Meeting between the Prime Minister of Japan and the President of the Palestinian Authority

On Saturday, April 14, Mr. Yoshihiko Noda, the Prime Minister of Japan, held a meeting with H.E. Dr. Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, at the Office of the Prime Minister from 11:35 a.m. for approximately 30 minutes. Subsequently, a luncheon was held until approximately 1:20 p.m. An overview of the meeting is as follows:

1. At the beginning, Prime Minister Noda welcomed President Abbas’s first visit to Japan in two years and expressed his gratitude to the President for the Palestinian people’s messages of support in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake, including the President’s visit to Natori City, Miyagi Prefecture on the occasion of this visit. In response, President Abbas expressed his heartfelt sympathy to those affected by the earthquake and his admiration for the Japanese people who are rapidly promoting restoration.
   
   
2. On the issue of peace in the Middle East, President Abbas explained that the only choice for peace is negotiation with Israel, and that the Palestinian Authority had been making efforts toward direct negotiations with Israel on condition that Israel stops construction of settlements and follows the boundary of 1967, although such efforts had not yet brought results. In response, Prime Minister Noda highly appreciated President Abbas’s peace policy which seeks coexistence with Israel. Prime Minister Noda also expressed his concerns over the cease of direct negotiation between Israel and Palestine, in spite of the fact that the solution for peace in the Middle East became more urgent amid social mobilization in the Middle East region due to its historic reforms, and stated that it would be important for both parties to prepare an environment for resuming negotiations under the current conditions. Moreover, Prime Minister Noda stated that Japan would continue to engage in political and economic phases to realize peace in the Middle East through the solution of the problems by the two countries concerned. Prime Minister Noda also stated that Japan had made it clear that settlement activities by Israel should completely be stopped and had been working with Israel for this purpose, and that Japan supports Palestinian rights to national determination and had supported efforts by the Palestinians toward construction of its own country, which has been an ultimate goal of the Palestinian Authority.
   
   
3. Furthermore, Prime Minister Noda stated that Japan had implemented support of Palestine to the amount of 1.2 billion US dollars since FY 1993 and would like to contribute to development of industry and creation of employment in Palestine, especially through the Concept of the “Corridor for Peace and Prosperity”. In response, President Abbas stated that Japan is a reliable donor who implemented support it had promised without fail and expressed his gratitude for the support. President Abbas also stated that he had high expectations for the Concept of the “Corridor for Peace and Prosperity” because the concept has economic effects as well as political effects to unite the parties concerned, that both Palestine and Israel listen to Japan’s statements as both parties maintain friendly relations with Japan, and he appreciated Japan’s political role in the Middle East such as the appointment of Mr. Yutaka Iimura, Special Envoy of the Government of Japan for the Middle East (Representative of the Government of Japan).
   
   
4. In addition, both leaders exchanged opinions on the influence of the “Arab Spring” on the Palestinian situation, the reconciliation situation of Palestine, the Iranian nuclear development issue, etc. Especially, on the issue of the launch of a missile which North Korea calls a “satellite,” President Abbas stated that although the launch had resulted in failure, such a provocative action should be denounced. Prime Minister Noda responded that the launch was a grave, provocative act against security that undermines the peace and stability of the region and the international society and a clear violation of the related United Nations’ Security Council resolution, and that it was unacceptable and very regrettable. Then, Prime Minister Noda stated that it is very important for the international society, including the UN Security Council, to show a determined attitude to North Korea.