US embassy cable - 05PARIS1935

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 001935 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, TRGY, FR, JA, IZ 
SUBJECT: PREVIEW OF CHIRAC'S MARCH 25-28 JAPAN TRIP 
 
REF: A. PARIS 1588 
     B. SEOUL 1456 
 
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt for reaso 
ns 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C) SUMMARY:  President Chirac leaves March 25 for a 
three-day visit to Japan, at which the main topics of 
bilateral discussion will be ITER and the EU's China arms 
embargo, according to French officials.  Also to be discussed 
are North Korea, Iraq, the EU-3's negotiations with Iran, 
Japan's campaign to win a seat on the UNSC, and economic 
cooperation.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2.  (C) Poloff met with MFA Japan desk officer Stephane 
Louhaur March 22 for a preview of President Chirac's March 
25-28 trip to Japan.  The main topics of the bilateral 
exchange will be ITER, the EU's efforts to lift the China's 
arms embargo, North Korea, and Iraq; economic cooperation 
will also be discussed.  Accompanying him will be Minister of 
Economy and Finance Thierry Breton and Minister Delegate for 
Research Francois d'Aubert, as well as some 20 businessmen. 
Separately, Chirac's East Asia advisor told us that ITER and 
the China arms embargo were the two principal subjects for 
discussion with the Japanese, as far as the French presidency 
was concerned. 
 
3.  (C) The MFA noted that the two sides will issue a joint 
declaration, and that Chirac will emphasize France's support 
for a Japanese seat on the UN Security Council, noting the 
window of opportunity approaching with this September's 
Millenium UNGA.  The declaration will also contain a 
statement on Franco-Japanese high tech cooperation, 
especially as it relates to sustainable development. (Chirac 
will attend the Aichi Expo, which has for its theme 
sustainable development.) 
 
4.  (C) On the stalled negotiations regarding the siting of 
the proposed multibillion dollar International Thermonuclear 
Experimental Reactor project (ITER), the MFA noted that 
Chirac wanted to raise the discussion to the highest 
political level.  When queried as to whether Chirac planned 
to respond to the most recent Japanese offer, the MFA 
demurred and noted that Chirac himself was not bringing any 
particular offer.  It's hard to know, Louhaur said, whether 
anything concrete will result.  (Comment: The MFA Japan desk 
officer's comments are consistent with what France's chief 
ITER negotiator, Bernard Bigot from the Atomic Energy 
Commission, recently told EST Counselor.  He said that the 
technical and financial issues regarding ITER between the EU 
and Japan had been fully explored between the two sides. All 
that remained was a political decision.  End Comment) 
 
5.  (C) On the EU China arms embargo, Louhaur said that the 
visit would provide a good opportunity to explain to the 
Japanese what the EU intends to do -- that is, according to 
the French, not just to lift the embargo, but to develop 
other steps (code of conduct, toolbox) which serve as 
effective controls on EU exports to China.  Louhaur implied 
that these devices would alleviate any concerns about lifting 
the embargo.  "We are conscious of the security situation in 
the region," he said, "and we want to show that we are paying 
attention to China's neighbors, who are the first concerned." 
 He said Chirac would also tell the Japanese that the French 
are prepared to hold consultations on the issue with the 
Japanese to allay their concerns. 
 
6.  (C)  On North Korea's nuclear program, Louhaur noted the 
importance of the question for regional security as well, and 
said that the French would be looking to push European policy 
on this issue.  He also asserted that the French had long 
supported the Japanese on the kidnappings issue, and that 
Chirac would bring the message that France would continue to 
do so, publicly.  Louhaur noted that the two sides would also 
discuss Iran, saying that the Japanese are very interested in 
the EU-3's efforts to negotiate with the Iranians. Louhaur 
noted that the Iranians are an unpredictable regime but 
observed that the DPRK is even more so. 
 
7. (C) Iraq will also be a subject of discussion.  Louhaur 
referred to the joint declaration on Iraq dating from 
then-foreign minister Villepin's spring 2004 visit to Japan, 
in which the two sides had declared themselves ready to 
cooperate on reconstruction -- beyond physical 
reconstruction, he emphasized.  He noted that not much had 
come of the pledge, but said that now, little by little, 
projects are beginning to take form, especially proposals to 
conduct training outside of Iraq.  "We bring our 
savoir-faire," he said, "especially in archaeology or water 
management."  The French side, therefore, apparently hopes to 
achieve more to this end in conjunction with the Japanese 
during the visit.  Louhaur noted that Chirac will not be 
extending his trip in Japan to take some personal time, as 
had initially been the plan; instead, he will be back in 
Paris by Tuesday morning March 29. 
Leach