ID :
353869
Tue, 01/13/2015 - 02:14
Auther :

Japan's Abe to Tour Middle East from Friday

Tokyo, Jan. 12 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is set to visit Egypt, Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian region for six days from Friday for talks with leaders there, in his first overseas trip since launching his new cabinet late last month. Under the banner of so-called proactive pacifism, Abe intends to underscore Japan's commitment to contributing to peace and stability in the Middle East. Since taking office in December 2012, Abe has visited 50 countries. In the Middle East, he already toured the resources-rich six member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. As the security situation has been unstable in all destinations for his coming tour, Abe hopes that Japan will be able to help stabilize the regions with its support. He also wants to discuss antiterror cooperation with leaders there in the wake of recent terrorist attacks in France. Abe will be the first Japanese prime minister to visit Egypt since May 2007, when he himself went to the country during his first tenure that lasted for a year until September the same year. Visits to Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian region by a Japanese prime minister will be the first since the July 2006 visits by then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. During the tour, Abe plans to call on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resume peace talks with the Palestinian Authority at an early date as the conflict continues between Israel and the Islamic fundamentalist group Hamas. At a meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Abe plans to promote Japan's "Corridor for Peace and Prosperity" support initiative for the region. Abe will convey to Jordanian King Abdullah II Japan's intention to continue providing assistance to the country to help it cope with massive inflows of refugees from Syria and Iraq, where the Islamic State militant group is strengthening its grip. In Egypt, Abe is slated to deliver a speech on Japan's policy on the Middle East, announcing measures to help stabilize the country and surrounding areas facing political uncertainties. END

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