Visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi to the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United Arab Emirates (January 6 to 8)
(Summary and Evaluation)

January 2004

1. Overview

(1) This visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi to the Islamic Republic of Iran is the first since her visit in May 2002. Foreign Minister Kawaguchi, within the limited stay of one day in Iran, held talks with President Seyyed Mohammad Khatami, Chairman of the Expediency Council Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Chairman of the Iranian Parliament Majlis Mehdi Karroubi, Minister of Foreign Affairs Seyyed Kamal Kharrazi, Vice President and Head of Department of the Environment Masoumeh Ebtekar and Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Hassan Rouhani.

(2) In the United Arab Emirates, Foreign Minister Kawaguchi held talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for State for Foreign Affairs Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan and held an interview with Al-Arabiya. The last visit of Japan's Foreign Minister to the United Arab Emirates was made by the then Foreign Minister Yohei Kono in January 2001.

2. Evaluation

(1) Iran

(a) Bilateral Relations

Foreign Minister Kawaguchi stated that Japan places importance in its relations with Iran. In response, the Iranian side also noted that they value relations with Japan, confirming their hope for the further development of bilateral relations. The Iranian side expressed their deepest gratitude for the assistance by the Government of Japan and the Japanese private sector have provided in response to the earthquake in the south eastern region of Iran. The Iranian side expressed their expectations for assistance to be provided by Japan on earthquake-resistance technology. Specific assistance measures will be considered in this regard.

(b) Reconstruction of Iraq

Iran expressed their intention to cooperate with Japan in working for the reconstruction of Iraq, recognizing the importance of the peace and stability in Iraq to Iran. Japan is to now consider the issues including the recovery of the marsh in southern Iraq. With regard to the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces (SDF), Foreign Minister Kawaguchi explained that its purpose is not for the use of force, but for humanitarian and reconstruction assistance, abiding by United Nations (UN) resolutions and received understanding from the Iranian side.

(c) Iranian Nuclear Issue

Foreign Minister Kawaguchi, while welcoming the signing of the Additional Protocol by Iran, emphasized the necessity for Iran to ratify the Protocol at the early stage and to faithfully implement all of the requirements requested by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors. The Iranian side explained that cooperation with the IAEA is underway.

(2) United Arab Emirates

Foreign Minister Kawaguchi explained Japan's reconstruction assistance to Iraq, including the dispatch of the SDF. The United Arab Emirates side expressed full understanding and support on the dispatch of the SDF to Iraq. Furthermore, both sides shared views on enlarging their bilateral relations, and specifically, Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed expressed his intention to visit Japan. Details of his visit will be coordinated between the two countries.

Related Information (The Issue of Iraq)