Summary of the G8 Foreign Ministers' Meeting

Embassy of Japan

June 1, 2007

The G8 Foreign Ministers' meeting was held on May 30 in Potsdam, Germany. Japan was represented by Foreign Minister Taro Aso. Also attending, in addition to the Foreign Ministers from G8 countries, were the Foreign Ministers from Afghanistan and Pakistan , who were specially invited. The meeting focused on Kosovo, the situation in the Middle East, Afghanistan, Sudan and Iran as well as North Korea. Japan ’s position on the situation in the Middle East, Iran and North Korea follows.

The Middle East

Foreign Minister Aso expressed his concerns over the recent worsening of the situation, and from the perspective of urging the parties’ self-restraint and advancing the peace process, advocated that visible support be given to President Abbas, who is continuing to make efforts toward peace with Israel . Foreign Minister Aso went on to say that eradicating poverty and despair was fundamental to the peace process, and he explained Japan 's concept for "Creating the Corridor for Peace and Prosperity." He explained that this concept was fleshed out in a ministerial-level meeting for the Four-Party Consultative Unit (Japanese, Israeli, Palestinian, and Jordanian representatives) hosted in Tokyo in March, that this concept was in progress, and that Japan would continue to press forward with this concept.

Iran

Foreign Minister Aso said that the most effective way to pressure Iran to accept the demands of international society was measures based on a unanimous UN Security Council resolution. He said he was of this view after having approached Iranian Foreign Minister Mottaki on a number of occasions. He said that it was necessary that the international community act unanimously in applying pressure insofar as possible while keeping open a window for dialogue.

North Korea

Foreign Minister Aso led the discussion saying that in as much as North Korea had already conducted a nuclear test, the situation in North Korea was even more serious than in Iran, and that it was vital for the international community to express its strong will and steadily implement the UN Security Council resolution. He expressed extreme regret that North Korea had not yet implemented the "initial actions" already agreed upon during the Six-Party Talks. Arguing that our patience is not unlimited, he said that even more pressure should be applied to North Korea if necessary. Foreign Minister Aso stated that Japan could play a more substantial role in economic and energy assistance to North Korea if progress was made in Japan-North Korean relations, including on the abduction issue. Accordingly, for Japan the resolution of the abduction issue is closely related to the advances on the nuclear issue. He argued that the resolution of these issues required strengthening the cooperation not just among the G8 nations, but among the entire international community.

The documents issued at this meeting are available at:

(i) Chairman’s Statement

http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/economy/summit/2007/g8tate.pdf

(ii) Joint Statement “G8 Afghanistan-Pakistan Initiative”

http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/economy/summit/2007/g8joint.pdf

(iii) Declaration of G8 Foreign Ministers on Rule of Law

http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/economy/summit/2007/g8dec.pdf

[Related links]

* G8 Summit 2007 Heiligendamm

http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/economy/summit/2007/index.html

*G8 (Ministry of Foreign Affairs website)

http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/economy/summit/index.html

* Japan ’s Concept for Creating the Corridor for Peace and Prosperity (Background Paper)

http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/middle_e/palestine/concept0607.html