Statement by the Press Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, on the Situation in Mali

April 9, 2012
Japanese

Japan welcomes the signing of a Framework Agreement toward restoration of constitutional order in Mali through the mediation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Japan hopes that parties concerned will implement the Framework Agreement in good faith, and that constitutional order will be restored promptly.
Additionally, Japan condemns the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA)'s occupation of Mali's northern region by violence and its declaration of independence of the region. Japan supports the African Union's position which commit is to Mali's national unity and territorial integrity, based on the fundamental principle of the respect of borders existing on achievement of independence. Japan hopes that the situation will be resolved swiftly on the basis of the principles of Mali's territorial integrity.

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

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