Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the Selection of Members of the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) concerning Iraqi Issues

March 11, 2000

On March 10 (New York time), the United Nations Secretariat announced a list of members of the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC), a new organization concerned with Iraqi issues. The Government of Japan welcomes the fact that Mr. Takanori Kazuhara, former Japanese Ambassador to the Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna, is listed as one of the members of the Commission comprising the Executive Chairman and 16 others.
The Government of Japan regards Ambassador Kazuhara as an appropriate member because he was in charge of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), whose mission now includes the inspection of Iraqi nuclear facilities, as Japanese Ambassador to the Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna from 1987 to 1990.
Japan deems that Japan's positive cooperation with UNMOVIC activities is extremely important from the viewpoint of firmly maintaining the nuclear non-proliferation regime and of contributing to the peace and stability of the Gulf region, and believes it very significant that a Japanese who has considerable expertise and experience should participate in UNMOVIC activities. Now that the list has been announced, the Government of Japan will take necessary procedures for Mr. Kazuhara's participation in UNMOVIC as quickly as possible.
The Government of Japan is also highly appreciative that Mr. Hideyo Kurata, Special Assistant to the Minister for Foreign Affairs (former Major General), who, as a member in charge of chemical weapons of the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM), actively worked for the activities of this Commission and contributed to the peace and stability of the Gulf region.

(END)

Back to Index