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Deputy FM Ayalon meets with State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Japan Takemasa
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| 30 Aug 2010 |
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Preconditions are not conducive to successful negotiations and placing the blame on Israel before the negotiations have even started is extremely unhelpful and damaging for peace. |
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(Communicated by the Deputy Foreign Minister's Bureau)
On Monday, 30 August, Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon met with Mr. Koichi Takemasa, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Japan in Jerusalem. They discussed the peace process, regional issues and bilateral cooperation. Mr. Takemasa had earlier met with Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman and National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister, Uzi Arad.
Deputy Foreign Minister Ayalon spoke about the closeness in relations and friendship between the two countries. "We value Japan's contribution to peace in our region," Ayalon said. "We hope the direct negotiations restating this week will be successful. If there is a will on both sides then there will be progress."
Ayalon referred to the call by the Palestinians for an extension to the settlement moratorium. "Whoever places the settlements as a precondition is not serious," Ayalon continued. "Preconditions are not conducive to successful negotiations and placing the blame on Israel before the negotiations have even started is extremely unhelpful and damaging for peace. All sides should arrive at the negotiations with good will."
The Deputy Foreign Ministers also discussed sanctions and the Iranian nuclear threat. "The threat your region faces from North Korean nuclear weapons is the same threat that we will face in our region from Iranian nuclear weapons," Ayalon said to his counterpart. "It is important that Japan follow the example of the U.S. and the European Union to apply tougher sanctions on the Iranian regime."
Mr. Ayalon and Mr. Takemasa also discussed bilateral issues like cooperation and international development. "We would like an exchange of knowledge," Ayalon said. "We would also like to couple Japanese know-how with Israeli expertise, perhaps for the good of third party developing nations."
"If we invest more in cleantech and renewable energy it will not only make the world cleaner, but safer." |
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