6. |
The Middle East and North Africa |
The Middle East and North Africa (hereafter the Middle East region) occupies a geopolitically important location between Europe, sub-Saharan Africa, Central Asia, and South Asia, and has important shipping lanes for international commerce, and furthermore, supplies large quantities of oil and natural gas. Thus, the peace and stability of this region is directly tied to the peace and stability of the entire international community. The Middle East region also faces diverse issues including the reconstruction of Afghanistan, the Middle East peace process, the Iranian nuclear issue and the reconstruction of Iraq. Resolving these issues is extremely important not only for the peace and stability of the region itself, but for the entire international community in terms of preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and advancing countermeasures against terrorism. The peace and stability of the Middle East region is also import economically to Japan, which imports approximately 90% of its crude oil from this region.
From late 2010, large-scale anti-government demonstrations broke out in countries across the Middle East region, leading to the collapse of long-standing administrations in Tunisia and Egypt, and an emergence of a humanitarian crisis in Libya. Under these conditions, Japan is actively working in coordination with the international community toward peace and stability in the Middle East region, which is becoming increasingly important. In the Middle East region, Japan welcomes the progress of political, economic, and social reforms in the Middle East region, such as realizing the “rule of law” and freedom of speech in accordance with the conditions of each country. Japan also expects the region to secure stability and security, and it intends to provide political and economic support toward “good governance” while averting confusion during the transition period toward such goals. For the aim of achieving peace in the Middle East and the peaceful resolution of such issues as the Iran nuclear issue, Japan is working in close coordination with the major countries concerned and approaching the region by making use of its relation with the region by holding political level dialogues and dispatching special envoys. Japan is also providing aid that supports regional peace and stability centered on economic cooperation, including aid for the reconstruction of Afghanistan and Iraq, and for the establishment of a Palestinian state.
The sharp increase in the youth population of the Middle East region is a cause of greater unemployment and other forms of social instability, but it is also a source of dynamism generating economic development. The countries of the Middle East region have been achieving steady economic development in recent years, advancing industrial diversification, and working to transform their countries into attractive markets and investment destinations for foreign countries. Japan views such economic development in the Middle East region as a good opportunity for further developing economic and business relations, and it is emphasizing the advancement of economic diplomacy. Japan also believes that such diplomacy contributes to the peaceful transition of political and economic systems in each country. Japan is further strengthening relations with countries in the Middle East region that are exporters of natural resources, including petroleum and natural gas, and is aiming to secure the stable supply of natural resources and energy. Japan is also arranging legal frameworks such as Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), investment treaties, and tax treaties as a foundation for strengthening economic relations, as well as promoting the deployment of Japanese infrastructure overseas.
In recent years, Japan has been building up multilayered relations across wide-ranging fields including politics, science and technology, education and culture, in addition to traditional efforts to reinforce cooperation in the energy and economic fields, and has been striving to deepen mutual understanding. Among the various frameworks for dialogue, the Broader Middle East and North Africa (BMENA) initiative “Forum for the Future” ministerial meeting is an important venue for dialogue and cooperation with G8 countries for the political, economic, and social development of the Middle East and North Africa region, and Japan will continue to positively participate in this forum.