"A comprehensive settlement of the Middle East issue is the key to achieving peace and stability in the region", says Japanese government representative to Arab Summit

Tunis, 22 May 2004 (Tapex)

Mr. Tatsuo Arima, Japan special envoy for peace in the Middle East and representative of the Japanese government to the Arab summit, voiced his country's gratitude for having been enabled to attend the Tunis 16th session of the Arab Summit as a guest observer.

In his news conference, on Saturday afternoon, he underlined that a comprehensive settlement of the Middle East issue is the key to achieving peace and stability in the region.

"Japan supports the international resolutions on this question and also backs up the ''Road map'' to the Palestinian- Israeli conflict.", he said.

Addressing the situation in Iraq, Mr. Arima said that the transfer of sovereignty to the Iraqis, next June 30, could be perceived as an important event on the path to restoring the country's sovereignty and its reconstruction. In this regard, he voiced his country's total support to efforts deployed by Mr. Lakhdar Ibrahimi, the United Nations Secretary-general's special adviser.

Tackling the question of reform and development, the Japanese representative said that his country hailed the reformist initiatives, provided that they materialize the convictions of the concerned countries' .

He underlined that Japan, which believes in the correlation between growth and peace, actively strives to assist the Palestinians and the Iraqis as part of reconstruction and edification of the bridges of dialogue and development between the peoples.

He voiced hope that the Arab League will carry on its progress towards the achievement of a just and sustainable peace and comprehensive development in the Arab world.

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