PA Foreign Minister Shaath meets with Japanese counterpart – PA press release/Non-UN document

Dr. Shaath, during a meeting with his Japanese counterpart, urged the Israeli people to reject the aggressive policy of their Prime Minister

FM Dr. Nabeel Shaath welcomed in his office in Ramallah his Japanese counterpart Mr. Nobutaka Machimura on Saturday.

Dr Shaath conveyed, during the meeting, the appreciation of the Palestinian Authority to the Japanese government for its continued support to Palestinian people.

During their meeting, the two dignitaries agreed on the need to redouble efforts to create peace in the Middle East, a Japanese official said.

Dr. Shaath warned that new orders by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for the Israeli occupation forces to crush Palestinian resistance fighters in Gaza Strip will only serve to further undermine the peace process.
"This policy will not serve the peace process and I ask the Israeli people to reject this Sharon policy," Dr. Shaath added

He stressed the need to "go back to the road map" which the Palestinian and Israeli governments agreed on in 2003.

"We are ready and our president Abu Mazen is ready for peace. He will go to Gaza to meet with Hamas and Jihad and all the leaders to discuss with them about a ceasefire and to try and reach an agreement with them about this." Dr. Shaath told reporters

But Dr. Shaath indicated that it is essential for not only Palestinians but also Israelis to boost efforts to crack down on extremists and create peace, saying a possible truce "needs to be two-way."

Mr. Machimura was quoted as saying that Japan is throwing its "full support" behind the leadership led by Mahmoud Abbas who won the Jan. 9 presidential election.

Mr. Machimura also told Dr. Shaath that Japan will extend an additional $60 million in financial and humanitarian aid to the Palestinian Authority.

Mr. Machimura highlighted that "If peace creation will get under way, Japan is willing to offer more aid in the area of economic development to help Palestinians stand on their own feet economically."