Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TOKYO543
2009-03-11 07:37:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:  

GOJ COMMENTS ON GLOBAL INITIATIVE DEMARCHE AND

Tags:  MNUC PARM PREL PTER KGIC KS JA 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKO #0543 0700737
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 110737Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1401
INFO RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 2741
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 4221
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 000543 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/J, ISN/WMDT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/11/2019
TAGS: MNUC PARM PREL PTER KGIC KS JA
SUBJECT: GOJ COMMENTS ON GLOBAL INITIATIVE DEMARCHE AND
UPCOMING MEETINGS

REF: A. STATE 18574

B. TOKYO 2837

Classified By: EMIN Robert F. Cekuta, reasons 1.4 b and d

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 000543

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/J, ISN/WMDT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/11/2019
TAGS: MNUC PARM PREL PTER KGIC KS JA
SUBJECT: GOJ COMMENTS ON GLOBAL INITIATIVE DEMARCHE AND
UPCOMING MEETINGS

REF: A. STATE 18574

B. TOKYO 2837

Classified By: EMIN Robert F. Cekuta, reasons 1.4 b and d


1. (C) Summary: Econoff and counterparts from the Korean and
Russian embassies delivered demarche points contained in ref
to Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) officials in Tokyo
March 10. The MOFA officials could not confirm whether Japan
would send anyone to the Global Initiative workshop and
meeting in Seoul in April, but said no GOJ official would
attend the April workshop in Germany. MOFA appears to be
having trouble generating interest in the Global Initiative
(GI) within the Japanese bureaucracy, which could be
compounded by an impending personnel change within the MOFA
Nuclear Energy Cooperation Office. Post will reach out
directly to other elements of the GOJ regarding upcoming GI
workshops. End summary.


2. (C) Econoff, along with Republic of Korea First Secretary
(S&T) Jae Yong Hur and Russian Second Secretary (Political)
Andrey Savinov, delivered the demarche contained in reftel A
to MOFA Deputy Director for International Nuclear Energy
Cooperation Shoichi Nagayoshi and his staffer Yukai Aosa
March 10. During the meeting, Hur invited the GOJ to attend
the upcoming Global Initiative workshop and Exercise Planning
Group meeting to be held in Seoul in April and asked that
Japan consider making a presentation at the workshop. Hur
noted his government had previously been in touch with MOFA
about the meetings and pressed Nagayoshi to confirm whether
the GOJ would be able to make a presentation. Nagayoshi
responded that MOFA had contacted the relevant offices in
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI),the Cabinet
Office, and in the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency
(NISA),but had not received any responses. He promised to
contact those offices again.

-------------- --------------
Addressing Recent Japanese Difficulties related to the GI
-------------- --------------


3. (C) Despite strong statements in support of the Global
Initiative from Nagayoshi during this and past meetings, the
GOJ has been either unwilling or unable to send
representatives to several recent workshops. Given previous
comments from Aosa regarding a lack of enthusiasm for the GI
at other ministries (ref B),and from the former Deputy
Director of MEXT's Atomic Energy Division about high rates of
turnover resulting in officials "not really knowing about the
Global Initiative," we suspect MOFA have trouble arranging
the participation of relevant ministries.


4. (SBU) To clarify this issue, Econoff asked Nagayoshi to
comment on the level of interest in the GI at the other
ministries. Nagayoshi reiterated Japan's support for the GI
and noted MOFA continues to encourage other ministries to
participate. However, he added his office is a small one and
that the GOJ has problems attending all meetings because of
schedule conflicts and budget shortfalls. Nagayoshi did not,
however, directly address the issue of support for the GI
outside of MOFA.


5. (SBU) Potentially exacerbating the situation, no MOFA
officer will fill in for Aosa, who has been the GOJ's
official point-of-contact for GI-related issues including the
Information Portal, when she departs for maternity leave on
March 13. Nagayoshi, with the support of interns, will handle
Global Initiative matters.

--------------
Upcoming Meetings
--------------


6. (SBU) Econoff asked Nagayoshi if MOFA had decided on
attendance at the upcoming Fifth Plenary Meeting of the GI.
Nagayoshi responded no official decision has been made on who
would attend, but that generally, the MOFA Director General
for Disarmament, Nonproliferation, and Science, along with
the MOFA Director for International Nuclear Energy
Cooperation, attend the Plenary meetings. In response to a
question on the April Workshop in Germany, Aosa noted no GOJ
officials plan to attend the conference.
ZUMWALT