Press Conference, 26 May 2006

Extraordinary Meeting of the Four Co-chairs of the Tokyo Conference on the Reconstruction and Development of Sri Lanka to be held in Tokyo
Visit to Japan by Mr. Paul Wolfowitz, President of the World Bank (WB)
Debt relief to the Dominican Republic
Joint press conference for the Fourth Meeting of the Japan-Arab Dialogue Forum

I. Extraordinary Meeting of the Four Co-chairs of the Tokyo Conference on the Reconstruction and Development of Sri Lanka to be held in Tokyo

Assistant Press Secretary Akira Chiba: Good afternoon. Today I would like to make a couple of announcements. The first announcement concerns the Extraordinary Meeting of the Four Co-chairs of the Tokyo Conference on Reconstruction and Development of Sri Lanka which will be held on 30 May in Tokyo.

Attending the meeting will be Mr. Yasushi Akashi, Representative of the Government of Japan on Peace Building, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Sri Lanka, Mr. Erik Solheim, Minister of Development Cooperation of Norway, Mr. Richard Boucher, US Assistant Secretary of State, State Department, and Mr. Herve Jouanjean, Deputy Director-General, European Union (EU) Commission for External Relations.

The meeting, which is held regularly with the participation of the three countries and one organization that co-chair the Tokyo Conference, will evaluate the progress of Sri Lanka's peace process and will discuss international assistance. In view of the serious situation of the process, the participants will exchange views on future responses and other issues. As it has been about three years since the launch of the conference, there will also be a wide-ranging exchange of views from a mid- and long-term standpoint on such matters as the future roles of the four co-chairs, cooperation with other countries concerned, support for the northern and eastern regions, and the role of civil society.

The Meeting will be the eighth of its kind and the first to be held in Tokyo.

II. Visit to Japan by Mr. Paul Wolfowitz, President of the World Bank (WB)

Mr. Chiba: The next announcement concerns the visit to Japan by Mr. Paul Wolfowitz, President of the World Bank (WB), who will visit Japan from 27 to 30 May. During his stay he will meet with Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Aso and will exchange opinions concerning the development of developing countries and cooperation between the WB and Japan, which is the second largest donor to that bank.

III. Debt relief to the Dominican Republic

Mr. Chiba: The third announcement is about debt relief to the Dominican Republic. The debt relief consists of approximately US$12 million (approximately 1.4 billion yen) for Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC)-related loans and approximately US$10 million (approximately 1.1 billion yen) in commercial loans. The exchange of notes was done on 25 May in Santo Domingo between Mr. Haruo Okamoto, Japanese Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, and Mr. Vicente Bengoa Albizu, Secretary of State for Finance of the Dominican Republic.

IV. Joint press conference for the Fourth Meeting of the Japan-Arab Dialogue Forum

Mr. Chiba: Finally, there will be a joint press conference concerning the Fourth Meeting of the Japan-Arab Dialogue Forum. The press conference will start at 12:00 on 27 May (Saturday), and the location will be at the first floor of the Shin-Takanawa Prince Hotel International Convention Center "Pamir."

Related Information (Press Release)

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