Cablegate: Climate Change and Human Rights: Demarche Delivered

VZCZCXRO8021
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #0609 0670736
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 070736Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 8728
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 3262
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2328
INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA PRIORITY 6529
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA PRIORITY 5062
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA PRIORITY 8922
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE PRIORITY 0197
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO PRIORITY 7132

UNCLAS TOKYO 000609

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

IO/RHS FOR REBECCA JOVIN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KGHG UNHRC JA
SUBJECT: CLIMATE CHANGE AND HUMAN RIGHTS: DEMARCHE DELIVERED

REF: STATE 19889

1. (SBU) Post sent reftel points to the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs (MOFA) February 29 and followed-up with MOFA Human
Rights Division Principal Deputy Director Takako Ito March 7.
Ito said since the Maldives has held only one informal
meeting on its proposal and climate change could have an
impact on human rights, "it is not currently our position to
drop" the resolution. However, Japan's "policy priority" for
the HRC is zero budget growth, so the study the Maldives is
proposing could become a problem once more details come out.
Ito also assured ESTOff Japan understands U.S. concerns and
"we know when" to take a stand against an HRC proposal if it
appears it will become detrimental to negotiations going on
elsewhere.
SCHIEFFER

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