WHALING: MOFA WORKING LEVEL THOUGHTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 002592 NOFORN SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/J AND OES/OA - LPHELPS STATE PASS CEQ USDOC FOR NOAA/NMFS - RWULFF BRIDGETOWN FOR ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2019 TAGS: EFIS KSCA PREL SENV IWC JA SUBJECT: WHALING: MOFA WORKING LEVEL THOUGHTS REF: TOKYO 02588 Classified By: A/EMIN Paul Horowitz, reasons 1.4 b and d. ¶1. (C/NF) Ministry of Foreign Affairs working level officials would prefer to postpone any public announcement of a U.S.-Japan commitment to conclude an agreement on whaling by a date certain, and keep our bilateral negotiations confidential until we are closer to an agreement, MOFA Fisheries Division Director Yutaka Aoki told EST Chief November 9. Aoki said he is not casting doubt on our ability to come to agreement, but wants to avoid being too optimistic at this point. Referring to a possible announcement at the November 14 summit meeting in Tokyo, Aoki said a general reference to both nations' desire to continue talks would be acceptable, but there should be no specifics. Aoki added that U.S. cooperation in addressing Japan's complaints against the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) will benefit the negotiations and help the GOJ to "easily sell" any compromise to the Japanese public. ROOS