Newsletter No. 1388
News-Analysis
June 22, 2009

 

FOREIGN MINISTER NAKASONE SPEAKS AT LAST

This morning the Japanese government finally issued a reaction to everything that has occurred in Iran in the past ten days. Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone’s statement is very spare, and so far it has been issued only in Japanese language. Here is my translation of the full text:

1. In regard to our country’s position on the results of the presidential elections in the Islamic Republic of Iran, we believe that the government and people of Iran should exercise wisdom and cooperate to bring about a peaceful solution to the dispute.

2. In this context, we deeply regret the injuries and deaths that have occurred during the protests. We strongly demand that a peaceful solution be found and that the occurrence of such casualties be avoided.

3. Also, our country takes great interest in the Iranian system and the manner in which it is managed. In that respect, various opinions and debates should be appropriately respected.

Well, this may not be the speech of the century, but it is better than the silence that preceded it. At least Japan is now on record calling for peace.

On the other hand, this still pretty darn weak and deferential to the Khamenei dictatorship, is it not? There is no clear demand for the Iranian government hold free elections. There is no condemnation of security forces shooting down unarmed protestors, such as the now-famous slaughter of the young woman, Neda Agha Soltan. In short, Nakasone is calling for peace, but not for justice and democracy.

Analysis

The position that the Japanese government has taken is, in my view, outrageous, but we still must struggle to explain it.

We have seen Tokyo fall silent like this before. For example, there was the case during the 2006 Israeli attack throughout Lebanon in which Tokyo couldn’t even bring itself to call for a ceasefire. However, back then we could safely assume that the Bush administration was twisting the Koizumi administration’s arm and demanding that they keep quiet, as part of the US efforts to “hold the ring” and allow the Israeli army to do its business.

What has happened this week is clearly something different. President Obama himself spoke eloquently about the need for justice in Iran, so it is obvious that the decision to remain silent is coming from Tokyo, not Washington.

The Japanese government is concerned not to alienate the established government in Iran. That much is clear. But why is Tokyo being deferential to Tehran to this extreme degree? That point is much less clear. After all, in the past several years Tokyo has pulled out of the Azadegan oil partnership and taken an unreasonably tough line on the nuclear issue. In those cases, Tokyo didn’t seem to mind aggravating the sentiment of the Iranian government. So why are they being so sensitive now?

While pondering this question, I had terrible thought that I hope is not true. Could Japan’s posture be closely related to the candidacy of Yukiya Amano to head the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)? At latest word, Amano is once again the frontrunner for the post, but still needs to win over some developing countries which are afraid that he will represent only the Western priority of taking a hard line against alleged nuclear proliferators. The next election round is set for July 2nd.

Is it possible that Tokyo is tip-toeing around the current crisis in Iran in order to raise the chances of their man becoming director-general of the IAEA, a very prestigious position for a Japanese diplomat to occupy? I’d hate to believe that the Japanese government is quite that self-interested and indifferent to the suffering of others, but judging by the record of Japanese governments in recent years, I cannot exactly rule it out either.

Can anyone think of other possible explanations?

Protests at Iranian Embassy

The Japan Times reported that about two hundred people attended a rally on the 20th near the Iranian Embassy in Tokyo. The gathering consisted mostly of Iranian residents of Japan, including a group of Iranian university students, researchers, business owners, and company workers. The protestors shouted, “Ahmadinejad, you are a bunch of dust, you’re nothing, you’re not Iranian.” One of the protestors explained, “We want freedom, we want democracy in my country.”

The protesters wanted to stage a rally in front of the embassy, but were told by Japanese police that they could only march from a nearby bridge to the embassy in groups of five. Many of the protesters were wearing masks and sunglasses to prevent authorities from identifying them.

STORIES FROM THE PREVIOUS ERA

One way or another, Iran will not be the same country after the events of the past ten days, but we must still report some stories on Japan-Iran relations that occurred in the previous era, before the latest crisis.

Mohammad Nahavandian, chairman of Iran’s Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Mines, was in Tokyo in late May. During a meeting in Tokyo with House of Councillors member Kotaro Tamura, who is a strong supporter of Iran-Japan economic ties, Nahavandian stated that Japanese companies could invest in establishing banks in Iran, marine transport, as well as in the oil sector. Tamura said that Iran is a powerful country in Asia and expressed hope that Japan would strengthen its cordial ties with Tehran. As of that time, he was planning to travel to Iran to review the trade opportunities in the Islamic Republic. Tamura, of the LDP, hails from Tottori Prefecture. We have mentioned his Iran-related activities once before in Newsletter No. 1140. While in Japan, Nahavandian also met with Yasuo Hayashi of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Iranian businessmen in Japan, and Professor Mohammad Naqizadeh, an Iranian economist.

Shirin Nezammafi, the 29-year-old Iranian writer who won the Bungakukai Shinjinsho, has continued to garner media attention. In late May, she was quoted as saying, “Wars are normal in Iran. But I thought it would put a fresh slant on it by writing about it in Japanese… Writing is very normal for me. I was blessed to meet friends, teachers, and superiors in Japan.” In another interview in early May, she described her reaction to winning the literary award: “I am elated because I didn’t expect to win it.”

US Government Officials, it was revealed in mid-May, had asked Tokyo to suspend the visit of Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone to Iran, which occurred at the beginning of May (see Newsletter No. 1354). The reason that US officials wanted Nakasone’s visit cancelled was in retaliation for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s remarks at a Geneva conference in which he described Israel as “racist.” Despite the American view, Tokyo decided to go forward with the visit. They explained, “It was not a strong request.”

Professor Hashem Rajabzadeh, currently teaching at Rikkyo University, was presented an order of merit by the Japanese government in May. Rajabzadeh, 68, holds a PhD in political science from Tehran University, and has been teaching in Japan for several decades. He is familiar to many Shingetsu Members as a noted author on the history of Japan-Iran relations.

MOFA STATEMENT

Foreign Ministers’ Telephone Conversation between Japan and the Islamic Republic of Iran
May 18, 2009

On May 18 (Monday), 2009 (JST), Minister for Foreign Affairs Hirofumi Nakasone gave a telephone call to Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran H. E. Mr. Manouchehr Mottaki. It continued for about 20 minutes from 5:50 p.m.

Minister Nakasone began by expressing his thanks for the kind treatment he received during his recent visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran from May 2 (Saturday) to 3 (Sunday). He said that he hoped this visit would lead to the further development of high-level dialogues between Japan and Iran, and asked Minister Mottaki to convey his best wishes to President Ahmadinejad. Minister Nakasone then expressed his happiness that Ms. Roxana Saberi had been freed, and shared his approval of the Government of Iran’s appropriate conclusion to this matter.

In response, Minister Mottaki said that the reexamination of Ms. Saberi’s case took place at the time of Minister Nakasone’s visit to Iran, and that he was happy with the judgment passed by the Judiciary. He then pointed out the importance of putting into practice Japan and Iran’s agreement, which was entered into when Minister Nakasone visited Iran, to cooperate in regards to supporting Afghanistan. He also said that a summit meeting of the Iranian, Afghan, and Pakistani presidents is scheduled to be held in Tehran soon.

Minister Nakasone said that he wanted to steadily proceed in cooperating to support Afghanistan, and that it was essential to breed constructive cooperative relationships between nations in the area for regional stability. He said that Japan greatly appreciated Iran’s efforts and hoped that the summit of the Iranian, Afghan, and Pakistani presidents will contribute to regional peace and stability. In addition, he once again pointed out the necessity for Iran’s proactive actions regarding Iran-U.S. relations and Iran’s nuclear issue. As an example, he encouraged Iran to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and to positively work for conclusion of the IAEA Additional Protocol.

Minister Mottaki responded that Iran was fulfilling that responsibility by participating in a variety of international treaties and frameworks such as the NPT and IAEA, but that Iran was not being given sufficient benefits. He said that if other countries respected Iran’s rights, Iran would be able to take new steps forward.

In conclusion, Minister Nakasone said that he hoped to maintain close relations in the future as well, which Minister Mottaki also agreed to.