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Meeting between Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Ichiro Aisawa and Government Officials of the Republic of the Sudan and Members of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM)

March 16, 2005

On March 16, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Ichiro Aisawa held a meeting with State Minister at the Presidency Yahia Hussein Babiker of the Government of the Republic of the Sudan, Pagan Amum Okiech of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM/A) who served as the leader of the delegation at the Core Coordinating Group (CCG) meeting, and others. A summary of the meeting is as follows.

1. Senior Vice-Minister Aisawa noted his visit to Sudan last December and welcomed the visit by the representatives of both parties--the Government of Sudan and the SPLM--who are working towards peace between the north and the south in Sudan. Senior Vice-Minister Aisawa further welcomed the conclusion of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) to end Sudan's north-south civil war, which had persisted over 20 years, and asked the two representatives to implement the CPA without delay to achieve a consolidation of peace in Sudan. Senior Vice-Minister Aisawa also shared his expectation for a resolution of the Darfur issue.
   
   Senior Vice-Minister Aisawa remarked that Japan intended to contribute actively to the consolidation of peace in Sudan and to consider possible assistance in preparation for the donor conference on reconstruction assistance scheduled to be held in Oslo this April. Senior Vice-Minister Aisawa emphasized that the people of Sudan needed to play the central role in building a new Sudan.
2. In response to these comments, the Sudanese side stated that this was the first joint official visit to Japan by the two parties that are working towards peace between the north and the south in Sudan, and they expressed their appreciation for Japan's warm welcome. Furthermore, the representatives remarked that all the people of Sudan, both in the north and the south, were committed to the CPA signed on January 9.
   
   In addition, the Sudanese side noted that while they were aware of the need to improve the living standard and condition of the people following the country's internal conflict, Sudan was highly encouraged by the fact that Japan, a true friend of Sudan that has not interfered in the country's past activities, has a strong interest in providing assistance to Sudan. The Sudanese side also expressed its expectation of Japanese investment in their country in addition to the provision of aid, while emphasizing that it was very reassuring that Sudan would be able to engage in reconstruction activities together with Japan. The representatives also stated that learning from Japan's experience of economic recovery in its post-war period would be beneficial to Sudan.