Japan-Libya Consultations on Disarmament and Non-proliferation Issue
(Summary)

June 30, 2004

The Japan-Libya Consultations on Disarmament and Non-proliferation Issue took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, June 30, 2004. (Representing the Japanese side: Director-General for Arms Control and Scientific Affairs Yukiya Amano; for the Libyan side: Director-General of International Organizations Department, Giuma Ibrahim Ferjani of the General People's Committee of Foreign Liaison and International Cooperation). The following is a summary of the consultations.

1. Present Situation of Libya's Dismantlement of Weapons of Mass Destruction and Their Relating Programs

The Japanese side highly evaluated Libya's decision made in December 2003 to abandon all of its programs to develop weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and its subsequent progress. The Japanese side stated that it expected Libya to participate in the future, in the international non-proliferation regime as a responsible member. The Japanese side also called on the Libyan side to promptly ratify the Additional Protocol of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

In response, the Libyan side explained that the dismantlement of WMD programs was progressing, in cooperation with the United States and the United Kingdom, as well as related international organizations including the IAEA.

2. Regional Issues

(1) Middle East

The Japanese side stated its support for an Nuclear-Weapon- Free Zone in the Middle East, explaining that Japan has called upon the countries of the region, including Israel, at various levels to join all treaties relating to WMD, including the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT).

(2) North Korea

The Japanese side explained that the nuclear issue of North Korea was important in that it directly affected the security of Japan, and requested that Libya urge North Korea to follow the Libyan example. A request was also made for Libya to continue to provide related information.

In response, the Libyan side expressed the expectation that other countries would follow the Libya's example in dismantling programs of WMD, and that Leader of Libya Col. Muammar Al-Qadhafi has already been calling on North Korea to follow the suit.

3. Conventional Weapons

The Japanese side requested Libya's early conclusion of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (Ottawa Convention) and the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects (CCW).

The Libyan side stated that Libya is a country with extremely extensive national borders and that many anti-personnel landmines have been laid in order to prevent the illegal entry of foreigners into Libya, explaining that for this reason it would be difficult for Libya to immediately conclude the Ottawa Convention.

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