Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TOKYO1997
2009-08-31 04:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
JAPAN EXPLAINS VISIT BY BURMESE OFFICIAL
how-toVZCZCXRO4655 PP RUEHDT RUEHPB DE RUEHKO #1997/01 2430402 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 310402Z AUG 09 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5854 INFO RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA PRIORITY 8532 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE PRIORITY 0010 RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA PRIORITY 6197 RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO PRIORITY 6713 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/USFJ PRIORITY RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 001997
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/J, EAP/MLS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2019
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL BM JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN EXPLAINS VISIT BY BURMESE OFFICIAL
TOKYO 00001997 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission James P. Zumwalt for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 001997
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/J, EAP/MLS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2019
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL BM JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN EXPLAINS VISIT BY BURMESE OFFICIAL
TOKYO 00001997 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission James P. Zumwalt for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: Tokyo invited Burmese Agriculture Minister
Htay Oo to Japan because of his "high standing" in the
Burmese regime and his position as a central decisionmaker on
agriculture policy, a key area of interest to Japanese aid
policy planners, particularly in the continuing aftermath of
Cylcone Nargis, MOFA explained to Embassy Tokyo August 28.
Htay Oo received a "firm message" on the continued house
arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi (ASSK) and on Burma's ongoing
relationship with North Korea during meetings with Japanese
Foreign Minister (FM) Nakasone and Vice Foreign Minister
(VFM) Yabunaka. MOFA's official statement on the visit
follows the main text. END SUMMARY
2. (C) In an August 28 meeting, MOFA First Southeast Asia
Division Director Keiichi Ono and Principal Deputy Director
Shogo Yoshitake provided Embassy Tokyo a readout of Burmese
Minister of Agriculture and Union Solidarity and Development
Association Chair Htay Oo's visit to Japan on August 25.
Japan had invited the Agriculture Minister because of his
"high standing" in the Burmese regime and his position as a
central decisionmaker on agriculture policy, a key area of
interest to Japanese aid policy planners, particularly in the
continuing aftermath of Cylcone Nargis. Japanese officials
also have identified Htay Oo as an "up-and-comer" within the
Burmese Government. He is young (59 years old),frank, and
more "internationally minded" than some of his Burmese
colleagues, Ono explained. For example, while many Burmese
leaders are "afraid to mention ASSK's name," Htay Oo does not
appear to have that "complex" and spoke openly about her, Ono
said.
3. (C) Htay Oo received a "firm message" on the continued
house arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi during meetings with FM
Nakasone and VFM Yabunaka, Ono said. Nakasone called on
Burma to release ASSK as soon as possible and to hold fair
and inclusive elections, slated for an heretofore
undetermined time in 2010. Nakasone said that taking such
measures would be of great benefit to the country of Burma,
Ono reported.
4. (C) Japanese officials also encouraged continued vigilance
on UNSC Resolution 1874 against North Korea. Ono lamented
Burma's ongoing relationship with the North but highlighted
Rangoon's firm response to the Kang Nam 1 case in July.
5. (C) Ono had little to report on Htay Oo's response but
mentioned that Htay Oo saw the recent court ruling on ASSK as
being consistent with Burmese law. The Agriculture Minister
also took note of Japan's concerns about North Korea and the
importance of UNSCR 1874 implementation, according to Ono.
6. (C) On the eve of Japan's own election, Ono offered his
opinion on Burma policy implications if opposition Democratic
Party of Japan (DPJ) assumes power. The DPJ might take a
more hard-line approach, he said, considering that the party
includes relatively junior members who perhaps do not harbor
as much sympathy for Burma as the older generation of
Japanese lawmakers, he observed. At any rate, Ono expected a
slow foreign policymaking transition for an upstart DPJ
administration.
7. (SBU) Ono alluded to the Foreign Ministry statement copied
below:
Begin Statement
Statement on Meeting Between Foreign Minister Hirofumi
Nakasone and Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Htay Oo.
On August 25, H.E. Mr. Hirofumi Nakasone, Minister for
Foreign Affairs, held talks with H.E. Mr. Htay Oo, Minister
for Agriculture and Irrigation of the Union of Myanmar, for
about 20 minutes. The outline of the meeting is as follows:
1. Minister Nakasone made the following statements:
TOKYO 00001997 002.2 OF 002
(1) The Government of Japan welcomed Minister Htay Oo's first
visit to Japan.
(2) Japan is cooperating with Myanmar in the field of
agriculture and continues assistance to areas affected by the
cyclone.
(3) Japan strongly expects Myanmar to proceed a
democratization process with participation of all the parties
concerned in order that general elections next year are
welcomed by the international community. Japan takes note of
the fact that the Government of Myanmar referred to the
possible early release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Japan
believes that swiftly taking such measures and allowing Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi to participate in the democratization
process would be of great benefit to Myanmar, and has strong
expectations regarding this matter.
2. In response, Minister Htay Oo made the following
statements:
(1) He was happy to realize his first visit to Japan. Japan
and Myanmar have a traditional relationship of friendship,
and the citizens of both countries are close as well.
(2) Myanmar is grateful for the large amount of assistance
received from the Government of Japan for damages caused by
Cyclone Nargis in 2008.
(3) Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was dealt with the law, and Mr. Than
Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council
(SPDC),has reduced her sentence. Myanmar believes that her
early release will be possible if Daw Aung San Suu Kyi leads
an honest life.
End Statement
ROOS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/J, EAP/MLS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2019
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL BM JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN EXPLAINS VISIT BY BURMESE OFFICIAL
TOKYO 00001997 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission James P. Zumwalt for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: Tokyo invited Burmese Agriculture Minister
Htay Oo to Japan because of his "high standing" in the
Burmese regime and his position as a central decisionmaker on
agriculture policy, a key area of interest to Japanese aid
policy planners, particularly in the continuing aftermath of
Cylcone Nargis, MOFA explained to Embassy Tokyo August 28.
Htay Oo received a "firm message" on the continued house
arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi (ASSK) and on Burma's ongoing
relationship with North Korea during meetings with Japanese
Foreign Minister (FM) Nakasone and Vice Foreign Minister
(VFM) Yabunaka. MOFA's official statement on the visit
follows the main text. END SUMMARY
2. (C) In an August 28 meeting, MOFA First Southeast Asia
Division Director Keiichi Ono and Principal Deputy Director
Shogo Yoshitake provided Embassy Tokyo a readout of Burmese
Minister of Agriculture and Union Solidarity and Development
Association Chair Htay Oo's visit to Japan on August 25.
Japan had invited the Agriculture Minister because of his
"high standing" in the Burmese regime and his position as a
central decisionmaker on agriculture policy, a key area of
interest to Japanese aid policy planners, particularly in the
continuing aftermath of Cylcone Nargis. Japanese officials
also have identified Htay Oo as an "up-and-comer" within the
Burmese Government. He is young (59 years old),frank, and
more "internationally minded" than some of his Burmese
colleagues, Ono explained. For example, while many Burmese
leaders are "afraid to mention ASSK's name," Htay Oo does not
appear to have that "complex" and spoke openly about her, Ono
said.
3. (C) Htay Oo received a "firm message" on the continued
house arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi during meetings with FM
Nakasone and VFM Yabunaka, Ono said. Nakasone called on
Burma to release ASSK as soon as possible and to hold fair
and inclusive elections, slated for an heretofore
undetermined time in 2010. Nakasone said that taking such
measures would be of great benefit to the country of Burma,
Ono reported.
4. (C) Japanese officials also encouraged continued vigilance
on UNSC Resolution 1874 against North Korea. Ono lamented
Burma's ongoing relationship with the North but highlighted
Rangoon's firm response to the Kang Nam 1 case in July.
5. (C) Ono had little to report on Htay Oo's response but
mentioned that Htay Oo saw the recent court ruling on ASSK as
being consistent with Burmese law. The Agriculture Minister
also took note of Japan's concerns about North Korea and the
importance of UNSCR 1874 implementation, according to Ono.
6. (C) On the eve of Japan's own election, Ono offered his
opinion on Burma policy implications if opposition Democratic
Party of Japan (DPJ) assumes power. The DPJ might take a
more hard-line approach, he said, considering that the party
includes relatively junior members who perhaps do not harbor
as much sympathy for Burma as the older generation of
Japanese lawmakers, he observed. At any rate, Ono expected a
slow foreign policymaking transition for an upstart DPJ
administration.
7. (SBU) Ono alluded to the Foreign Ministry statement copied
below:
Begin Statement
Statement on Meeting Between Foreign Minister Hirofumi
Nakasone and Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Htay Oo.
On August 25, H.E. Mr. Hirofumi Nakasone, Minister for
Foreign Affairs, held talks with H.E. Mr. Htay Oo, Minister
for Agriculture and Irrigation of the Union of Myanmar, for
about 20 minutes. The outline of the meeting is as follows:
1. Minister Nakasone made the following statements:
TOKYO 00001997 002.2 OF 002
(1) The Government of Japan welcomed Minister Htay Oo's first
visit to Japan.
(2) Japan is cooperating with Myanmar in the field of
agriculture and continues assistance to areas affected by the
cyclone.
(3) Japan strongly expects Myanmar to proceed a
democratization process with participation of all the parties
concerned in order that general elections next year are
welcomed by the international community. Japan takes note of
the fact that the Government of Myanmar referred to the
possible early release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Japan
believes that swiftly taking such measures and allowing Daw
Aung San Suu Kyi to participate in the democratization
process would be of great benefit to Myanmar, and has strong
expectations regarding this matter.
2. In response, Minister Htay Oo made the following
statements:
(1) He was happy to realize his first visit to Japan. Japan
and Myanmar have a traditional relationship of friendship,
and the citizens of both countries are close as well.
(2) Myanmar is grateful for the large amount of assistance
received from the Government of Japan for damages caused by
Cyclone Nargis in 2008.
(3) Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was dealt with the law, and Mr. Than
Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council
(SPDC),has reduced her sentence. Myanmar believes that her
early release will be possible if Daw Aung San Suu Kyi leads
an honest life.
End Statement
ROOS