DEMARCHE TO JAPAN ON PAKISTAN DONORS CONFERENCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 TOKYO 000620 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/J AND SCA/PB MBGOODMAN AND TFOLEY TREASURY FOR ROBERT DOHNER AND MALACHY NUGENT E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2019 TAGS: PREL EAID ECON EFIN IBRB IMF PK JA SUBJECT: DEMARCHE TO JAPAN ON PAKISTAN DONORS CONFERENCE REF: STATE 24367 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Jim Zumwalt for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (U) THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST FOR THE DEPARTMENT. PLEASE SEE PARAGRAPH 9. ¶2. (C) SUMMARY: Japan is grateful for U.S. efforts to assure the success of the Pakistan Donors Conference which will be held in Tokyo April 17, according to MOFA Southwest Asia Division Principal Deputy Director Aya Yoshida. MOFA is still having a "difficult fight" with the Ministry of Finance about the size of Japan's contribution, and Yoshida was hesitant to speculate at this point about the amount Japan will pledge. She was pleased to hear that the U.S. delegation would include a high-level representative from Treasury, as this would help focus the Ministry of Finance on this issue. MOFA would like to officially announce to the press on March 24 or 25 that it will be hosting the conference. Yoshida provided further information concerning logistical arrangements as well as a tentative seating chart and registration forms which Embassy will e-mail to EAP/J and SCA/PB. With regard to the Friends of Pakistan Meeting that will be held the same day, Yoshida said that Pakistan is contemplating hosting a Senior Officials Meeting the morning of April 16. Embassy requests guidance from Department on information concerning U.S. delegation and whether S/SRAP Holbrooke is available for public diplomacy events or desires additional meetings during his visit in Tokyo. END SUMMARY. -------------- DEMARCHE DELIVERED -------------- ¶3. (C) Ref demarche concerning Japan's plans to host a Pakistan Donors Conference in Tokyo on April 17 was delivered to MOFA Southwest Asia Division Principal Deputy Director Aya Yoshida March 18. She was grateful to learn of U.S. efforts to assure the success of the conference and was particularly pleased to see that a high-level representative from the Department of the Treasury would be included in the U.S. delegation, indicating that this would help focus the Ministry of Finance (MOF) on the need to make a meaningful contribution. When asked if she had any idea about how much Japan is prepared to pledge she replied that MOFA is engaged in a "difficult fight" with the MOF and that she would not feel comfortable venturing a guess at this point about the amount Japan will contribute. -------------- LOGISTICS -------------- ¶4. (C) Japan would like to make a formal announcement to the press on either March 24 or 25 about its intention to host the conference, reported Yoshida. The fact that Tokyo will TOKYO 00000620 002 OF 003 be the venue of the meeting is widely known, but Yoshida said that MOFA has been receiving many inquiries from the press about whether the meeting is still on given developments last weekend in Pakistan. Accordingly, MOFA wants to assure the media that the conference will, indeed, take place. ¶5. (C) Yoshida also reported that MOFA has been engaged in talks with South Korea and is fairly certain that the South Korean Foreign Minister will attend. If that is the case, Japan and the ROK will probably hold a bilateral ministerial sometime the evening of April 17. ¶6. (C) Yoshida shared a list of logistical arrangements, as well as a proposed seating chart and a registration form. Although the arrangements for the venue have not be finalized, she indicated the conference will most likely be held at the New Otani Hotel. MOFA is still planning on limiting the delegation size to principal plus three. There will be a room for overflow staff, she said, but indicated it would not be large. There are no plans at this time for a remote note-taking room. Political Officer indicated that our delegation size would likely exceed four and asked that due consideration be given to a request for additional places. Embassy will e-mail copies of the registration form, logistical information, and proposed seating chart to EAP/J and SCA/PB. -------------- FRIENDS OF PAKISTAN -------------- ¶7. (C) Pakistan is considering convening a Senior Officials Meeting the morning of April 16, one day prior to the Ministerial, reported Yoshida. She indicated that Japanese representation at this meeting would be at the Director General level. -------------- PRESS COVERAGE -------------- ¶8. (C) MOFA plans to let the press cover opening statements by President Zardari and Prime Minister Aso at the Friends of Pakistan meeting, as well as the opening moments of the Donors Conference. In addition, a press conference will be held following the closing session. Yoshida was uncertain who would participate in the press conference, but speculated it would be restricted to the hosts. -------------- ACTION REQUEST -------------- ¶9. (C) Embassy would be grateful for any information Department can provide on delegation participants and travel plans so that we may begin making hotel reservations. In TOKYO 00000620 003 OF 003 addition, we would be interested in learning whether Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Holbrooke would be available for public diplomacy events. A direct appeal by him to Diet members and the press about the relevance to Japan of events in Afghanistan and Pakistan would go a long way to building needed support for Japanese assistance. Finally, please advise if S/SRAP Holbrooke would like us to schedule bilateral or other meetings during his stay. Embassy point of contact is Political Officer Evan G. Reade, ReadeEG@state.gov, 011-81-3-3224-5325. ZUMWALT