Japan to send envoy to Mideast from Sat. to help peace process

TOKYO, Jan. 9 Kyodo -
Japan's special envoy for the Middle East, Tatsuo Arima, will pay an eight-day
visit from Saturday to Israel, the Palestinian territories, Egypt and Syria in
hopes of helping to end hostilities in the Gaza Strip and facilitate
humanitarian assistance, the Foreign Ministry said Friday.
The Japanese government also welcomed a resolution passed Thursday by the U.N.
Security Council calling for an ''immediate and durable'' cease-fire between
Hamas militants and Israel in the Gaza Strip, with Prime Minister Taro Aso
telling reporters, ''It is desirable that an immediate cease-fire be maintained
without interruption.''
''It is quite regrettable that many civilians have been killed in the fighting,
and I think a cease-fire is essential,'' he said.
Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone said earlier Friday during a House of
Representatives Budget Committee session that he hopes Arima can ''hold close
talks with countries concerned'' as Japan is currently a nonpermanent member of
the U.N. Security Council.
Arima will depart Saturday first for Cairo, then to Tel Aviv on Tuesday, and
Damascus on Thursday. During his stay in the region, he is scheduled to meet
officials from the various governments, including the Palestinian Authority,
the ministry said.
''We welcome the U.N. Security Council's issuing of a concerted message to the
global community,'' Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said at a news
conference. ''We strongly urge Israel and Palestinian militants to respond to
mediation efforts and make a truce immediately.''
Meanwhile, Israeli Ambassador to Japan Nissim Ben Shitrit visited Deputy Chief
Cabinet Secretary Jun Matsumoto at the prime minister's office Friday and
briefed him on his country's position on implementing operations in the
Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, according to the ambassador.
Since the latest outbreak of violence, Japan has repeatedly called on both the
Israeli and Palestinian sides to immediately halt the use of force and has
pledged to continue its assistance to the Palestinian people, including around
$10 million worth of emergency aid for the Gaza Strip, in view of the
situation.
While being a close ally of the United States, Japan has been involved in the
Middle East peace process and maintains relatively good relations with both the
Israelis and Palestinians.
For example, Tokyo initiated a development project in 2006 to build an
agro-industrial park in the West Bank involving Israel, the Palestinians,
Jordan and Japan. The plan is intended to foster trust in the region by
building a viable Palestinian economy, thus creating an atmosphere conducive to
advancing the peace talks.
==Kyodo