Japan and the United Nations
Ministerial Meeting of the Group of Friends of the Syrian People
September 26, 2013
1. In the afternoon on September 26, Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs, who was visiting New York, attended the Ministerial Meeting of the Group of Friends of the Syrian People. Representatives from approximately 80 countries, including foreign ministers from more than 30 countries such as Japan, France (host country), the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and Arab countries, representatives from the United Nations and the League of Arab States, and Mr. Ahmad Al-Assi Al-Jarba, President of the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces, attended the meeting. Foreign ministers from 13 countries, including Japan (except for France, the host country) were given opportunities to speak at the meeting.
2. Minister Kishida expressed his expectation that each country would make the most of their own strengths and work to reinforce and complement each other toward the destruction of chemical weapons, cessation of violence, promotion of political dialogue, and improvement of the appalling humanitarian conditions. Minister Kishida also stated that Japan would provide the greatest possible cooperation and contribution to the destruction of chemical weapons, would actively participate in and contribute to the international efforts toward the improvement and normalization of the situation in Syria, including dialogues with the opposition groups, and would continue humanitarian aid as Japan has committed to a total of approximately 280 million dollars (which includes additional 60 million dollars announced today) including cross-border assistance. Minister Kishida added that Japan would conduct such assistance in parallel with the process of political dialogue, notably the Geneva II Conference, and move forward in cooperation with the international community.
3. Other countries pointed out that political resolution of the conflict would be important in Syria and the Geneva 2 Conference should be held early for this purpose, rise of extremists should not be allowed and establishment of a pluralistic and democratic transitional governing body by moderate opposition groups should be aimed at, destruction of chemical weapons should be carried out steadily and the international community should cooperate for this purpose. The participants of the meeting confirmed that they would continue their support of the opposition groups.
2. Minister Kishida expressed his expectation that each country would make the most of their own strengths and work to reinforce and complement each other toward the destruction of chemical weapons, cessation of violence, promotion of political dialogue, and improvement of the appalling humanitarian conditions. Minister Kishida also stated that Japan would provide the greatest possible cooperation and contribution to the destruction of chemical weapons, would actively participate in and contribute to the international efforts toward the improvement and normalization of the situation in Syria, including dialogues with the opposition groups, and would continue humanitarian aid as Japan has committed to a total of approximately 280 million dollars (which includes additional 60 million dollars announced today) including cross-border assistance. Minister Kishida added that Japan would conduct such assistance in parallel with the process of political dialogue, notably the Geneva II Conference, and move forward in cooperation with the international community.
3. Other countries pointed out that political resolution of the conflict would be important in Syria and the Geneva 2 Conference should be held early for this purpose, rise of extremists should not be allowed and establishment of a pluralistic and democratic transitional governing body by moderate opposition groups should be aimed at, destruction of chemical weapons should be carried out steadily and the international community should cooperate for this purpose. The participants of the meeting confirmed that they would continue their support of the opposition groups.