G8 Foreign Ministers' Meeting
(Summary and Evaluation)

19 July 2001

1. Summary

The G8 Foreign Ministers' Meeting was held on 18 and 19 July as a part of the Genoa Summit, with the participation of G8 Foreign Ministers as well as Sir Christopher Patten, European Commissioner, Dr. Javier Solana Madariaga, High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union (EU) and Mr. Louis Michel, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Belgium (EU Presidency holder).

At the meeting active discussion was held on regional issues such as the Middle East peace process, the situation in the Balkans, particularly in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), the situation on the Korean Peninsula and Africa, as well as global challenges such as conflict prevention, G8 and civil societies, and disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control. The message of the G8 was announced as Conclusions of the Meeting of the G8 Foreign Ministers. In addition, a separate statement on the Middle East was adopted.

2. Evaluation

(1) Concerning the Middle East peace process, participants shared their concerns about recent confrontations, and agreed to send a strong message by the G8 calling for the urgent implementation of the Mitchell Report, among others. Minister for Foreign Affairs Makiko Tanaka stated that improvements in the Palestinian economy were a prerequisite for peace and stability and that Japan was extending assistance in foods, emergency job creation and others to this end.

(2) Concerning the situation in the Balkans, particularly in the FYROM, participants agreed to issue a message to the effect that not a military, but a political solution was necessary, though it might take a long time, and that the G8 would offer support for such a solution. Foreign Minister Tanaka explained that during her visit to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) there was a request to covey to the G8 the positions of the Yugoslavian side on such issues as non-alteration of national borders, protection of ethnic minorities' rights and reduction of foreign debt.

(3) Concerning the situation on the Korean Peninsula, Foreign Minister Tanaka pointed out the need to support the engagement policy of President Kim Dae Jung of the Republic of Korea (ROK) as well as the need for North Korea to take constructive steps on security concerns, such as its missile problem, nuclear development problem and humanitarian and human rights issues including the alleged abduction of Japanese nationals by North Korean agents. Her statement was widely supported at the meeting.

(4) Concerning Africa, participants shared recognition that various problems the international community faces were condensed in Africa, and agreed to strengthen efforts by each country. Foreign Minister Tanaka stated that the international community, in order to solve African problems, should regard Africa as an equal partner when extending cooperation. She also explained that Japan, from such a perspective, intended to promote cooperation toward Africa with "support for development" and "conflict prevention/refugee aid" acting as though they were two wheels of a cart, and that the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) Ministerial Meeting would be held in December 2001 as part of such efforts.

(5) Concerning conflict prevention, active discussion took place, as was the case in the G8 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Berlin (1999) and in Miyazaki (2000), and participants agreed that the G8 should make efforts to "strengthen the role of women in conflict prevention" and for "corporate citizenship and conflict prevention." Participants held a common view on the importance of "water management" and "disarmament, demobilization and reintegration" (DDR) in the context of "conflict and development." The issue is to be carried onto next year's summit in Canada.

(6) Concerning the G8 and civil societies, a frank exchange of views was held on how to cooperate with civil societies amid increasing globalization.

(7) Concerning disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control, participants from each country exchanged opinions actively on the importance of existing multilateral frameworks and other issues. Among them, Foreign Minister Tanaka stressed the importance of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), and expressed her wish for active responses from each country to the second Conference on Facilitating Entry into Force of the CTBT to be held in September.

3. Relation to the G8 Summit in Genoa

The results of this meeting will be presented to the G8 Summit in Genoa from 20 to 22 July with a view to contributing to discussion there. Among regional issues, exchanges of views are to continue at the Genoa Summit on the Middle East peace process, FYROM, Africa and the Korean Peninsula.