Opening Statement by
State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Masahiko Koumura
at the Press Conference in the Dominican Republic

21 March 1997

[Meaningful Exchange of Views as a Special Envoy of Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto]

From March 17 through today, I visited the Republic of Peru, the Republic of Cuba and the Dominican Republic as a special envoy of Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto in order to discuss cooperation for a peaceful resolution to the hostage-taking at the Japanese Ambassador's Residence in Peru, and had a meaningful exchange of views with the leaders of each of these countries.

[Meeting with President Alberto Fujimori of the Republic of Peru]

In the meeting with President Alberto Fujimori of Peru:

(1) I handed a letter from Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto directly to President Fujimori.

(2) We reaffirmed the agreement reached at the summit meeting in Toronto to intensify efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution to this incident and secure the full release of all the hostages at the earliest possible time without giving in to terrorism.

(3) I requested the Government of Peru to expedite the dialogue as much as possible, taking full account of the fact that three months have already passed since the incident began.

On all of these points, I received the understanding of President Fujimori.

[Visits to Cuba and the Dominican Republic and President Fujimori's Support]

Furthermore, in the meeting with President Fujimori, he supported my visits to Cuba and the Dominican Republic. The Government of Japan appreciates that President Fujimori has received indications of cooperation from the leaders of both of these countries in regards to the issue of the exit.

In preparation for a final agreement between the parties concerned and the departure of the MRTA members to these countries, the Government of Japan, paying full respect to the positions of the two countries, intends to request their support.

[Meeting with Ambassador Vincent, Mr. Minnig and Archbishop Cipriani]

I also met with Ambassador of Canada to Peru Anthony Vincent and local Director Michel Minnig of the International Committee of the Red Cross, both members of the Commission of Guarantors, as well as with members of the Government of Peru, and had a phone conversation with Archbishop Juan Luis Cipriani. In these various discussions, we reaffirmed that efforts would be made mutually for an early resolution, and achieved meaningful exchanges of views.

[Hostage Families]

Furthermore, I met with the families and colleagues of the hostages, and this reaffirmed my determination to achieve the quickest possible resolution.

[Cuba and the Dominican Republic]

In Cuba and the Dominican Republic, I met respectively with President of the Council of State Fidel Castro and President Fernandez; I handed a letter from Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto directly to each, and requested their cooperation for a peaceful resolution of this situation.

In the meetings with President Castro and President Fernandez, I received a positive response to accept the MRTA members from a humanitarian perspective, in the case that a final agreement is reached as a result of dialogue between the Government of Peru and the MRTA and that their countries are selected as a destination to resolve this situation in a peaceful manner.

[Conclusion]

Through a friendly and candid exchange of views with President Fujimori on this visit, we shared views on the following points:

(1) the fundamental policy of finding an early and peaceful resolution to this situation

(2) the importance of cooperation between our two countries to achieve this goal.

Also, it was confirmed through meetings with the leaders of Cuba and the Dominican Republic that both countries would provide cooperation for a peaceful resolution. I strongly hope that the efforts of all of the people concerned will achieve early progress and that expediting the dialogue will contribute to the quickest possible resolution.