Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TOKYO2243
2009-09-25 03:18:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
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C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 002243
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR IO/RHS: CARI ENAV, KELLY RAZZOUK; NEA/IPA:
JEFFREY GIAUQUE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/25/2019
TAGS: AORC PHUM JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN'S TAKE ON GOLDSTONE
REF: SECSTATE 98567
Classified By: Pol M/C Robert Luke per 1.4 (b, d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 002243
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR IO/RHS: CARI ENAV, KELLY RAZZOUK; NEA/IPA:
JEFFREY GIAUQUE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/25/2019
TAGS: AORC PHUM JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN'S TAKE ON GOLDSTONE
REF: SECSTATE 98567
Classified By: Pol M/C Robert Luke per 1.4 (b, d)
1. (C) Embassy Political Officer delivered reftel demarche to
Yuichi Mikami, Head of the Middle East Peace Process Section
in MOFA's First Middle East Division, and Seitoku Kawakami,
Deputy Director of MOFA's Human Rights and Humanitarian
Affairs Division. Mikami said, "Frankly we believe the
report isn't as bad as the Israelis are claiming. At this
point the Israeli reaction has become part of the problem and
is giving ammunition to the other side." He added that his
department and the Humanitarian Affairs Division had not come
to an agreement yet on how to proceed and "we do not want
this issue to derail the Peace Process." Although MOFA has
not yet reached an official position on whether to refer this
issue to the UNSC or the ICC, Mikami predicted that the GOJ
would not likely support such a course of action. "We will
probably choose to abstain on such a vote," he said.
2. (C) Kawakami said that, "Although Japan did not support
the original resolution calling for a Special Rapporteur to
be sent, we feel the report does criticize both sides." "At
a minimum," he added, "we must thank Justice Goldstone for
his efforts, and take notice of the report." Both Mikami and
Kawakami expressed interest in the U.S. desire to arrive at a
"constructive" approach to this report in the HRC that avoids
solidifying old political divisions, and allows the HRC to
proceed with other work. U.S. suggestions for achieving a
balanced HRC resolution were welcome, particularly the idea
of "condemning violations of International Humanitarian Law
and Human Rights Law regardless of the actor." As Mikami
said, "Such a statement would make both sides unhappy, which
would be proof that it was accurate."
ROOS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR IO/RHS: CARI ENAV, KELLY RAZZOUK; NEA/IPA:
JEFFREY GIAUQUE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/25/2019
TAGS: AORC PHUM JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN'S TAKE ON GOLDSTONE
REF: SECSTATE 98567
Classified By: Pol M/C Robert Luke per 1.4 (b, d)
1. (C) Embassy Political Officer delivered reftel demarche to
Yuichi Mikami, Head of the Middle East Peace Process Section
in MOFA's First Middle East Division, and Seitoku Kawakami,
Deputy Director of MOFA's Human Rights and Humanitarian
Affairs Division. Mikami said, "Frankly we believe the
report isn't as bad as the Israelis are claiming. At this
point the Israeli reaction has become part of the problem and
is giving ammunition to the other side." He added that his
department and the Humanitarian Affairs Division had not come
to an agreement yet on how to proceed and "we do not want
this issue to derail the Peace Process." Although MOFA has
not yet reached an official position on whether to refer this
issue to the UNSC or the ICC, Mikami predicted that the GOJ
would not likely support such a course of action. "We will
probably choose to abstain on such a vote," he said.
2. (C) Kawakami said that, "Although Japan did not support
the original resolution calling for a Special Rapporteur to
be sent, we feel the report does criticize both sides." "At
a minimum," he added, "we must thank Justice Goldstone for
his efforts, and take notice of the report." Both Mikami and
Kawakami expressed interest in the U.S. desire to arrive at a
"constructive" approach to this report in the HRC that avoids
solidifying old political divisions, and allows the HRC to
proceed with other work. U.S. suggestions for achieving a
balanced HRC resolution were welcome, particularly the idea
of "condemning violations of International Humanitarian Law
and Human Rights Law regardless of the actor." As Mikami
said, "Such a statement would make both sides unhappy, which
would be proof that it was accurate."
ROOS