Japan's Measures in Response to the Terrorist Attacks in the United States

November 2, 2001

1. Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law (passed by the Diet on 29 October)

The Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law intends to enable Japan to contribute actively and on its own initiative to the efforts of the international community for the prevention and eradication of international terrorism, thereby ensuring the peace and security of the international community including Japan itself, through such activities as (1) cooperation and support activities for the armed forces of the United States and other countries, which aim to eradicate the threat of the terrorist attacks, (2) search and rescue activities for such foreign forces, and (3) relief activities for affected people.

Statement by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on the Passing of the Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law by the Diet of Japan (October 29, 2001)

2. Refugee Assistance

(1) Transport of Relief Materials and Refugee Assistance by the Self-Defense Forces

Based upon a request from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Government of Japan has provided tents, blankets and other materials for Afghan refugees in Pakistan. These materials were transported to Pakistan by six C-130H aircraft of the Air Self-Defense Forces. The aircraft left the Komaki Air Base on 6 October, arrived in Pakistan on 9 October and returned to the Komaki Air Base on 12 October. The Government of Japan also decided to provide 500 more tents(for 5000 people) to Pakistan on 17 October.

(2) Assistance Through International Institutions

In response to the Donor Alert issued by the UN Secretary General on 27 September, the Government of Japan has decided on the following contribution measures.
1. Japan is prepared to provide $120 million (approximately 14.5 billion yen), which is approximately 20% of the total funding requirements in response to specific funding requests, with a view to supporting the refugee assistance efforts undertaken by UN agencies and other humanitarian organizations.
2. As part of the above assistance, Japan will provide $6 million (approximately 700 million yen, which is approximately 20% of the emergency appeal ($29 million) for the coming two months by the UNHCR.
Regarding the $6 million assistance for the UNHCR activities mentioned above, the government took a decision on 30 October to extend $3.3 million (353.1 million yen) worth assistance as an emergency grant assistance.

(3) Assistance Through Japanese NGOs

On 28 September, the Government of Japan decided to enable Japanese NGOs of the Japan Platform, which is composed of NGOs, economic circles and the Government in the field of emergency humanitarian assistance, to utilize the money pool fund (580 million yen) contributed by the Government of Japan for NGO support activities for Afghan refugees in Pakistan whose situation is worsening since the terrorist attacks in the United States.

3. Emergency Measures to Assist Pakistan(and Afghan refugees in Pakistan)

On 21 September, the Government of Japan decided to take emergency measures to assist Pakistan, which consists of the following measures
1. Bilateral Assistance:
  4.7 billion yen (approximately 40 million US dollars) will be extended in the form of refugee assistance and emergency budgetary assistance.
  
  (notes)
  1. Refugee assistance (1.7 billion yen)
    This aims to assist measures that care for a number of Afghan refugees who are already in Pakistan and those who are expected to come in the future. An emergency grant aid and food aid (worth 500 million yen through the World Food Programme(WFP). Notes were exchanged on 17 October.) will be provided. Grass-root grant aid also will be provided through NGOs and others.
  2. emergency budgetary assistance: In view of the risk of worsening chronic economic difficulties in Pakistan such as a serious shortage of foreign currency, Japan will provide financial assistance (3 billion yen) to purchase materials in order to assist Pakistan's structural adjustment efforts which are being undertaken in consultation with the IMF and the World Bank.
2. Official Debt Rescheduling: Prompt rescheduling will be made based upon the Paris Club agreement for Pakistan, which faces difficulties in repaying its debt. (note: the amount to be rescheduled is expected to be about 64.7 billion yen, equivalent to about 550 million US dollars.)
3. Assistance through international financial institutions: Japan will earnestly support and assist loans by the IMF, the World Bank, etc. directed towards the alleviation of Pakistan's economic difficulties and poverty reduction.
For the quick delivery of this assistance to the needed, immediately after the October 5th Cabinet decision, exchanges of notes concerning the Emergency budgetary Assistance and the Official Debt Rescheduling took place in Islamabad between Ambassador of Japan H.E. Sadaaki Numata and Pakistani Minister for Finance H.E. Mr. Shaukat Aziz on the following:
1. Bilateral Assistance
  1. Emergency budgetary Assistance
    $25 million (3 billion yen) non-project grant aid
  2. Refugee Assistance
    $7.5 million (approx. 800 million yen) emergency grant aid
    (note)
    - Additional 200 million yen will be included in Japan's $6 million provision to the UNHCR. (4.(2)(b)(ii))
    - The rest of 1.7 billion yen Japan's refugee assistance is expected to be provided as grass-root grant aid and food aid.
2. Official Debt Rescheduling (64.6 billion yen, approx. $550 million)

4. Discontinuation of Measures in Response to Nuclear Testing Conducted by India and Pakistan

On 26 October, Japan decided to discontinue the following measures taken in May 1998 in response to the nuclear tests conducted by India and Pakistan in the same month.

(1) Suspension of Grant aid to India and Pakistan for new projects, except emergency and humanitarian aid and Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects.

(2) Suspension of Yen-loans to India and Pakistan for new projects

(3) Cautious examination of the loan programs to India and Pakistan by multinational development banks.

5. Emergency Aid to Tajikistan (and Afghan refugees in Tajikistan)

On 12 October, the Government of Japan decided to extend an emergency grant aid of 240 million yen (approximately two million dollars) in total to the Republic of Tajikistan to assist the Government of Tajikistan to care for Afghan refugees. The aid will be made in response to the request made by President Emornall Rakhmanov of Tajikistan to Mr Suzuki, the Prime Minister's Special Envoy on October 8.

6. Measures to Cut off Terrorists' Funds

On 22 September, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolutions 1267 and 1333, the Government of Japan took measures to freeze assets and restricts money flows regarding 165 groups and individuals including those related Taliban. The Government of Japan extended its measures to 23 additional groups and individuals on 12 October, and to 27 further additional groups and individuals on 26 October.

7. Diplomatic Efforts

On 19 September, Prime Minister Koizumi sent letters to Mr Hosni Mubarak, President of Egypt; Mr Mohammad Khatami, President of Iran; HRH Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Al Saud of Saudi Arabia; and HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Emir of Qatar (Secretary General, Organization of Islamic Conference), to encourage international cooperation against terrorism.
Prime Minister Koizumi visited the United States from 24 to 25 September. He visited the World Trade Center site in New York, and in Washington met with President George W. Bush. Both leaders agreed to fight against terrorism keeping close coordination with each other, in cooperation with the international community.
Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Seiken Sugiura visited the Islamic Republic of Pakistan from 25 to 28 September and met with President Pervez Musharraf. Senior Vice-Minister Sugiura handed over the letter from Prime Minister Koizumi, and conveyed Japan's support for the Pakistani efforts to fight against terrorism.
The Government of Japan also sent Former Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura Special Envoy of the Prime Minister to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran. Mr Koumura took official letters from Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, and held discussions with the leaders of the Saudi Arabian and Iranian governments.
Former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto visited the Arab Republic of Egypt and United Arab Emirates as a Special Envoy of the Prime Minister from 7 to 12 October. He had talks on 8 October with President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt and also with Secretary-General Amre Moussa of the League of Arab States. He also talked with Chairman Yasser Arafat of the Pelestine Liberation Organization (PLO) who was present at the meeting with Secretary-General Moussa.
Mr. Muneo Suzuki, a Member of the House of Representatives, went to the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Tajikistan as a Special Envoy of the Prime Minister from 6 to 9 October. Mr. Suzuki had separate talks with both Prime Minister Utkur Sultanov of Uzbekistan and President Emornall Rakhmonov of Tajikistan on 8 October.
Former Prime Minister Mori visited India from 28 to 31 October as special envoy of the Prime Minister. Mr Mori carried the official letter from Prime Minister Koizumi to Prime Minister Vajpayee, and will meet Prime Minister Vajpayee and other key government members.
Mr Shaukat Aziz, Finance Minister of Pakistan, will visit Japan from 31 October to 3 November as special envoy of President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan. Mr Aziz will carry a letter from President Musharraf to Prime Minister Koizumi, and will have meetings with Prime Minister Koizumi and other Japanese leaders.

8. Other Measures

On 19 September, the Government of Japan announced that it will provide 10 million dollars to the New York State World Trade Center Relief Fund and Twin Towers Fund established in the U.S. to assist the search and rescue efforts underway, with the most sincere sympathies for fire fighters, policemen, emergency medical services staff and others who died in the line of duty while trying to save lives in the aftermath of the multiple terrorist attacks.
On 23 September, the Government of Japan, together with the America-Japan Society Inc., hosted a ceremony for all victims of terrorist attacks in U.S. in Tokyo. Approximately 3,500 people gathered at the site of the ceremony.

Back to Index