Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the President Bush's remarks on dispatching General Zinni to the region

March 6, 2002

Japan welcomes that President Bush of the United States, who plays an important role in the Middle East Peace Process, announced to dispatch General Zinni again to work with Israel and Palestinians to begin implementing the Tenet workplan and expressed its determination to actively engage in the peace process.
Japan strongly urges both parties, without missing this opportunity, to take actions to end the tragically-intensified vicious circle of violence and to resume the negotiation in accordance with the Tenet workplan and the Mitchell Report.
Japan welcomes the initiative proposed by Prince Abdullah as a new and important step for the progress in the Middle East Peace Process, and will actively support any efforts for peace which make the best use of the momentum created by the initiative.

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