Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi to Visit Countries in Europe and the Middle East

April 26, 2002

Ms. Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs, will visit the United Kingdom (U.K.), Belgium, Afghanistan and Iran from April 28 (Sun) to May 6 (Mon).
During her stay in the U.K., Ms. Kawaguchi will exchange views on the situation in the Middle East, Afghanistan and other regions with Mr. Jack Straw, Foreign Secretary, and then on the Kyoto Protocol and the Johannesburg Summit (World Summit on Sustainable Development) with Mr. John Prescott, Deputy Prime Minister. Minister will also exchange views with them on how to advance future cooperation between Japan and the U.K., with a view to strengthening bilateral relations.
In Belgium, Ms. Kawaguchi will exchange views with Mr. Christopher Patten, Commissioner in charge of External Relations of the European Commission, and Mr. Javier Solana, Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union/High representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) respectively, on the situation in the Middle East, Afghanistan and other regions, as well as on the strengthening of Japan-EU relations including the implementation of the Action Plan for EU-Japan Cooperation.
In Afghanistan, Ms. Kawaguchi will have talks with leaders of the Interim Authority and visit sites where rehabilitation assistance for Afghanistan is being carried out. When meeting with the leaders, she will urge them to implement the peace process on their own initiative as the holding of the Emergency Loya Jirga is approaching, and convey Japan's intention to assist Afghanistan to the government and people of the country.
In Iran, Ms. Kawaguchi will exchange views with government leaders on the Afghan situation and cooperation on assistance for Afghanistan. She will also convey Japan's support for Iran's reform policy and will discuss how to strengthen bilateral relations, and urge them to play a constructive role in the international community on such regional or international issues as the Middle East peace process and the development of weapons of mass destruction.

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