Statement by Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto on the Explosion at the United States Military Facility in Saudi Arabia

26 June 1996

1. I deplore the great loss of American and Saudi lives and extend my deepest condolences to the victims and their bereaved families and to the peoples of the United States and Saudi Arabia in the aftermath of the explosion which occurred on the night of 25 June 1996 at an American military facility in Saudi Arabia. I am filled with sympathy and heartfelt concern for the wounded in hope for their full recovery.
   
   
2. Japan takes the stance that under no circumstance can terrorism be justified, and is resolute in condemning all forms of terrorism. In the event that this explosion is the result of an act of terrorism, Japan is of the view that it is utterly intolerable. It is indeed regrettable that we have seen yet another explosion, following the one which took place last year, and that there has been such a great loss of life.
   
   
3. As the representative of Japan, I have communicated my deepest regrets to President Clinton and King Fahd for this tragic loss of life and the suffering of the bereaved families, and I have made clear to them Japan's resolute condemnation of all terrorist activities.
   
   

Extract from the Common Agenda Joint Report: "Joint Report to President William J. Clinton and Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto. " Presented in Tokyo on 14 June 1996 by Under Secretary of State Timothy E. Wirth and Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Kazuo Ogura.

Counterterrorism

In connection with the April 17 Tokyo Summit, the Governments of the United States and Japan have decided to bring existing cooperation on counterterrorism under the Common Agenda. The two Governments coordinate counterterrorism policy and operational measures through regular bilateral consultations among United States and Japanese diplomatic, intelligence and law enforcement officials. U.S.-Japan counterterrorism cooperation includes efforts to strengthen multilateral mechanisms to counter the threat of chemical, biological and nuclear terrorism.

The two Governments also coordinate efforts through the P-8 Counterterrorism Experts structure. Together with the other P-8 countries, the Governments of the United States and Japan will strengthen cooperation with respect to the guidelines set forth in the Ottawa Ministerial Declaration of December 12, 1995. The P-8 Governments in this declaration decided to enhance international counterterrorism cooperation through such means as law enforcement cooperation, intelligence sharing, and interdiction of terrorist movement and funding.

Both Governments participated in the International Conference on Counterterrorism held in February 1996 in the Philippines at which representatives from 19 countries expressed their collective commitment to combating terrorism. Both Governments will work to support greater law enforcement cooperation among nations. They will encourage all states to make efforts to become parties to and to abide by international treaties and conventions against terrorism. In addition, the two Governments will intensify research and development of technologies to deter, detect and apprehend terrorists.