Cablegate: T Letter of Thanks to Deputy Foreign Minister

VZCZCXYZ0028
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #1384 2111425
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 291420Z JUL 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY TOKYO IMMEDIATE 5347

UNCLAS STATE 081384

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNNP MNUC PARM PREL JA
SUBJECT: T LETTER OF THANKS TO DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER
SASAE FOR HIS ROLE IN PSI 5TH ANNIVERSARY

REF: STATE 023570

1. SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND: Japanese Deputy Minister for
Foreign Affairs Kenichiro Sasae led a panel on efforts to
strengthen international frameworks at the Senior-Level
Meeting for all Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI)
endorsing states held May 28, 2008, in Washington, DC, on the
occasion of the PSI's Fifth Anniversary. This panel
addressed how new treaties and frameworks support the PSI;
and how the PSI can fill gaps and assist in examining and
strengthening national legal authorities and applicable
international law. It included statements and presentations
by representatives of Canada, Australia, the United Arab
Emirates, and Spain. The PSI Senior-Level Meeting was
attended by representatives of 85 countries, almost all of
the 92 states that have endorsed the PSI.

2. ACTION REQUESTED: Embassy is requested to deliver under
appropriate cover the following letter from Acting Under
Secretary John Rood to Deputy Minister Sasae, thanking him
for his leading role in the PSI Fifth Anniversary
Senior-Level Meeting. The State Department does not plan to
release the text of this message but has no objection if the
Government of Japan wishes to do so. There will be no signed
original.

3. Begin text of letter:

Dear Mr. Sasae:

On behalf of the U.S. Government, I want to thank you for
introducing and leading the panel "Efforts to Strengthen
International Frameworks" at the May 28, 2008 Senior-Level
Meeting of Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI)
participants in Washington DC. Your leadership of the panel
made an important contribution to the success of the meeting.

I believe the PSI Fifth Anniversary Senior-Level Meeting was
very successful in reaffirming the strong commitment of the
PSI partner states to respond to the WMD proliferation
challenge. It also provided the participants from 85
countries an opportunity to strengthen communication with one
another. We hope this event will result in expanded
participation in PSI activities, particularly on a regional
basis. The United States recognizes that Japan plays a
significant role in the PSI, and we greatly appreciate your
Government's continued efforts and contributions to advancing
the PSI goals.

Sincerely,

John C. Rood
Acting Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and
International Security

End text of letter.

4. POINTS OF CONTACT: Washington points of contact on the
PSI are Jane Purcell, e-mail: PurcelJa@state.gov,
202-647-6186; and Carlos Guzman, e-mail: GuzmanCS@state.gov,
202-647-6320. Department appreciates Post's assistance.
RICE

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