The Visit to the State of Bahrain and the Sultanate of Oman of Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Seishiro Eto
(Outline and Evaluation)
22 March 2001
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
1. The significance of the visit
The visit was of extreme importance as a demonstration of Japan's commitment to the maintenance and promotion of bilateral relations with the State of Bahrain and the Sultanate of Oman as no high-ranking official from the Japanese Government has visited these two countries recently. (The (then) State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Nobutaka Machimura visited Bahrain in 1999 as a Special Envoy to express condolences at the demise of the former Amir).
2. Schedule
| Date: | 17 to 21 March | |
| Countries visited: | Bahrain, Oman |
3. Talks and courtesy visits
Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Eto had talks with, or paid courtesy visits to, the Head of State or important figures thereof in both Bahrain and Oman.
| [Bahrain] | Prime Minister H.H. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed Bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, and Chairman of the Shura Council, Ibrahim Humaidan. | |
| [Oman] | Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yousef bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister of Oil and Gas Mohammed bin Hamad bin Saif al Rumhy, Minister of Commerce and Industry Maqboul bin Ali bin Sultan, and Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Ahmed bin Khalfan al Rowahi. |
4. Evaluation
(1) In respect of Bahrain, following the visit to Japan in February this year of Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, the time was ripe for a strengthening of bilateral relations between Japan and Bahrain. In this context, this visit played a significant part in further ensuring the momentum of strengthening relations at a high-level. The timing of the visit was highly effective, following soon after the adoption by an overwhelming majority of the "National Charter," which will determine the future path of Bahrain's democratization, and coming immediately after the judgment of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the Bahrain / Qatar boundary was delivered, thus enabling Japan to convey directly to Bahrain its appreciation of Bahrain's transition to a democratic regime and welcome of the peaceful settlement of border issues.
(2) In Oman, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Eto successfully held practical, in-depth talks with four leading Cabinet Ministers, which were extremely effective as the first stage in the follow-up to the Kono Initiative declared on the visit of Foreign Minister Kono to Gulf countries in January.
In particular, the meeting with Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Alawi was an in-depth exchange of views on the regional situation including the situation in Iraq and the Middle East as Oman prepares for the impending Arab summit.
The meetings with the Cabinet Ministers confirmed the favorable relations between Japan and Oman in a wide range of areas, with the Omani side expressing its expectation that Japan will henceforth play a major role in the Middle East, and in particular its hopes of the Kono Initiative which contributes to the further extension of relations between Japan and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
(3) Taking place soon after the introduction by Foreign Minister Kono of the Kono Initiative to the Gulf countries in January this year, the visit of Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Eto to Oman and Bahrain, which involved meetings with key, high-level figures from both countries, enhancing the reputation of Japan's policy on the Gulf region, proved a major success in further promoting Japan's partnership of friendship and cooperation with Bahrain and Oman.
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