Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations of the Foreign Ministry on the Situation in Afghanistan

July 30, 1999

1. The Government of Japan is deeply concerned that recently in Afghanistan there is a sign that the fighting will be once again intensified.
   
   
2. The continuation of the fighting will not only pose a serious threat to the security of the residents in the region, but may possibly be detrimental to the security of the surrounding nations and give rise to new refugees.
   
   
3. Japan has been attaching importance to international cooperation for the peace in Afghanistan. At the "six plus two" group meeting held in Tashkent with attendance of the Afghan parties and countries concerned, Japan called for early realization of peace through a message of Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura.
   
   
4. Japan strongly hopes that the Taliban and other Afghan parties involved in the conflict will immediately halt the fighting to bring true benefits to their own and the neighboring countries and restart a direct dialogue to realize peace, building on the outcome of the initiatives for peace including the Tashkent meeting.
   
   

Related Information (Japan-Afghanistan Relations)