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

April 5, 2002

Japan welcomes that President Bush of the United States, who plays an important role in the Middle East peace process, announced on April 4th that it calls upon Israel and the Palestinians to reach an immediate ceasefire and that it will dispatch Secretary of State Colin Powell to the region next week to work with both parties to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1402, as it clearly demonstrated to both parties, the countries concerned and the international community that the United States would positively engage in the peace process.
Japan strongly urges both parties, without missing this opportunity, to sever the vicious circle of violence and to resume the negotiation, through a ceasefire agreement and withdrawal of the Israeli Defense Force from the Palestinian controlled areas as soon as possible.
For that purpose, Japan is willing to provide support and assistance as much as possible for the Israelis, the Palestinians, and the countries concerned.

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