Visit by Japanese Ambassador to the Republic of Italy Akira Hayashi to the former King of Afghanistan Mohamad Zahir Shah

22 October 2001

1. On 22 October, Japanese Ambassador to the Republic of Italy Akira Hayashi paid a visit on the fomer King of Afghanistan Mohamad Zahir Shah. In addition to exchanging views on the current situation and the future of Afghanistan, Ambassador Hayashi conveyed to former King Zahir Shah Japan's stance that it would continue to actively pay interest in and contribute to peace in Afghanistan under the recognition that the only measure for achieving permanent peace would be to form a government with broad support from the various groups of the Afghan population, and wide acceptance by the international community. In response, former King Zahir Shah expressed his appreciation for the high interest Japan has shown in achieving peace in Afghanistan. In addition, former King Zahir Shah emphasized that it would be important to create a government that was chosen through the free will of the people of Afghanistan.

2. In March 2000, Japan invited representatives from each of the factions in Afghanistan to Tokyo, and in June 2001, the Deputy Director-General of the Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau held talks with the "Minister for Foreign Affairs" of the Taliban, Abdul Wakil Mutawakil in Afghanistan and also with the "Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs" of the Northern Alliance A. Abdullah in Malaysia, in which discussions concerning peace in Afghanistan and other issues took place. In the future, from the perspective of making a contribution to peace in Afghanistan, Japan will continue to make efforts to keep direct contacts with those related to Afghan affairs. The visit by Ambassador Hayashi to former King Zahir Shah was the second of such visits, following the first on 1 October.