RESPONDING TO CHALLENGES
TO GLOBAL STABILITY
Counternarcotics
The Governments of the United States and Japan share concern over the growing problem of international narcotic drugs trafficking, including the rapid growth of Asian illicit drug trade in recent years. A Narcotics Working Group under the Common Agenda met in November 1994 and May 1995 to explore areas of cooperation in drug control. The Working Group has helped to strengthen chemical controls and law enforcement cooperation, and to coordinate joint efforts on drug awareness and drug abuse prevention in Asia. The Governments of the United States and Japan have also begun to implement a crop substitution program in Peru, and are discussing support for similar programs in Southeast Asia and other South American countries. Both Governments have affirmed strong support for multilateral efforts through the United Nations Drug Control Program.
Counterterrorism
In connection with the April 17 Tokyo Summit, the Governments of the United States and Japan have decided to bring existing cooperation on counterterrorism under the Common Agenda. The two Governments coordinate counterterrorism policy and operational measures through regular bilateral consultations among United States and Japanese diplomatic, intelligence and law enforcement officials. U.S.-Japan counterterrorism cooperation includes efforts to strengthen multilateral mechanisms to counter the threat of chemical, biological and nuclear terrorism.
The two Governments also coordinate efforts through the P-8 Counterterrorism Experts structure. Together with the other P-8 countries, the Governments of the United States and Japan will strengthen cooperation with respect to the guidelines set forth in the Ottawa Ministerial Declaration of December 12, 1995. The P-8 Governments in this declaration decided to enhance international counterterrorism cooperation through such means as law enforcement cooperation, intelligence sharing, and interdiction of terrorist movement and funding.
Both Governments participated in the International Conference on Counterterrorism held in February 1996 in the Philippines at which representatives from 19 countries expressed their collective commitment to combating terrorism. Both Governments will work to support greater law enforcement cooperation among nations. They will encourage all states to make efforts to become parties to and to abide by international treaties and conventions against terrorism. In addition, the two Governments will intensify research and development of technologies to deter, detect and apprehend terrorists.
Civil Society and Democratization
As a new Common Agenda program, the Governments of the United States and Japan have decided to cooperate in efforts related to encouraging the development of civil society in new democracies. Our joint efforts in this area will be in accordance with the desires of host governments and also, to the extent possible, involve other countries and private and voluntary organizations. Working together with host governments in new democracies, the Governments of United States and Japan intend to explore ways to coordinate assistance to recipients in areas such as election preparation and monitoring and the strengthening of judicial systems.
The two Governments decided to commence their cooperation in El Salvador, which has been making remarkable progress toward the realization of full democracy in recent years. Closely working with the Government of El Salvador, the Governments of the United States and Japan would hold the first Working Group meeting, preferably in El Salvador, at the earliest possible time.
Natural Disaster Reduction
The Governments of the United States and Japan have decided to launch a new initiative to accelerate cooperation in reducing the devastation caused by natural disasters. The two Governments intend to work together to strengthen disaster preparation, response and management and to assist third countries in these areas.
In accordance with this goal, the two Governments have decided to cooperate in accelerating the advancement of science and technology to reduce damage to communities from earthquakes. The two Governments have launched an Earthquake Disaster Mitigation Partnership project. Relevant agencies in both countries, in cooperation with universities, have identified priority areas for research and development, including better ways of quantifying threats posed by earthquakes, reducing damage and improving emergency response. The U.S.-Japan cooperation will be carried out through the U.S.-Japan Cooperative Program in Natural Resources (UJNR) and under the Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Japan on Cooperation in Research and Development in Science and Technology (UJSTA).
In autumn 1996, the Governments of United States and Japan intend to hold an Earthquake Policy Symposium bringing together top government officials and scientists from both countries to discuss ways to strengthen earthquake emergency response measures. Participants will exchange views on government policies on earthquake mitigation and ways to effectively incorporate into practice advances in mitigation capabilities.
In addition, the Governments of the United States and Japan are exploring the possibility of developing a comprehensive Pan-Pacific Natural Disaster Watch Network surveillance system for better monitoring and prediction of disasters in the Pacific region.
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