US embassy cable - 05TELAVIV2532

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 002532 
 
SIPDIS 
 
USEPA FOR INTERNATIONAL 
NAIROBI PASS U.S. REP TO UNEP 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/2015 
TAGS: SENV, PREL, EAID, KPAL, IS, JA, ENVIRONMENT, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 
SUBJECT: MEPP ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP:  RENEWED 
JAPANESE INTEREST 
 
REF: A. TOKYO 1838 (NOTAL) 
 
     B. 04 TOKYO 2066 (NOTAL) 
 
Classified By: Acting Econ Counselor Clark Price, reasons 1.4 b and d. 
 
1. (C) Summary:  NEA Senior S&T Advisor Charles Lawson 
discussed renewed Japanese interest in leading the 
Multilateral Peace Process Environment Working Group with 
Japanese DCM, GOI Minister of Environment, and GOI MFA 
Director for Multilateral Peace Talks Coordination.  Lawson 
suggested re-engaging in the Drylands Management Initiative, 
sponsoring environmental training courses, and organizing an 
informal meeting of selected members of the Working Group as 
ways Japan could resume its leadership of the Environmental 
Working Group.  End summary. 
 
2. (C) NEA Senior S&T Advisor Charles Lawson met in Tel Aviv 
April 5 with Japanese Embassy Minister Counselor and Deputy 
Chief of Mission Hideo Sato at the latter's request to 
discuss renewed Japanese interest in leading the Multilateral 
Peace Process Environmental Working Group.  In their 
discussions, Lawson noted that Japan could become more 
substantively involved in the Drylands Management Initiative 
by sending a representative from Tokyo to the June meeting in 
Paris to meet other donors and participants.  Lawson also 
noted that Japan had sponsored environmental training courses 
for the Working Group in the past and could consider 
developing a new course for the core parties (Israel, Jordan, 
and the Palestinians).  As for reconvening the Working Group, 
Lawson and Sato discussed the possibility of Japan organizing 
an informal meeting of the most interested parties later this 
year or early in 2006.  Sato said these seemed to be good 
ideas for Japan's renewal of its leadership of the WG, and 
that he would discuss them with Tokyo.  (Note:  Sato may be 
transferring back to Tokyo for a MEPP-related assignment this 
summer.  Also, it appeared that Sato's interest in Japanese 
re-engagement in multilateral environment activities is his 
own initiative for the moment and not yet approved by Tokyo. 
End note). 
 
3. (C) Lawson and MFA Director for Multilateral Peace Talks 
Coordination and Water Issues Yaacov Keidar discussed renewed 
Japanese interest in the Working Group in Jerusalem April 5. 
Keidar and Sato had met earlier and discussed ideas along the 
lines above.  Keidar had also suggested an informal 
brainstorming session, like one the WG had in 1999, in 
advance of attempting to reconvene the entire Working Group. 
 
4. (C) Lawson discussed the issue of renewed Japanese 
interest in the Environment Working Group with Minister of 
Environment Shalom Simhon in Jerusalem April 6.  Simhom 
expressed his support for Japanese interest and in moving 
Working Group activities forward.  International Affairs 
Director Ori Livne told Lawson that she and senior Ministry 
officials would be in touch with Japanese counterparts. 
 
 
 
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