Statement by the Foreign Minister on the Terrorist Bomb Attacks in Jerusalem and a Series of Other Recent Terrorist Acts

4 March 1996

1. Japan deeply deplores the fact that a terrorist bomb attack occurred again on March 3 in Jerusalem, with numerous innocent citizens victimized. It expresses its profound sympathy to the victims and sincere condolences to the bereaved families.
   This attack was carried out in disregard of the condemnation of the international community, including Japan, of the terrorist bomb attacks on February 25. Japan is enraged against this and hopes that the Government of Israel and the Palestinian authority will take determined measures. The Middle East peace process is now at an important stage where negotiations for the permanent status of the interim self-rule areas are expected to start in May and the general elections in Israel at the end of that month. Japan strongly hopes that those concerned in the peace process will not halt or retreat from their efforts for peace in submission to heinous terrorist acts.
   
   
2. Recently, a series of terrorist acts have occurred: the bomb explosion in Sri Lanka on January 31, two bombings in London since February 9, and repeated bombings in Israel. Japan condemns all forms of terrorism and reaffirms its resolve to fight against it. Terrorist acts cannot be justified for any reason whatsoever and political aims should be achieved not by violence but by dialogue.
   
   
3. Since last year, serious terrorist incidents have reoccurred internationally, including the sarin-gas attack on the Tokyo subway system, and the need for international cooperation in counter-terrorism has been even more deeply recognized. Japan has been making efforts for the promotion of international cooperation by, for example, taking part actively In the Ottawa Ministerial on Counter-Terrorism in December last year (G7 plus Russia). It intends to continue to cooperate with the international community in addressing the problem of terrorism.