Japan's Diplomatic Efforts on the Issue of Iraq
March 2003
1. Vis-a-vis Iraq
Japan for a long time has been calling on Iraq to comply with relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council. In particular, since the adoption of Security Council Resolution 1441, bearing in mind the fact that inspections were resumed, Japan has directly and strongly urged Iraq to respond immediately to the last chance granted by this resolution and, for a peaceful solution of the problem, to dissolve suspicions voluntarily and proactively and implement all relevant Security Council resolutions, beginning with the dismantling of weapons of mass destruction.
2002
- September 14: Talks between Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi and Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri
- November 11: Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Yoshitaka Shindo speaks to Iraq's Chargé d'Affaires to Japan Qasim A. Shakir.
- November 11: Director General Hiroyasu Ando of the Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau speaks to Iraq's Chargé d'Affaires Shakir.
- November 11: First Secretary Mihara of the Japanese Embassy in Iraq speaks to Director General of the First Political Affairs Bureau of the Iraqi Foreign Ministry.
- November 11: First Secretary Mihara speaks to Deputy Director General of the International Organizations Bureau of the Iraqi Foreign Ministry.
2003
- January 29: Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi summons Iraqi embassy's Chargé d'Affaires Shakir.
- February 1: Japan's Chargé d'Affaires Kono in Iraq speaks to Director General of the First Political Affairs Bureau of the Iraqi Foreign Ministry.
- March 4: Special Envoy of the Prime Minister Toshimitsu Motegi (Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs) speaks to Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz.
- March 18: Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi summons Iraqi embassy's Chargé d'Affaires Shakir.
2. Vis-a-vis Middle Eastern Countries
From the standpoint that the surrounding Middle Eastern countries, which have much influence on Iraq, also should show a firm attitude toward Iraq, Japan has been taking every opportunity possible to persuade these countries of the importance, for the achievement of a peaceful solution, of strongly urging Iraq to implement all relevant Security Council resolutions.
2002
- August 31: Talks between Special Envoy for the Middle East Peace Process Dr. Tatsuo Arima and Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Saud al Faisal
- September 1: Talks between Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Kenshiro Matsunami and Bahraini Foreign Minister Khalifa Muhammad
- September 2: Talks between Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Kenshiro Matsunami and Kuwaiti Foreign Undersecretaty Khalid Al Jarallah
- September 7: Talks between Senior Vice-Foreign Minister Seiken Sugiura and Yemeni Foreign Minister Abu Baker A. Al-Qirbi
- September 12: Japan-Iran foreign ministers' telephone talks
- September 15: Japan-Saudi Arabia foreign ministers' talks
- September 27: Japan-Iran vice-foreign ministers' consultations
- October 7 - 14: Director General Ando of the Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau, on a visit to Turkey, Jordan, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, holds discussions with dignitaries in those countries.
- November 6: Japan-Kuwait Foreign Minister's Meeting
- November 11: Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Shindo has discussions with the ambassadors and Chargé d'Affaires to Japan of Arab states.
- November 26: Special Envoy of the Prime Minister Taro Nakayama is dispatched to Iran for talks with President Mohammad Khatami and Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi.
- November 26 - 30: Special Envoy Motegi (Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs) is dispatched to Jordan (26th), Syria (28th), and Turkey.
- November 30 - December 2: Special Envoy of the Prime Minister Masahiko Koumura is dispatched to Egypt for talks with President Hosni Mubarak, Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher, and Secretary General Mahmoud Moussa of the League of Arab States.
- December 18 - 19: Special Envoy Koumura is dispatched to Saudi Arabia for talks with King Fahd, Crown Prince Abdullah, and Foreign Minister Saud al Faisal.
2003
- March 1 - 6: Special Envoy Motegi (Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs) is dispatched to Jordan and Iraq for talks with Jordan's Prime Minister Ali Abu al Ragheb, Foreign Minister Marwan al Muasher, Minister of Planning Bassem Awadallah, and Minister of State in Charge of Foreign Affairs Shaker Bak and Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Aziz.
- March 2 - 7: Special Envoy Koumura is dispatched to Egypt and Saudi Arabia for talks with Egypt's Prime Minister Atef Ebeid and Foreign Minister Maher, Secretary General Moussa of the League of Arab States, and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah and Foreign Minister Saud.
- March 3 - 7: Special Envoy Nakayama is dispatched to Syria and Turkey for talks with Syria's President Bashar Assad and Prime Minister Muhammad Mustafa Mero and Turkish Prime Minister Abdullah Gul.
- March 6: Special Envoy of the Prime Minister Tetsuro Yano (Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs) is dispatched to Angola for talks with President Jose Eduardo dos Santos.
3. Vis-à-vis the Permanent Members of the U.N. Security Council
From the standpoint that the international community should act in unison and show a firm stance toward Iraq, Japan is relaying its position that, in response to Iraq, it is important to make serious diplomatic efforts through the United Nations and other forums and is conducting close and high-level consultations with the permanent members.
(1) United States
2002
- August 27: Vice-ministerial strategic dialogue between Japan and the United States
- September 12: Japan-U.S. summit talks
- September 13: Japan-U.S. foreign ministers' talks
- September 17: Talks between Foreign Minister Kawaguchi and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice
- September 17: Talks between Foreign Minister Kawaguchi and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld
- September 19: Japan-U.S. summit telephone talks
- October 21: Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Motegi visits the United States for talks with Deputy Secretary of State Richard L. Armitage, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Douglous J. Feith, and others.
- October 26: Japan-US-ROK summit talks
- December 9: Japan-US talks (US Deputy Secretary of State Armitage visits Japan and holds talks with the prime minister, chief cabinet secretary, foreign minister, and vice-minister for foreign affairs.)
- December 16: Japan-US Security Consultative Committee meeting
2003
- January 25: Telephone talks between the leaders of Japan and the United States
- February 7: Telephone talks between the Japanese foreign minister and the US secretary of state
- February 10: Japan-US vice-ministerial-level strategic dialogue
- February 22 - 23: US Secretary of State Colin Powell visits Japan for talks with the prime minister and foreign minister
- March 10: Telephone talks between the leaders of Japan and the United States
(2) Britain
2002
- September 25: Japan-Britain foreign ministers' telephone talks
- October 7: Japan-Britain vice-ministers' consultations
2003
- February 4 - 6: Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Motegi visits Britain.
- February 5: Telephone talks between the leaders of Japan and Britain
- February 10: Telephone talks between the foreign minister of Japan and the foreign secretary of Britain
- March 10: Telephone talks between the foreign minister of Japan and the foreign secretary of Britain
(3) France
2002
- September 23: Japan-France summit talks
- October 10: Japan-France vice-ministers' consultations
2003
- January 13: Foreign Minister Kawaguchi visits France for talks with President Jacques Chirac and Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin.
- February 4: Senior Vice-Minister Motegi visits France.
- February 18: Telephone talks between the leaders of Japan and France
- March 6: Telephone talks between the leaders of Japan and France
- March 12: Telephone talks between the foreign ministers of Japan and France
(4) Russia
2002
- September 15: Japan-Russia foreign ministers' talks
- September 18: Japan-Russia summit telephone talks
- October 12: Japan-Russia foreign ministers' talks
- December 11: Telephone talks between the foreign ministers of Japan and Russia
- December 18: Japan-Russia Foreign Ministers' Meeting
2003
- January 10: Japan-Russia Summit Meeting
- March 11: Telephone talks between the foreign ministers of Japan and Russia
(5) China
2003
- February 28: Telephone talks between the foreign ministers of Japan and China
(6) United Nations
2002
- October 16: UN Permanent Representative of Japan Ambassador Koichi Haraguchi delivers a speech at an open meeting of the Security Council.
- December 9: IAEA Director General Mohamed El Baradei visits Japan for talks with the chief cabinet secretary and Foreign Minister Kawaguchi
2003
- February 2: Talks between Senior Vice-Minister Motegi and IAEA Director General El Baradei
- February 7: Talks between Senior Vice-Minister Motegi and UNMOVIC Executive Chairman Hans Blix
- February 18: Speech by Permanent Representative Haraguchi at an open meeting of the Security Council
- March 1: Telephone talks between Senior Vice-Minister Motegi and UNMOVIC Executive Chairman Blix
- March 3: Telephone talks between Foreign Minister Kawaguchi and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan
- March 10: Telephone talks between the leaders of Japan and Chile
- March 10: Telephone talks between the leaders of Japan and Pakistan
- March 10: Telephone talks between the foreign ministers of Japan and Cameroon
- March 10: Telephone talks between the foreign ministers of Japan and Germany
- March 10: Telephone talks between the foreign ministers of Japan and Guinea
- March 11: Telephone talks between the leaders of Japan and Mexico
- March 11: Telephone talks between the foreign ministers of Japan and Angola
- March 12: Speech by Permanent Representative Haraguchi at an open meeting of the Security Council
- March 26: Speech by Permanent Representative Haraguchi at an open meeting of the Security Council
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