Mr. Yasuhisa Shiozaki, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, to Visit the United States

May 8, 2006

Mr. Yasuhisa Shiozaki, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, will visit the United States (New York) from May 8 (Mon) to 11 (Thu) to attend the Public Meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Sudan.
Following the signing of a peace agreement on Darfur on May 5 (Fri), the UNSC will hold the meeting on May 9 (Tue) in New York to demonstrate the commitment of the international community to resolve the conflict in Darfur.
Japan has been extending various kinds of assistance, mainly humanitarian aid, aimed at the resolution of the Darfur conflict, and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has urged an early signing of the peace agreement. At the meeting Mr. Shiozaki is expected to deliver a statement on Japan's commitment to the resolution of the Darfur conflict.

(END)