Mr. Hideaki Domichi, the Director-General for Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs discusses the hostage case with the Arabic diplomatic corps.

April 10, 2004

On April 10th, the Director-General for Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau Mr. Hideaki Domichi invited the Arabic diplomatic corps based in Tokyo and exchanged views on the current hostage case.

Director-General Domichi explained the outline of the current case and said that the people of Japan are deeply concerned that the three people, despite the fact that they have been friends of the people of Iraq and have worked for the sake of Iraq, were taken as hostages, and that the people of Japan are angry over their detention. Under the current circumstances, Director-General Domichi said, that while the Government is making its utmost efforts for the release of the hostages, sufficient information has not been obtained. He also requested them to consider any possible cooperation that may lead to the safe release of the hostages, such as provision of relevant information, or through conveying messages from the government or the leader of the Arabic countries.

The Arabic diplomatic corps, while assuring that the message of the Japanese Government will be duly conveyed to their home governments, expressed that the very fact that as many as thirteen diplomatic missions gathered for the meeting, which was convened at a short notice, demonstrates the compassion and sympathy of the Arabic diplomatic corps toward the family of the hostages and the people of Japan, and condemnation of terrorism. They also expressed their will to request their home governments for all possible means of cooperation including provision of information.

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