JAPAN ANTICIPATES INVITATION TO INTERNATIONAL MEETING ON MIDDLE EAST PEACE

CONFIDENTIAL C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 004688 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/04/2017 TAGS: PREL, KPAL, KWBG, PREL, IS, JA SUBJECT: JAPAN ANTICIPATES INVITATION TO INTERNATIONAL MEETING ON MIDDLE EAST PEACE REF: STATE 138966 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Joe Donovan for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) 1. (C) Japan's Special Envoy for Peace in the Middle East Tatsuo Arima was very pleased with the September 24 Ad Hoc Liaison Committee meeting, as well as with meetings with NEA A/S Welch (reftel) and NSA Senior Director Abrams, according to MOFA First Middle East Division Deputy Director Hideaki Adachi, who accompanied Arima to the meetings. MOFA was gratified to see continued support for Palestine endorsed by key players in the international community, and will use this fact in arguing with the Ministry of Finance for additional funds to pledge at the December donor's conference meeting. Adachi provided Embassy Tokyo Political Officer with a copy of Arima's remarks at the AHLC meeting (e-mailed to EAP/J), pointing out that Japan was the only country which specifically referred to the leadership of President Bush. 2. (C) Japan expects to be invited to the international conference to be held in November, said Adachi, based on assertions that G-8 countries will be invited, along with Arab countries, the Quartet, and the P-5 members. Japan understands that the United States is very busy right now with a number of diplomatic initiatives, but hopes the invitation can come sooner, rather than later. 3. (C) In addition to his meetings with Welch and Abrams while in New York, Arima also held bilaterals with counterparts from Egypt, Norway, Jordan, Israel, (which Adachi did not provide details of) and with Special Envoy Tony Blair, who impressed the Japanese with his very in depth knowledge of their "Corridor for Peace and Prosperity" initiative. DONOVAN