ABBAS VISIT TO JAPAN: A PREVIEW FROM MOFA

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 000241

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/IPA AND EAP/J

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/05/2020
TAGS: PREL KPAL IS ID MY SN JA
SUBJECT: ABBAS VISIT TO JAPAN: A PREVIEW FROM MOFA

REF: 09 TOKYO 2324

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission James P. Zumwalt per reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).


1. (C) Embassy Political Minister-Counselor met February 5
with MOFA Middle Eastern and African Affairs Director General
Toshiro Suzuki to preview Palestinian Authority (PA)
President Mahmoud Abbas' February 7-10 visit to Japan. While
in Japan, Abbas will meet with Prime Minister Hatoyama,
Foreign Minister Okada, and several Diet members. Hatoyama
will also host a dinner in Abbas' honor. Abbas will visit
Hiroshima and its Peace Memorial Park.


2. (C) Suzuki said that Japan's principal goal is to
demonstrate support for Abbas and his role in the Middle East
Peace Process (MEPP). The GOJ hopes that Abbas' visit to
Japan and a warm GOJ reception will strengthen Abbas'
political stature. The GOJ will reaffirm to Abbas its
continued economic assistance to the PA, while exploring a
new initiative to assist in building PA government
institutions. Japan will also address ways to enhance
private sector initiatives with the Palestinians, including a
possible role for the Japan External Trade Organization
(JETRO),a GOJ-related organization that promotes trade and
investment. Suzuki said that Japan did not plan to announce
any increase in development assistance during the visit.
Suzuki noted that the GOJ would also discuss Japanese efforts
to assist the PA in the construction of solar energy plants
in Jericho, a project that has suffered some delays. Suzuki
said the GOJ would discuss how to reinvigorate the Jericho
project.


3. (C) Turning to the GOJ's plan to build MEPP support among
Southeast Asian countries, particularly Indonesia, Malaysia,
and Singapore (reftel),Suzuki said that Special Envoy for
the Middle East Yukata Imura had visited Indonesia again in
January and that new Indonesia Foreign Minister Marty
Natalegawa voiced agreement with the GOJ's general plan for a
MEPP support group, as did Natalegawa's predecessor when
Imura met with him last year. Noting that an unstated goal
of the proposed Southeast Asia group is to improve those
countries' relations with Israel, Suzuki said that the
Indonesian government remains "cautious" regarding
government-to-government relations with Israel but is showing
greater flexibility on strengthening private sector
relations. The results of Imura's Indonesia visit have also
been shared with Malaysia and Singapore. If all three
countries are agreeable, Suzuki said that an announcement
regarding possible Southeast Asian assistance to the
Palestinians could be made during the Abbas visit. Suzuki
also briefed the Israeli Embassy.


ROOS