Speech by Ambassador Arima
Representative of the Government of Japan
at the Conference to Support Middle East Peace and Development
November 30, 1998
First of all, on behalf of my government, I should like to thank President Clinton and Secretary of State Albright, and Government of the United States for successfully bringing about the Wye River Agreement. This agreement would not have been, but for their commitment and endeavors. His Majesty King Hussein Bin Talal of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has also played a unique and moving role in nurturing the sense of mutual trust throughout the negotiations, for which we are deeply grateful.
This month, we witnessed the first stage of the redeployment of Israeli Forces in the West Bank being commenced. The welcoming voice of Palestinian residents is heard throughout the world. The scene of airplanes arriving at the Gaza international airport has attracted global and admiring attention. We are glad to see the agreement reached after such arduous negotiations bearing tangible results. We Japanese, based on our post-war experiences, would appeal to the leaders of the two sides that building peace with your neighbors through the current peace process is the most realistic and perhaps the only way to achieve peaceful and stable life for themselves. What is most important now is that both sides work faithfully and earnestly on the final status negotiations, while building and strengthening the relations of trust. I would like to urge both sides to proceed with the process with prudence, without taking unilateral actions.
Japan has been exerting utmost efforts to help the process toward achieving a comprehensive peace in the Middle East. In addition to directly urging the parties concerned to commit themselves toward peace, we have been making efforts in the Multilateral track, particularly in serving as the chair of the Working Group on Environment. We have also kept Japanese staffs on duty in UNDOF (United Nations Disengagement Observer Force) in the Golan Heights. I should like to remind you that in 1996 Mr. Obuchi, now our Prime Minister, led the Japanese monitoring mission for the election of the Palestinian Council. Above all, recognizing that the smooth implementation of Palestinian self-governing is essential to the realization of peace, we have taken part in the efforts of the international community to support the Palestinians. Over the five-year period from 1993 to the present, we have extended assistance amounting to more than US$ 370 million. To sustain the momentum attained by the Wye River Agreement, Japan intends to continue its assistance to the Palestinians. Based on our contributions to date, Japan would like to extend up to US$ 200 million equivalent of assistance to the Palestinians over the next two years. At the same time, we will continue our assistance to Jordan, so that the peace dividend will equally be shared by the people of Jordan. Cooperation and coordination among donors will continue to be important in implementing efficient and effective assistance. Japan would like to play an active role in cooperating among donors through such mechanisms as the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC).
In more concrete terms, Japan will extend assistance to the following priority areas. Thus far, Japan's assistance has been focused on the support to the Start-up and institutional capacity building of the Palestinian Authority, basic infrastructure, Palestinians refugees, and emergency assistance for employment promotion. In the coming years, in addition to the areas just mentioned, we would like to pay closer attention to human resources development in the areas of education and health, assistance for improved governance of the Palestinian Authority, for the environment, promotion of cultural exchange through sports, youth exchanges and other activities, and assistance for industrial promotion.
Recognizing the urgent need to support implementation of the Wye River Agreement, the Government of Japan hopes that part of our contribution would support, as promptly as possible through UNDP, such projects as would contribute to securing safe passage between the West Bank and Gaza as stated in the Wye River Agreement.
Given Japan's very difficult economic and financial predicament, the political environment surrounding official development assistance in Japan remains difficult, indeed. In order to secure the Japanese peoples' understanding of the need for assistance to the Palestinians, Japan's involvement in the Middle East Peace Process must become more visible. So we would like to play a greater role, for example, in the Palestinian' assistance frameworks such as AHLC. It is hoped, in this connection, that the Palestinian Authority demonstrate accountability and transparency in their financial management. On this front, we ask for the continued efforts on the part of the Palestinians. We call upon the Israeli government to recognize that the economic development and independence of the West Bank and Gaza contributes to the security of Israel as well, and also to keep in mind that the closure of the West Bank and Gaza impedes the international community's assistance to the Palestinians. Finally, I would like to express my sincere hope that both sides will continue their efforts toward peace without losing the momentum created by the Wye River Agreement, and that these efforts supported by the international community will finally achieve a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East.
Back to Index
