Wikileaks - CCCXLVIII
67190 6/8/2006 8:36 06TOKYO3171 Embassy Tokyo CONFIDENTIAL 06STATE88312 VZCZCXRO1817 OO RUEHNH DE RUEHKO #3171/01 1590836 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 080836Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3020 INFO RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 0203 RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS 0079 RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0117 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2698 RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 1186 RUEHSW/AMEMBASSY BERN 1779 RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 2218 RUEHBM/AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST 0142 RUEHUP/AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST 0054 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1676 RUEHCP/AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN 0507 RUEHDL/AMEMBASSY DUBLIN 0110 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0346 RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON 0227 RUEHLJ/AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA 0058 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1524 RUEHLE/AMEMBASSY LUXEMBOURG 0103 RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 0791 RUEHML/AMEMBASSY MANILA 0717 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 1080 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 1084 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 9487 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 4955 RUEHPG/AMEMBASSY PRAGUE 0202 RUEHRK/AMEMBASSY REYKJAVIK 0135 RUEHRA/AMEMBASSY RIGA 0071 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 1958 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 8871 RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE 6654 RUEHSF/AMEMBASSY SOFIA 0129 RUEHTL/AMEMBASSY TALLINN 0097 RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 1022 RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA 0113 RUEHVL/AMEMBASSY VILNIUS 0120 RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW 0439 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 0899 RUEHVB/AMEMBASSY ZAGREB 0069 RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 9247 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 9863 RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY 0474 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHMFISS/COMUSJAPAN YOKOTA AB JA RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHINGTON DC RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA SEOUL KOR RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUFGNOA/COMUSEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUCQSOC/COMUSSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0662 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO BRUSSELS C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 TOKYO 003171
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR EUR/RPM EVA SHINAGEL, EAP/RSP LOUIS ORTIZ, USNATO TOM UNDERWOOD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/07/2016 TAGS: PREL, MARR, JA SUBJECT: NATO'S GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP: JAPAN UPBEAT BUT URGES FLEXIBILITY
REF: A. STATE 88312
B. TOKYO 798
Classified By: DCM Joe Donovan. Reasons 1.4 b/d.
1. (C) SUMMARY: Japan is interested in pursuing closer relations with NATO through the Global Partnership framework, but prefers an incremental approach with participation in seminars or in exercises as observers preceding cooperation in operations. GOJ officials request further clarification on the relationship between the Global Partnership and existing NATO groupings such as the Partnership for Peace. MOFA DG Hirada requested more information on how the process will move forward and through what channels. Noting the political sensitivity of collective self-defense, the Hirada recommended a flexible partnership that could be easily tailored to the situation of each new partner country. END SUMMARY.
One step at a time
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2. (C) DCM Donovan and UK Minister Hatfull met with MOFA European Affairs DG Hirada on June 8, 2006 to deliver talking points (Ref A) on NATO's Global Partnership initiative. UK Minister Hatfull expressed appreciation for Japanese support for allied efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan and asked Japan to consider how it could increase its impact overseas through a strengthened relationship with NATO. DCM Donovan emphasized that we are cognizant of Japan's legal and constitutional constraints and therefore seek to get Japanese input on how best to shape the Global Partnership.
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3. (C) DG Hirada stated that Japan,s basic position on NATO was articulated by FM Aso during his speech in Brussels in May. While enthusiastic about deepening ties with NATO, Japan prefers a "step-by-step" approach, Hirada said, with participation in seminars and perhaps observer-status participation in exercises first and cooperation in operational areas as a mid to long-term goal. He added that Japan was "positively considering" the invitations it has received to join NATO seminars in Europe in the coming months.
4. (C) MOFA European Policy Director Norio Maruyama added that although Japan was interested in regular dialogue with the NAC, it did not want to restrict itself to this channel. Japan hopes to engage all 26 NATO members on relevant issues and to pursue formal as well as informal talks.
Japan seeks more information
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5. (C) DG Hirada asked for more information on how the new Global Partnership will affect existing frameworks such as the Partnership for Peace, the Mediterranean Dialogue and the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative. Japan is also seeking a better understanding of the issues that must be resolved before the Riga summit in November and whether the final product at Riga was likely to be general statement, a detailed plan or a written document. Finally, DG Hirada asked for additional clarification on how this process will move forward and what the official channels of consultation will be.
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6. (C) DCM Donovan assured DG Hirada that the Global Partnership would not supersede existing frameworks, but would be designed to supplement these groupings. He stressed that this is a formative period for this new initiative and that we are seeking input from our friends, like Japan, in order to create the most effective partnership possible.
Japan urges flexibility
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7. (C) DG Hirada and Director Maruyama warned against an overly rigid arrangement, suggesting a more flexible model that could be easily tailored to the particular political sensitivities of the new partners. Noting that collective self-defense was a very sensitive political issue in Japan, DG Hirada hoped the proposal put forward at Riga would not be "one-size-fits-all". DCM Donovan replied that the United States and other NATO members were mindful of the political situation in Japan and sought an appropriate partnership plan. DG Hirada thanked the United States and the United Kingdom for this initiative and asked to continue dialogue. SCHIEFFER
