Message from Ms. Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs, to the members of Saraya-Al-Mujahedeen

April 10, 2004

On April 10th (Sat), the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Yoriko Kawaguchi recorded a video message at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs demanding for an immediate and safe release of the three Japanese hostages, addressed to the members of Saraya-Al-Mujahedeen. The video message is expected to be sent to the entire world by satellite world offer at around 3 o'clock on April 11th (Sun).

The message is as follows:

"To the members of Saraya-Al-Mujahedeen, who are taking three Japanese as hostage.

I am Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan. The entire Japanese nation is waiting for the three hostages to be released immediately. The three Japanese hostages are private individuals, and friends of Iraq. Ms Nahoko Takato has visited Iraq from time to time, and worked for medical care and education for children. Mr Noriaki Imai is an eighteen-year-old who has tackled the issue of damages from the war to the Iraqi people. Mr Soichiro Koriyama is a freelance journalist who has reported on the daily life of the people of Iraq to Japan. The people of Japan are shocked and angry that these people have been taken as hostage.

The People of Japan has both respect and friendship for the people of Iraq. For many years, Japan has actively cooperated for building hospitals and schools. Even as I speak Japan is working for the reconstruction of Iraq, with a significant sum of money and personnel. Japan's Self Defence Forces are also dispatched for this purpose.

The people of Japan and I strongly demand for an immediate and safe release of the three hostages".

Related Information (Foreign Minister's Video Message to the members of Saraya-Al-Mujahedeen (Arabic)) Media Player 56k / 256k, Real Player 56k / 256k

Related Information (The Issue of Iraq)

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