Cablegate: Wirec: Japan Undecided, Suggests Minister-Level

VZCZCXYZ0002
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKO #4883 2920245
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 190245Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8722
INFO RHMCSUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

UNCLAS TOKYO 004883

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR OES SPECHT AND HILL
DEPT FOR EAP/J WEBSTER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ENRG SENV SOCI TRGY KPAO KGHG KSCA JA
SUBJECT: WIREC: JAPAN UNDECIDED, SUGGESTS MINISTER-LEVEL
INVITATION

REF: STATE 138428

1. (SBU) As requested in reftel, Post contacted the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) about GOJ participation at
the March 2008 Washington International Renewable Energy
Conference (WIREC 2008). According to Eriko Hamashiro of
MOFA's Economic Security Division, the GOJ is unlikely to
decide before January or February on the composition of an
official delegation to WIREC 2008. However, she acknowledged
the USG's "more aggressive" promotion of the event may prompt
the GOJ to send higher level officials to WIREC 2008 than to
the last global ministerial-level event on renewable energy
in Beijing in 2005. Japan's delegation to the Beijing event
did not include ministerial participation and was headed by a
Deputy Director General official.

2. (SBU) In a later conversation, Hamashiro suggested an
invitation from the Secretary to MOFA Minister Komura,
indicating that broad ministerial participation is
encouraged, would help MOFA facilitate attendance from the
Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI), the Ministry
of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF), and the
Ministry of the Environment (MOE).
SCHIEFFER

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