AMBASSADOR ROOS MEETS WITH JICA PRESIDENT OGATA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 002566 SIPDIS STATE/EAP/J, STATE/EEB, SRAP, NEA PASS USAID/ODP USAID/SCAA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID ECON JA PGOV SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR ROOS MEETS WITH JICA PRESIDENT OGATA SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED (SBU) -- NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION Summary (SBU): Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) President Sadako Ogata warmly welcomed Ambassador Roos on a October 28 courtesy call, sharing observations from a recent trip to Iraq and personal reflections on the complexities and challenges involved in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The universally-respected Ogata also outlined for the Ambassador key changes/reforms to Japan's foreign aid priorities and structures since JICA assumed an expanded organizational mandate in late 2008. Ambassador Roos underscored the importance of Japan's contributions to global development and expressed his interest in expanding U.S.-Japan cooperation on shared priorities such as climate change and engaging the private sector to address development goals. End Summary. New JICA under Ogata -------------- ¶1. (U) As JICA President, Ogata directs Japan's core development aid agency, managing approximately $10 billion in annual foreign assistance to more than 100 countries around the world. Since a comprehensive reform and consolidation of Japan's foreign aid structures took effect in late 2008, JICA has assumed integrated responsibilities for administering all overseas technical cooperation, grant aid, and concessional loan operations. Ogata outlined for the Ambassador the shifts in aid approach and priorities since JICA assumed its expanded mandate. While Ogata allowed that a majority of Japan's aid still goes to strategic countries in the Asia-Pacific region, with India mentioned as the largest recipient, she believes that Japan has sharpened the development focus of its aid and is pleased with the increased attention to countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, which now constitutes 28 percent of the aid budget. Back from Baghdad and the Af-Pak Challenge -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Ogata recently returned from a trip to review JICA operations in Iraq, where she relayed that she also visited with Ambassador Hill at Embassy Baghdad. Japan has provided nearly $5 billion in assistance to Iraq since Operation Enduring Freedom and recently approved several new large-scale infrastructure development loans. Ogata conveyed to Ambassador Roos that she believes that important progress has been made in Iraq, and that continued JICA efforts to consolidate gains are critical. Ogata mentioned Ambassador Hill's proposal to facilitate the participation or imbedding of JICA personnel in USG interagency "diplomatic-development teams" in Iraq and expressed that it may possible for JICA to do this (she drew a distinction between this proposal with Provincial Reconstruction Teams/PRTs in Afghanistan, a situation which she believed would be too risky/difficult for her agency, or Japan to take on). ¶3. (SBU) Moving then to Afghanistan, where JICA has been active since 2002, Ogata and JICA's Director General for South Asia Masataka Nakahara outlined for the Ambassador JICA's programs and presence on the ground-- currently at 40 field-based staff who are managing programs in agriculture, health, education, and infrastructure. Ogata believes progress is occurring in Afghanistan, but is concerned about the increased return of Taliban members to the country "particularly over the past year." Bio Note: As former UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and GOJ Special Envoy to Afghanistan, Ogata has extensive experience in the region going beyond her JICA leadership. End Note. The Ambassador inquired about the degree to which Ogata has been consulted by the new government in developing their proposal to increase civilian assistance, with Ogata responding that she briefed Foreign Minister Okada, as well as Prime Minister Hatoyama on the region and the viability of programming options for both Afghanistan and Pakistan. Ambassador Roos also asked Ogata what she felt the U.S. should focus on in Afghanistan, and in a noteworthy response for someone who has devoted most of her life to development and the softer sides of diplomacy, Ogata said "it's clear the military is still needed...and that human security concerns are still paramount there." Let's Work Together -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Ambassador Roos complimented Ogata on her leadership and the quality of JICA's programs, and emphasized TOKYO 00002566 002 OF 002 the importance of Japan's continued engagement on global issues. Re-iterating that the U.S. and Japan share many common priorities, such as climate change and increased attention to development in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Ambassador offered his support to help deepen and broaden our bilateral aid collaboration. Ogata cited the value of the joint work USAID and JICA have done in the public health area, and her interest in expanding this to other areas. The Ambassador and Ogata also agreed that promotion of public-private partnerships, and leveraging the Japanese private sector to support development objectives would be a particularly useful area for us to work together on moving forward. Participants -------------- U.S. Ambassador John V. Roos JICA President Sadako Ogata JICA Director General for Operations Strategy, Kunio Okamura JICA Director General for South Asia, Masataka Nakahara JICA Director General for Middle East, Junichi Yamada Embassy Tokyo USAID Counselor, John Beed ROOS