ATTEMPTS TO BAR CANDIDATES FROM UPCOMING IRAQI

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 000141 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA-I/POL - WILLIAM CAVNESS AND EAP/J E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/22/2020 TAGS: PGOV PREL IZ JA SUBJECT: ATTEMPTS TO BAR CANDIDATES FROM UPCOMING IRAQI PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS REF: STATE 5980 Classified By: Political Bilateral Unit Deputy Raymond Hotz per reasons 1.4(b) and (d). (C) Embassy Poloff met January 22 with MOFA Second Middle East Division Principal Deputy Director Yukiya Hamamoto to deliver reftel demarche urging that Japan join the U.S. in conveying to the Iraqi Government concerns regarding the Iraqi Accountability and Justice Commission's disqualification of more than 500 candidates for Iraq's March 7 Parliamentary elections. Poloff stressed the importance of coordinated action in impressing upon Iraqi officials the seriousness of international concerns. Hamamoto said the GOJ shares the U.S. view and agrees that a credible and inclusive March election is essential. He said the Sunni disenfranchisement must be avoided and that Sunni participation was necessary for the election to be seen as legitimate. Hamamoto added that the Japanese Embassy in Baghdad had already engaged the GOI on this issue and that he would share this demarche with Baghdad. ZUMWALT