PanOrient News | Full Text of Japan-Iran Foreign Ministers' Joint Statement

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Diplomacy

Full Text of Japan-Iran Foreign Ministers' Joint Statement

Monday, November 11, 2013

Tokyo- (PanOrient News) This is the full text of the joint statement released after the meeting of Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif in Tehran, on Sunday November 10, 2013:

Joint Communiqué

By Foreign Ministers of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Japan

10 November 2013

His Excellency Mr. Fumio Kishida, the Honorable Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan paid an official visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran on 9 to10 November 2013. During his visit, His Excellency Kishida conferred with His Excellency Dr. Javad Zarif, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Reaffirming their resolve, as representing two responsible players in the international community, to bear a constructive role in engaging global challenges, the two foreign ministers explored paths to further enhance the long-lasting friendship between the two nations, and exchanged their views on regional and global issues.

1. Bilateral Issues

(1) The two foreign ministers, referring to their meeting as well as the meeting between the Prime Minister of Japan and the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, both on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, September this year, emphasised the importance of continuing and strengthening high-level political consultations to deepen further mutual understanding and joint co-operation. The two foreign ministers recognised that such political consultations would bear positive results upon the strengthening of peace, stability and economic prosperity in the region and in the whole world.

(2) The two foreign ministers expressed their readiness to promote dialogues at various levels, including high-level talks, in such areas as policy coordination, consular affairs, and human rights.

(3) The two foreign ministers, referring to the significance of further promotion of cultural relations between the two countries, concurred on the need for enhancing exchanges of intellectuals and students with the participation of various organisations, including educational institutions and think-tanks.

(4) The two foreign ministers, recalling the talks at the aforementioned summit meeting, emphasised the importance of co-operation on environmental issues from bilateral and international perspectives, expressed their intention on the implementation of environmental co-operation such as preservation of lakes and wetlands, and expressed their eagerness for sharing relevant experience and technical knowledge which Japan holds in this field as well as exchanging delegations at various levels.

(5) The two foreign ministers expressed their satisfaction over the steady progress of the bilateral co-operation in providing assistance to Afghanistan based on the Joint Communiqué released on the occasion of the Japan-Iran ministerial meeting in 2009. Foreign Minister Kishida commended Iran’s efforts in taking counter-narcotics measures and admitting Afghan refugees, while Foreign Minister Zarif thanked for the effective role Japan has been playing as the second-largest donor country to Afghanistan. The two foreign ministers expressed their desire for closer co-operation in counter measures against narcotics trafficking, capacity building assistance for border controls in Afghanistan, and assistance for the voluntary return of Afghan refugees to their own country as well as for further discussion of humanitarian assistance.

2. Regional and Global Issues

(1) Foreign Minister Zarif briefed Foreign Minister Kishida on the outcomes of the recent rounds of the Iran-EU3+3 Group talks in Geneva and of the Iran-IAEA talks, and restated that nuclear weapons have no place in Iran’s defence doctrine. Foreign minister Kishida appreciated the position that Iran has no intention to possess nuclear weapons and stated that further mutual steps would lead to build confidence among Iran and EU3+3. Mindful of the importance of early settlement of Iran’s nuclear issue through diplomatic efforts, the two foreign ministers shared the recognition that it is important for all concerned to participate in the talks in a sincere manner for the resolution of the issue. Stressing the necessity of continuing diplomatic efforts to reach a desirable final resolution to the issue, the two foreign ministers affirmed to work together to this end. Foreign minister Kishida welcomed the constructive approach taken by Mr. Rouhani's new government to engage seriously with EU3+3 as well as IAEA and expressed his hope that in such new atmosphere, the nuclear issue of Iran would be resolved soon within specified timetable. He also welcomed the development made during the last three days in the talks between Iran and EU3+3 in Geneva. In return, Foreign Minister Zarif welcomed Japan’s position to make appropriate contribution to the issue.

(2) The two foreign ministers, stressing their commitments with respect to disarmament and non-proliferation, reaffirmed their intention to hold the next round of bilateral consultation in order to discuss issues in this area.

(3) The two foreign ministers shared the views that the cease of violence, the start of political dialogue and the improvement of dire humanitarian conditions are of imminent necessity in Syria and noted an important role that the Geneva II conference should play. They also shared the view that the use of chemical weapons in Syria is the egregious violation of international law which affects other regions as well. They welcomed the decision made by the Organization for the Prohibition of the Chemical Weapons (OPCW) as well as the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2118. The two foreign ministers expressed their preparedness for embarking on constructive co-operation with the international community for the betterment of the situation inside Syria.

(4) The two foreign ministers welcomed international efforts to create a Middle East zone free from nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.

(5) The two foreign ministers emphasised the importance of ensuring the maritime security and the safety of navigation. They also concurred on the importance of peace and stability at sea including those in the Persian Gulf as global commons. They stressed the significance of respect for the rule of law, as well as unimpeded trade and freedom of navigation, on the sea-lanes spanning between the Persian Gulf and the Pacific Ocean and noted its positive effect upon the global economy.

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