Statement by Mr. Seiji Maehara, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, on the situation in Egypt

January 29, 2011
Japanese

Japan is deeply concerned about the casualties caused by the clashes between demonstrators and security forces in various cities across Egypt from Tuesday, January 25.
Japan calls on the Government of Egypt to refrain from any violence against peaceful demonstrators. Japan also calls on the people of Egypt to refrain from violence, to control themselves and to act with responsibility in the way that does not affect the civil life.
Japan attaches great importance to the role of Egypt for peace and stability in the whole Middle Eastern and African region and strongly hopes that the Government of Egypt will start urgently to engage with its people and restore the political stability and the clam daily life of the people through advancing reforms in a way that gains support from a wide range of the people. Regarding President Mubarak’s speech about his intention to carry out political reforms, Japan hopes that the President will implement reforms which gain support of a wide range of the people.
In view of the blocking of means of communication causing great anxiety and inconvenience among people, Japan urges the Government of Egypt to reverse this measure.

(*This is a provisional translation. The above date denotes the date of the issue of the original press release in Japanese.)

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