Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the Camp David Summit Meeting

July 26, 2000

Japan praises the efforts made by Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Chairman Yasser Arafat, who carried out serious negotiations and showed more flexibility than ever in order to solve the core issues of the Middle East conflict. Japan also expresses its respect to the mediation efforts made by President Clinton and State Secretary Albright.
Japan stresses that a negotiated peace is the only realistic option and welcomes the trilateral statement, which was issued as the principle to guide their future negotiations. Japan strongly hopes that the parties concerned will resume the negotiation the soonest possible in order to bridge the remaining gap, and that they will realize the final status agreement by the target date of 13 September 2000.
Japan strongly supports the Israelis and the Palestinians in their efforts to negotiate for peace, and it will actively support concerted efforts by the international community to help the parties implement the peace agreement when it is reached.

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