Situation in the OPT – Statement by Japan MFA spokesman – Letter from Japan

Distr..

GENERAL

A/45/286*

25 May 1990

ORIGINAL: ENGLISH

Forty-fifth session

Item 35 of the preliminary list**

THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Letter dated 22 May 1990 from the Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

I have the honour to transmit herewith the text of a statement issued on 22 May 1990 by a spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan on the shooting of Palestinians and the escalation of the situation in the occupied Arab territories (see annex).

I should be grateful if you would arrange to have this text circulated as an official document of the General Assembly under item 35 of the preliminary list.

_____________________

* Reissued for technical reasons.

**A/45/50.

90-13360 2030a (E) /

Statement by a Spokesman of the

Ministry

of Foreign Affairs of Japan

on the Shooting of Palestinians and

the Escalation of the Situation.

in the Occupied Arab Territories

The Government of Japan deeply deplores the shooting incident which occurred in the Tel Aviv suburb of Rishon le Zion on May 20 and the subsequent escalation of the situation which has resulted in heavy casualties. The Government of Japan expresses its sincere sympathy for the Palestinian victims and their families and hopes that these injured will recover soon.

Japan is gravely concerned that this incident may result in a further deterioration of conditions in the occupied territories, and calls upon those involved, particularly on the Israeli side, to exercise self-restraint in coping with the situation.

While the incident itself seems to have been personally motivated, the reason for the ensuing violence is that the Middle East peace process, especially in respect of the Palestinian problem, is at a standstill. The Palestinians in the occupied territories have had to live for decades under severe political, economic, and social conditions, while the goal of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East remains elusive.

The Government of Japan strongly hopes that a new Israel Government will be speedily formed and proceed to an early and peaceful solution to the situation in the- Middle East.