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The Middle East and North Africa (PDF) The Middle East and North Africa Section 6 Section 6 Chapter 2 The Middle East and North Africa Overview The Middle East and North Africa is situated in a geopolitically important location at the intersection of Europe, sub- Saharan Africa, Central Asia, and South Asia. This region contains major international maritime routes for international commerce, and is also an important supplier of energy resources, The First Japan-Arab Political Dialogue (September 11, Cairo, including crude oil and natural gas, to the Egypt) rest of the world. On the other hand, the region faces a number of destabilizing issues and mid- and long-term development such as Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant cooperation while encouraging related (ISIL) and other violent extremist groups, the countries to engage in initiatives aimed at vast numbers of refugees that are flowing achieving regional stability. into nearby regions, the prolongation of Japan relies on the Middle East for more the crisis in Syria, the situation in Iraq, the than 80% of its crude oil imports and has Middle East Peace Process, the tensions developed ties with countries in the Middle between Iran and Saudi Arabia, the East and North Africa region (hereinafter, situation surrounding Qatar, and domestic “countries in the Middle East”) that have conditions in Afghanistan, Yemen, and centered on resources and energy. Today, Libya. Achieving peace and stability in however, beyond these relationships Japan this region is of great importance for the works to build more multi-layered ones in world as a whole, including Japan. Japan the areas such as wide-ranging economic is working with the global community to cooperation, politics and security, and resolve these issues. Japan is also working culture and people-to-people exchanges. with the global community in areas such as Prime Minister Abe has visited this region humanitarian aid, stabilization assistance, six times since the inauguration of the DIPLOMATIC BLUEBOOK 2018 155 外交青書-英語版30-2-6.indd 155 2018/09/07 13:01:21 Chapter 2 Japan’s Foreign Policy that Takes a Panoramic Perspective of the World Map second Abe administration in December Embassy in Israel would be relocated to 2012. Foreign Minister Kono has also Jerusalem, the circumstances surrounding visited the region four times since taking on the issue of peace in the Middle East have his current position in August 2017. There become more complicated. This led Foreign have also been a number of high-level visits, Minister Kono to visit Israel and Palestine meetings, and talks, and the Government to lobby both sides. of Japan is working more proactively to Although the area controlled by ISIL strengthen ties with countries in the region. is decreasing in size, violent extremism In particular, Foreign Minister Kono has continues to be a source of instability for given strong commitment to this region as the Middle East and is a serious issue for the one of six pillars of his foreign policy. He international community as a whole. Since outlined his “Kono Four Principles1,” -basic the beginning of the crisis in Syria, Japan Middle East policies based on Japan’s has provided support worth more than 1.9 achievements so far in the region at the first billion US dollars in total to Syria, Iraq, Japan-Arab Political Dialogue, held in Egypt and other neighboring countries, including in September 2017. The four principles are: the provision of yen loans to Turkey and (1) intellectual and human contribution, (2) Jordan, which have been affected by an investment in people, (3) enduring efforts, influx of Syrian refugees. Japan has used and (4) enhancing political efforts. a number of opportunities, including the The Middle East Peace Process has first Japan-Arab Political Dialogue (held stagnated since negotiations between Israel in September 2017), to show a stance to and Palestine faltered in April 2014. Japan is support the creation of inclusive societies utilizing its friendly relations with countries that do not produce violent extremism, in the Middle East to provide support from through providing humanitarian aid to an impartial perspective aimed at resolving refugees and displaced persons, improving the issue of peace in the Middle East. At economic infrastructure, developing human a series of summit meetings and foreign resources, and so on. ministerial meetings held during high-level With regard to Iran, the “Implementation visits, Japan has expressed its support Day” of the final agreement on the nuclear for finding a resolution through dialogue issue was reached in January 2016, and between both parties and is working to the U.S. and the EU partially suspended encourage peace negotiations. Japan has or terminated sanctions against Iran. also made steady progress with its own Following the final agreement, Japan has efforts to provide support to the Palestinians, continued to support the nuclear agreement including the “Corridor for Peace and which would strengthen the global non- Prosperity” initiative and the Conference on proliferation system and contribute to Cooperation among East Asian Countries stability in the Middle East. Japan is making for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD). efforts to further strengthen relations with With the announcement in December Iran following the implementation of 2017 by U.S. president Trump that the U.S. the agreement through cooperation to 1 The address given by Foreign Minister Kono, at the First Japan-Arab Political Dialogue in September 2017. URL: http://www.mofa. go.jp/files/000288921.pdf 156 DIPLOMATIC BLUEBOOK 2018 外交青書-英語版30-2-6.indd 156 2018/09/07 13:01:21 The Middle East and North Africa Section 6 encourage the steady implementation of the ▶▶The complete map of Iraq final agreement by Iran and the conclusion Turkey of the bilateral investment agreement. Mosul In June 2017, Saudi Arabia, the United Nineveh Erbil Chapter 2 Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Egypt, and Syria other countries announced termination Iran of diplomatic relations with Qatar for Heet Ramadi a number of reasons including Qatar’s Baghdad Rutba Fallujah support for terrorism. Japan supports Anbar mediation efforts by Kuwait and calls for a resolution through dialogue, emphasizing the importance of the unity of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for peace and Saudi Arabia Kuwait stability in the Middle East. In recent years, the Middle Eastern countries have achieved steady economic The operations against ISIL were carried development due to their rapidly growing out with cooperation among Iraq’s Federal youth population, and have been increasing Government security forces, Popular their presence as a consumer market and Mobilization Units (PMU) which are an investment destination. Therefore, primarily made up of Shia paramilitary Japan has been working on establishing fighters, and the KRG’s Peshmerga security legal frameworks such as the EPA, FTA, forces, and have successfully liberated investment agreements, tax agreements, major cities including Mosul in July. In and social security agreements, which are December, Iraqi Prime Minister Abadi foundations for strengthening the economic declared that all Iraqi territory had been and business relationships with the Middle liberated from ISIL control. East countries. Additionally, Japan has On the other hand, the KRG went through been promoting infrastructure projects in with a referendum on independence of the the region. Kurdistan region (including disputed areas with the Federal Government) despite 1 Situation in Middle East Region strong opposition from the Federal (1) Iraq Government and the international In 2017, developments which are mutually community. The Federal Government contradictory on Iraq’s unity were seen. responded to this by deploying security While Iraqi ethnic groups and religious sects forces to Kirkuk and other disputed areas. teamed together to successfully liberate all As a result, the KRG lost almost all of the Iraqi territory from “Islamic State of Iraq disputed areas and KRG President Barzani and the Levant (ISIL)” control, the tensions subsequently resigned. between Iraq’s Federal Government and The operations to liberate Iraq from ISIL the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) have resulted in a large number of internally became heightened after a referendum on displaced persons, and their early return to independence of the Kurdistan region. their home becomes the primary issue to DIPLOMATIC BLUEBOOK 2018 157 外交青書-英語版30-2-6.indd 157 2018/09/07 13:01:21 Chapter 2 Japan’s Foreign Policy that Takes a Panoramic Perspective of the World Map address towards reconstruction. Against (2) Syria this backdrop, Japan provided, in January, A Current Situation in Syria, and the approximately 100 million US dollars of Decline of ISIL humanitarian and stabilization assistance The ongoing Syrian crisis, which began via international organizations which in 2011, is considered to be this century’s included provision of food, water and other worst humanitarian crisis. As of the end of daily commodities to displaced persons, 2017, between 320,000 and 470,000 people as well as repairing houses and providing have died, more than 5 million people have vocational training, in order to assist their become refugees, and approximately 6.3 early return and settlement. In September, million people have become internally- Japan also provided 4.5 million US dollars displaced persons. in humanitarian and stabilization assistance Although the Syrian crisis is becoming via international organizations. In addition, protracted, the power of ISIL has Japan is contributing to the restoration diminished considerably. The Syrian of Iraq’s infrastructure through yen- Democratic Forces, which receive support loan projects in areas such as electricity. from the U.S.-led coalition in Syria, has Furthermore, based on the announcement been fighting ISIL on the northeastern bank at the G7 Ise-Shima Summit in 2016, Japan of the Euphrates River. On June 6, 2017, is supporting the restoration of Iraq’s the SDF launched an attack on Raqqa, the finances, which have suffered from factors city that ISIL referred to as their capital, such as falling oil prices and increased war- and formally announced on October 20 related costs.
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