VZCZCXRO1377
OO RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #0981/01 1182214
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 282214Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2615
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 000981 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/J AND ISN 
DEPT PLEASE PASS DOE NNSA NA-20, OFFICE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PARM MNUC ENRG TRGY PUNE IAEA JA
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER CALLS FOR 11 BENCHMARKS FOR GLOBAL NUCLEAR 
DISARMAMENT; PROPOSES CONFERENCE 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED, PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY 
 
¶1. (U) Summary: Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone outlined 
11 benchmarks for promoting global nuclear disarmament in an April 
27 speech in Tokyo, while calling on nuclear powers to ensure 
transparency and reduce their nuclear weapon stockpiles.  Notable 
benchmarks included: transparency and disarmament measures from 
China, entry into force of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), 
negotiation of a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT), and 
cooperation on civil nuclear energy.  Nakasone also proposed that a 
conference on nuclear disarmament be held in early 2010 in Japan to 
help ensure a successful outcome for the 2010 NPT Review Conference. 
 He made no comments regarding increasing contributions to the 
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), despite earlier press 
reports that he would do so.  End summary. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Foreign Minister Nakasone, speaking at a forum hosted by 
the Japan Institute of International Affairs on April 27, gave a 
speech entitled "Conditions towards Zero- Eleven Benchmarks for 
Global Nuclear Disarmament."  The speech, which first outlined his 
sense of the state of play on disarmament and then focused on 
proposals to promote and verify progress, was described by one 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) contact as coming "in response to 
President Obama's speech in Prague." 
 
¶3.  (U) Nakasone stated momentum for disarmament is increasing.  He 
credited the 2007 op-ed by George Shultz, William Perry, Henry 
Kissinger and Sam Nunn as beginning the trend, and highlighted the 
President's April 5 Prague speech as further increasing the 
momentum.  He also used the occasion to reiterate the ongoing threat 
caused by North Korea's nuclear program as well as Japan's 
commitment to nuclear disarmament diplomacy.  Despite prior press 
speculation that he would announce increased contributions for the 
IAEA, he did not do so. 
 
-------------- 
Current Trends 
-------------- 
 
¶4.  (U) Nakasone described his view of the current situation 
concerning nuclear weapons, laying out four issues. 
 
¶A.  The role of nuclear weapons in the security strategies of the 
U.S. and Russia has sharply diminished and these countries, along 
with the UK and France, have reduced their arsenals in a transparent 
manner.  However, China continues to modernize and discloses no 
information regarding its arsenal. 
 
¶B.  The Iranian nuclear issue is an urgent international concern. 
Iran has continued to expand its enrichment activity and failed to 
meet the demands of the international community. 
 
¶C.  India, Pakistan, and Israel remain outside the NPT.  Japan 
intends to make "patient efforts" to persuade these countries to 
joint the NPT as non-nuclear weapons states. 
 
¶D.  The threat of terrorist use of weapons of mass destruction is 
growing.  The international community must be united in preventing 
nuclear and radioactive material from falling into the hands of 
terrorists. 
 
------------------- 
Proposed Benchmarks 
------------------- 
 
¶5.  (U) Nakasone identified 11 benchmarks intended to promote 
disarmament, which he said Japan will propose at the 2010 NPT Review 
Conference.  For nuclear weapons states, his benchmarks included: 
 
¶A.  Leadership by and cooperation between the U.S. and Russia, 
including concluding a successor to START I. 
 
TOKYO 00000981  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
¶B.  Nuclear disarmament by China and other nuclear weapons states, 
including a freeze in the development of nuclear weapons, missiles, 
and other delivery vehicles. 
 
¶C.  Transparency regarding nuclear arsenals, based on a "culture of 
information disclosure." 
 
¶D.  Irreversible nuclear disarmament. 
 
¶E.  A study on future verification, intended to help provide highly 
accurate verification of weapons dismantlement. 
 
¶6.  (U) For the entire international community, he identified three 
benchmarks: 
 
¶A.  A ban on nuclear tests, based on CTBT ratification. 
 
¶B.  A ban on the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons 
purposes, beginning with FMCT negotiation, and a moratorium on 
production of fissile material. 
 
¶C.  Restrictions on ballistic missiles, specifically globalization 
of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty between the United 
States and Russia, and the EU's proposed treaty to ban short and 
intermediate range ground-to-ground missiles. 
 
¶7.  (U) Finally, for countries aspiring to the peaceful use of 
nuclear energy, he proposed three more benchmarks: 
 
¶A.  International cooperation for civil nuclear energy based on 
safety, security, and safeguards.  Nakasone noted Japan will host an 
international conference in Tokyo this autumn on nuclear security 
related to Asian countries, particularly those introducing nuclear 
power. 
 
¶B.  Compliance with the highest level of IAEA safeguards, 
specifically Comprehensive Safeguards Agreements and the Model 
Additional Protocol. 
 
¶C.  Prevention of nuclear terrorism, by managing both nuclear 
material and fuel cycle facilities. 
 
----------------------------------- 
Proposal for new conference in 2010 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶8.  (U) Nakasone concluded by announcing Japan plans to host early 
next year an international conference tentatively entitled "the 2010 
Nuclear Disarmament Conference" to encourage concerted actions by 
the international community.  He expressed his desire that this 
conference, in concert with his proposed benchmarks, would 
contribute to "a successful conclusion of the 2010 NPT Review 
Conference." 
 
¶9.  (SBU) Contacted after the Foreign Minister's speech, a MOFA Arms 
Control and Disarmament Division officer had few comments.  He noted 
the speech was positively received by the media, which had been 
particularly interested in the portions pertaining to China. 
Regarding the proposed conference, he said MOFA did not yet have any 
idea when or at what level of participation it could be held.  At 
this point, MOFA's plan is to consult with relevant countries 
including the U.S. 
 
ZUMWALT