Arab News Japan

TOKYO: With tensions rising in the Middle East, Japan, which relies on the region for most of its energy needs, is looking on with concern while hoping that a diplomatic solution will ease tensions in the area.

“Japan is now investigating and reviewing what has happened in that region,” Chief Cabinet Secretary HAYASHI Yoshimasa said at a press conference. “We would like to avoid further escalation and utilize diplomatic efforts (to help resolve the situation), but I don’t want to make any substantive statement on the matter.”

Hayashi noted that the UN Security Council held an urgent meeting following the assassination of Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh in Iran on July 31. Hayashi said that at that meeting, “Japan expressed grave concern over the deterioration of the situation in the Middle East due to the exchange of attacks between Israel and Lebanon, and the assassination of Haniyeh.”

“We called on the parties concerned to ease tension and emphasized the need to end the fighting in Gaza. I understand that many members of the Security Council have expressed a similar position. The important thing is to avoid mutual attacks and bring the situation under control.”

He added that Japan is making diplomatic efforts, in cooperation with other countries, to prevent further deterioration and escalation, although he admitted that “the situation in the region seems to be worsening.

On Friday, Foreign Minister KAMIKAWA Yoko reiterated Japan’s position.

“Japan’s position is that we are deeply concerned and paying close attention to the situation in the region,” she said at a news conference. “The important thing is to avoid mutual escalation of attacks and to reduce tensions. To prevent the situation from worsening, Japan is participating in appeals to the parties concerned. We will do our utmost in terms of diplomatic efforts through close coordination with the countries concerned.”