Abe Pledges 2.2-B.-Dollar Aid for Middle East, North Africa

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, May 1 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Wednesday that the country will provide a total of 2.2 billion dollars of financial assistance to the Middle East and North Africa to help promote the stability in the region. In a speech delivered in this Saudi Arabian city, Abe called for stronger cooperation between Japan and the region in fields such as the economy, industry, security, culture and personnel exchanges. The planned financial assistance is designed to help "build lasting peace and stability" in the region, which remains in turmoil even after the Arab Spring democratization movements, the Japanese leader said. The assistance is expected to be provided mainly in the form of low-interest yen loans. In the speech, entitled "Japan's Ties with the Middle East in a New Age of Synergy, Mutual Prosperity and Cooperation," Abe also said that Japan is ready to launch high-level security dialogues with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey. "In the coming years, Japan and the Middle East will make a leap beyond the dimension of trading oil and gas, and strengthen our economic and business ties" in all sectors, he said, adding that the process will help raise relations between the two sides to "a significantly higher level" and lead them into "an era of expanded cooperation." Japan and the Middle East will make yet another leap, beyond business-centered relations, by strengthening their ties in politics and security, he also noted. Japan and the Middle East are partners that share the same interests and concerns, and the 21st century will be a century of coexistence and co-prosperity, he said. Abe urged Israel and the Palestinians to move toward a so-called two-state solution, saying that both parties "have a responsibility to enter into direct negotiations as soon as possible and redouble their efforts to achieve a lasting peace." The two-state solution calls for allowing Israel and a future Palestinian state to achieve a peaceful and secure coexistence. Japan has shown understanding for the Palestinians' "earnest desire to establish their own independent state" and supported "their rights for self-determination," Abe said. Abe also unveiled his government's plan for two-way personnel exchanges involving a total of 20,000 people over the next five years, by inviting business trainees from the Middle East and sending Japanese instructors to the region. Abe also said that Japan will initiate a "cost-sharing technical assistance" program with Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Under the program, specialists from the Japan International Cooperation Agency will be sent to the two countries to transfer their know-how, with part of the associated costs to be borne by the host countries, Abe said. He added that his government aims to increase the number of UAE students learning in Japan to 500 from around 60 at present. Abe is now on a week-long tour of Russia, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Turkey. END