Dispatch of Ambassador on Special Mission to Offer Condolences to the Palestinian People on the Death of Mr. Yasser Arafat, Ra'ees of the Palestinian Interim Self-Government Authority and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)

November 11, 2004

On the demise of Mr. Yasser Arafat, Ra'ees of the Palestinian Interim Self-Government Authority and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), who passed away at 3:30 a.m. November 11 in France (Japanese local time: 11:30 a.m.), the Government of Japan has decided to dispatch Ms. Yoriko Kawaguchi, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (Former Minister for Foreign Affairs), as Ambassador on Special Mission to the funeral ceremonies. The ceremonies are to be held in Cairo on November 12.
On behalf of the Palestinian people, Mr. Arafat signed the Oslo Agreement, known as a historic peace accord, and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994 because of this courageous decision. In 1996, he was elected as the first Ra'ees of the Palestinian Authority in a direct election by the Palestinians, and has played a leading role in the nation building process. He visited Japan six times from October 1981, and deepened his friendship with many people in Japan. Considering this background, the Government of Japan has decided to dispatch an Ambassador on Special Mission.

(END)