JAPANESE REVISIONS TO G8 NONPROLIFERATION

UNCLAS TOKYO 000342 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR ISN/MNSA, ISN/NESS, ISN/RA, EAP/J E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM KNNP PUNE JA SUBJECT: JAPANESE REVISIONS TO G8 NONPROLIFERATION DIRECTOR'S GROUP DRAFT FOREIGN MINISTERS' STATEMENT ¶1. (SBU) Japan has offered a set of revisions to the draft G8 Foreign Ministers' Statement recently proposed by Canada at the G8 Nonproliferation Director's Group. Japan thinks the text is a good start but is too general and needs to be sharpened, including by making more specific references to various topics. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Arms Control and Disarmament Division Deputy Director Chihiro Mochizuki provided Japan's views on the document during a meeting with Econoff February 17. ¶2. (SBU) The GOJ's position is that the current draft should attempt to deliver a more positive message to non-aligned movement/developing countries. Japan would do this by creating sub-sections devoted to disarmament, peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and the Middle East. Mochizuki reiterated previous assurances that Japan shares the U.S.'s concerns about non-proliferation, but suggested that given the upcoming NPT Review Conference, a focus on disarmament may be more effective. He noted the document's use of language from the l'Aquila Statement, and suggested "we should not freeze the language," but attempt to move on and make progress. On the subject of the Middle East resolution, he noted the current draft makes no explicit reference to the issue, and asserted that "silence will only hurt us." ¶3. (SBU) Mochizuki said the specifics of Japan's proposal had already been provided to Washington, but post will scan and send a copy of Japan's revisions for departmental record. ROOS