IAEA ELECTIONS- JAPAN'S CAMPAIGN AND REQUESTS FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 001464 SIPDIS DEPT FOR D, P, T, IO/T:JHUSKEY, MGOLDSTEIN, ISN:VVANDIEPEN, EAP/J NSC FOR CONNERY, A.SCHIENMAN DOE FOR NA-24:M.WHITNEY, NA-20:K.BAKER E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2019 TAGS: PARM ENRG TRGY PUNE IAEA JA SUBJECT: IAEA ELECTIONS- JAPAN'S CAMPAIGN AND REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE REF: TOKYO 1335 Classified By: EMIN Robert F. Cekuta, Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) ¶1. (C) Summary: The GOJ would appreciate continued U.S. outreach to IAEA board members in support of Yukiya Amano's candidacy for IAEA Director General. MOFA Non-proliferation Director Ichikawa told emboffs June 29 the GOJ would like the USG to emphasize to other member states the need to resolve the IAEA leadership in this round of voting. The GOJ would also appreciate the USG reaching out to both Echavarri and Minty backers to ask them to support Amano in the final rounds of voting. In particular, Ichikawa reported the GOJ would appreciate the Secretary raising the issue with Argentina's Foreign Minister and asking that Argentina either back Amano or abstain in the final "yes/no" votes July 3. Ichikawa said Japan has not been able to confirm Argentina's intentions for the final round of voting. End summary. ¶2. (C) The GOJ deeply appreciates U.S. support for Japan's candidate for International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General and would like to request continued U.S. assistance. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Non-proliferation, Science, and Nuclear Energy Director Tomiko Ichikawa, in a June 29 meeting with ESToffs to discuss the IAEA election, said the election's outcome will depend on two factors: 1) how many Echavarri supporters vote for Amano after Echavarri is eliminated and 2) how successful Japan is in convincing Minty-supporters to vote either for Amano or abstain in the final "Yes/No" rounds of voting July 3. ¶3. (C) Ichikawa asked for U.S. engagement in two areas. First, she said the GOJ would like the USG to stress to any IAEA Board members it thinks appropriate the importance of having the Board choose a director general in the July round and not prolong the election. She said it is not constructive to talk of a third round of voting. ¶4. (C) Second, Ichikawa said the GOJ would like the USG to lobby both Echavarri and Minty backers for support in the ballot following the initial round of voting the morning of July 2. She asked that the USG, where the opportunity arises, urge countries supporting Echavarri to vote for Amano after the Spaniard's likely elimination in the voting Thursday morning. She said the GOJ is concerned Spain or other Echavarri supporters may try to block Amano in a two way Amano-Minty vote in order to throw open the race for a third round in which they would propose Echavarri as a compromise candidate. Japan would like U.S. support in convincing Echavarri supporters to back an electable candidate (Amano) once Echavarri is eliminated. ¶5. (C) As for Minty supporters, Ichikawa said the GOJ would like the USG to urge them to vote either yes for Amano or to abstain in the final "Yes/No" votes on Friday afternoon. As she and others in the GOJ have noted previously, Japan is making the case with Minty supporters that a vote for Amano in the final "Yes/No" vote on a leading candidate is not necessarily a vote against Minty (ref). ¶6. (C) Ichikawa requested specific help with Argentina. She said Japan's efforts to confirm Argentina's support for Amano in the final rounds have been met with vague replies from Buenos Aires. She said the GOJ understands the Secretary may talk to her Argentine counterpart this week. If so, the GOJ would appreciate the Secretary asking the Argentine Foreign Minister to support Amano or to abstain in the final round. She emphasized the message is not to ask for Argentine support for Amano in the initial voting; the GOJ realizes Argentina is committed to Minty in the early rounds. ZUMWALT