VZCZCXYZ0004
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKO #2764/01 1700803
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 190803Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4642
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 7495
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 1289
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 5575
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 4663

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 002764 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/18/2017 
TAGS: PREL PREK SENV UNSC AF CH FR GM LE JA
SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER SHINZO ABE'S BILATERAL MEETINGS ON 
G-8 MARGINS 
 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affiares, a.i., Joe Donovan.  Reasons 
1.4 b/d 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY:  Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's bilateral 
meetings on the margins of the G-8 Summit were successful in 
building support for Japan's bid to obtain a permanent seat 
on the UN Security Council, according to MOFA sources.  Abe 
also agreed to work together with the EU and other G-8 
countries in tackling climate change through development of a 
post-Kyoto Protocol framework.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (C) Prime Minsiter Shinzo Abe met bilaterally with other 
G-8 and EU leaders on the margins of the June 6-8 G-8 Summit. 
 Principle topics included bilateral relations, UNSC reform 
and Japan's bid for a permanent UNSC seat, climate change, 
China and the EU arms embargo, the Middle East, and North 
Korea, although time did not allow all topics to be covered 
in all meetings.  This message reports on Abe's discussions 
with Germany Chancellor Merkel, French President Sarkozy and 
EU leaders. 
 
------------------------------ 
Meeting with Chancellor Merkel 
------------------------------ 
 
¶3. (C) Bilateral Relations: Prime Minister Abe's June 5 
meeting with Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel went very 
well, and PM Abe believed he succeeded in achieving his 
objectives, MOFA Central aQ South Eastern Europe Division 
Deputy Director Tatsuya Machida told Embassy Tokyo Political 
Officer on June 11.  During their brief meeting, Abe and 
Merkel discussed Japan's partnership with Germany in the 2008 
Hanover Messe technological exposition and the Chancellor's 
plans to visit Japan this fall. 
 
¶4. (C) U.N. Security Council Reform: Japan's bid to become a 
permanent member of the UN Security Council was a major 
subject in Prime Minister Abe's meetings with Chancellor 
Merkel, since Japan and Germany, along with India and Brazil, 
comprise the "G-4" countries who have been working together 
in a joint effort to secure permanent UNSC membership.  The 
Chancellor initiated the conversation and suggested both 
countries take a more active role in UNSC reform efforts. 
The meeting reconfirmed Japan and Germany's commitment to 
pursue a joint approach within the G-4 context. 
 
¶5. (C) China: Chancellor Merkel asked Prime Minister Abe how 
he sees future relations between China and Japan.  The Prime 
Minister replied that relations are currently better than 
before, but that China should conduct its defense spending 
and economic development assistance in a more transparent 
manner.  Chancellor Merkel also asked if Prime Minister Abe 
thought China will join the G-8 in the near future.  Abe 
replied that it was too early. 
 
¶6. (C) Afghanistan and Lebanon: Chancellor Merkel raised with 
PM Abe the possibility of Japan and Germany working together 
to promote capacity building in Afghanistan and Lebanon.  She 
expressed concern about the reconstruction and recovery of 
these countries and said she would like to engage Japan in 
future development projects in the region. 
 
------------------------------ 
Meeting with President Sarkozy 
------------------------------ 
 
¶7. (C)  Bilateral Relations: Prime Minister Abe met with 
French President Nicolas Sarkozy June 6.  Abe's objective was 
to strengthen Japan-France relations through discussions on 
UN Security Council reform, climate change and the arms 
embargo to China, according to MOFA Western Europe Division 
Deputy Director Jun Imanishi.  Prime Minister Abe invited 
President Sarkozy to visit Japan this fiscal year to 
celebrate the 150th anniversary of active political and 
cultural ties between France and Japan. 
 
¶8. (C) U.N. Security Council Reform: The Japanese were 
satisfied with the outcome of Abe's discussion with President 
Sarkozy concerning reform of the UN Security Council.  Prime 
Minister Abe reviewed Japan's desire to become a permanent 
UNSC member and requested France's continued support. 
President Sarkozy expressed his support of Japan's desire to 
join the Security Council and indicated there would be no 
change from France's position on this underQrmer President 
Chirac. 
 
¶9. (C) North Korea: On the topic of Japan's security concerns 
about North Korea, Prime Minister Abe explained to President 
Sarkozy Japan's position on North Korea's nuclear program and 
the abduction issue.  Abe requested the backing of France on 
these positions and Sarkozy was generally supportive. 
 
¶10. (C) Climate Change:  Sarkozy stated he supports PM Abe's 
"Cool 50" initiative and said that both countries should 
continue to work together to create an effective and workable 
framework to deal with climate change. 
 
¶11. (C) China Arms Embargo: Prime Minister Abe expressed 
concern to President Sarkozy over China's growing defense 
budget.  Japan views this as a potential security threat and 
is worried about the possibilities of the EU lifting its arms 
embargo.  France, however, has historically been in support 
of removing restrictions against the sale of arms to China, 
Imanishi observed.  While France has differing views on this 
issue with Japan, Imanishi surmised that the EU' s strict 
rules concerning the sale of arms to China are unlikely to be 
eliminated in the near future.  Abe explained to Sarkozy that 
Japan wishes China to be a "responsible" power and to take a 
strong regional role commensurate with the level of its 
economic development. 
 
------------------- 
Meeting with the EU 
------------------- 
 
¶12. (C) The issue of climate change was the main focus of PM 
Abe's meeting June 5 with EU leaders German Chancellor Angela 
Merkel (Germany currently holds the EU Presidency) and 
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso in Berlin 
prior to the G-8 Summit.  MOFA Principal Deputy Director of 
the European Affairs Bureau Dr. Akima Umezawa told political 
officer that the major outcome of the meeting was commitment 
by both the EU and Japan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 
by half by the year 2050.  While the EU has traditionally 
taken a hard line approach to tackling climate change, 
Japan's position has been more "middle ground" and designed 
to encourage the participation of other large emitting 
countries such as the United States, InQ and China.  Japan 
and the EU have agreed to attack the climate change issue on 
a global level and will work together to create a post-Kyoto 
Protocol framework that ensures the involvement of all major 
greenhouse gas emitting countries. 
 
¶13. (C)  Prime Minister Abe explained to EU leaders Japan's 
standpoint on issues concerning North Korea. The EU reassured 
Abe that the EU fully understands Japan's position and 
supports it. 
DONOVAN