIKELY TO COMPROMISE IN UPCOMING

UNCLAS TOKYO 001216 SIPDIS STATE FOR D, OES/OA AND EAP/J STATE PASS CEQ NOAA/NMFS - CMCCARTY AND RWULFF E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV EFIS KSCA IWC ETRD JA SUBJECT: WHALING: JAPAN UNLIKELY TO COMPROMISE IN UPCOMING IWC MEETING SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED, PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY ¶1. (SBU) While the Japanese public does not oppose whaling - in fact most support continued whaling - interest groups here are divided over whether to accept a compromise in the International Whaling Commission (IWC) that would allow Japan limited coastal whaling in exchange for a reduction/elimination of Japan's research whaling. Japanese policymakers, however, seem to be coalescing around opposing any compromise on the issue that appears to stem from foreign pressure, according to a senior Ministry of Foreign Affairs official. This official also recently told EMIN politicians in all Japanese parties support continued whaling in some form and that there would be no progress on whaling this year. ¶2. (SBU) The MOFA senior official's comments are similar to responses from working level GOJ officials and Japanese media contacts Post has spoken with recently. All say Japan is unlikely to compromise and they do not expect progress at the IWC's annual meeting in Madeira in June. While there is an expectation the negotiations on finding a compromise will continue until the 2010 IWC annual meeting, many in the GOJ, according to a reporter for a Japanese fisheries trade daily, are wondering about future U.S. policies and who may replace Dr. Hogarth, and the impact these decision might have on the negotiations. ZUMWALT