Palestine question/Turnover of security control over Jericho/Ceasefire by Palestinian factions – Japanese Foreign Ministry statement – Japanese Govt. press release (Non-UN document)

Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations on the transfer of security control of Jericho in the West Bank to the Palestinian Authority and the Cairo talks between Palestinian factions

Mr. Takashima: The next announcement is about the statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the situation in the Middle East, in Israel and the Palestinian Authority in particular.

Japan welcomes the news that on 16 March Israel transferred the security control of Jericho in the West Bank to the Palestinian Authority. Japan also expects that the Palestinian side will carry out its full responsibilities for security in the Jericho area and that Israel will also transfer the security control of other cities in the West Bank in accordance with the Road Map.

Japan highly evaluates as a positive move toward peace the fact that President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Interim Self-Government Authority and 12 Palestinian factions agreed on 17 March on the Cairo Declaration including the continuation of the halt to violence. Japan strongly expects that the Palestinian factions will cooperate with the effort for peace of the Palestinian Interim Self-Government Authority for advancing the peace process. Japan also pays tribute to Egypt for its constructive peace effort in formulating the Cairo Declaration.