CONFIDENTIAL
да
A
fa Middle-East (S).
CONFIDENTIAL
FM TOKYO
HKB 020/26
REC
1001990
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 640
INDALA
OF 060755Z AUGUST 90
INFO IMMEDIATE UKMIS NEW YORK, WASHINGTON
20
032653 MDHIAN 1610
15
are obtain
Neal Can me
a copy of TYR?
& copy boty 8.
INFO PRIORITY MIDDLE EAST POSTS, EC POSTS, MOSCOW, PEKING
MY TELNO 639:
SUMMARY
1.
+
IRAQ/KUWAIT
JAPAN ANNOUNCES SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ. KAIFU DETERMINED TO KEEP IN STEP WITH US AND EC.
DETAIL
2.
AFTER FURTHER CONSULTATIONS ON 3-4 AUGUST KAIFU INSTRUCTED THE CABINET OFFICE TO CALL A MEETING OF MFA, MOF AND MITI OFFICIALS ON 5 AUGUST TO DISCUSS SANCTIONS. ARIMA (PLEASE PROTECT), WHO CHAIRED THE MEETING, TOLD ME THAT THE PRIME MINISTER WANTED TO PUT SANCTIONS IN PLACE
BEFORE A SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION. HE WANTED JAPAN'S
MEASURES TO BE IN STEP WITH OTHER MAJOR COUNTRIES. THE EC DECISION AND PRESIDENT BUSH'S TELEPHONE CALL (4 AUGUST
JAPAN TIME) WERE THEREFORE IMPORTANT FACTORS. FOLLOWING
THE CABINET OFFICE MEETING KAIFU MET WITH THE THREE
MINISTERS AND ACCEPTED THE OFFICIALS PROPOSALS, STRENGTHENING ONLY THE TEXT ON THE EXPORT EMBARGO. (TEXT IN TUR.)
3.
F
ARIMA SAID THAT JAPAN HAD TWO CONCERNS. FIRST HOW TO PROTECT HER NATIONALS, AS SHE HAD NO MEANS TO DO SO. SECOND WHERE TO OBTAIN ALTERNATIVE OIL SUPPLIES. THIS WAS
A PRIME CONCERN OF MITI AND LED TO MITI'S INITIALLY CAUTIOUS
LINE ON THE SANCTIONS PACKAGE. NONETHELESS THE MEETING HAD ENDED WITH THE FULL AGREEMENT OF ALL MINISTERS.
COMMENT
4. THERE IS PREDICTABLE CONCERN, ALTHOUGH MUTED AS YESTERDAY WAS A PRESS HOLIDAY FROM BUSINESS CIRCLES OVER THE ECONOMIC IMPACT HERE OF SANCTIONS. NOT ONLY DOES JAPAN DEPEND HEAVILY ON IRAQ/KUWAIT OIL BUT IS ALSO A SUBSTANTIAL EXPORTER TO IRAQ OF PLANT AND MACHINERY. THIS, OF COURSE, MAKES THE DECISION TO BAN EXPORTS ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT. KAIFU'S WILLINGNESS TO TAKE A FIRM LINE IS WELCOME EVIDENCE
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CONFIDENTIAL