Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, on the Situation in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania

December 22, 2008

While reiterating its concerns about the situation in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania where the military junta has illegally assumed control of the state since August 6 2008, Japan welcomes the news that President Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi was released from house arrest on December 21(Sun).
Japan strongly expects that the release of the President will help accelerate the move toward restoration of the country’s constitutional order and democratic system and that all the Mauritanian political parties and representatives from civil society will participate in the National Forum to be held in the country from December 27 (Sat) to have open discussions about the future democratization process.

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