Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the Recent Situation in Lebanon

June 25, 1999

Japan has been concerned over the recent intensified fighting in Southern Lebanon, and deplores the fact that the Hezbollah's rocket attacks on the northern part of Israel on June 24 and the Israeli Air Force's air strikes on Lebanon including the power station on the outskirts of Beirut, have heightened the tension in Lebanon, causing civilian casualties.
Japan is concerned that such deterioration in the situation in Lebanon has a negative effect upon the environment surrounding the Middle East peace process at a time when Prime Minister-elect Mr. Barak is trying to form a new cabinet and the Middle East peace process is expected to be activated. The Government of Japan urges all the parties to immediately suspend the use of force, and to exert maximum self-restraint in order to avoid further deterioration of the situation.
Japan has been actively calling on the parties concerned to make further efforts to restore peace in the region, as shown in the Four-Point Proposal on Southern Lebanon, and it intends to continue such efforts vigorously.

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