CP Ogata and Jordanian upper house vice chair agree on U.N. Charter-based settlement

Japanese Communist Party International Bureau Director Ogata Yasuo on his first leg of a Middle East tour on October 7 held talks with Abdul Rauf Rawabdeh, the deputy speaker of the Upper House of Parliament of Jordan in the Jordanian capital of Amman.

Ogata and Rawabdeh agreed on the urgent need to avoid a war against Iraq and the establishment of peace based on the United Nations Charter.

Ogata explained his visit as part of JCP efforts to seek ways towards a peaceful settlement of the question which greatly affects the future of international peace in the 21st century through direct contact with the governments and parliamentarians in the Middle East.

Rawabdeh, former prime minister, said that not a single Arab wants Iraq to be attacked and that the Japanese government has a big part to play in avoiding a war on Iraq. He also stressed the importance of developing public opinion in the Middle East, Europe, and the United States opposing the war.

Ogata explained the JCP view of the situation as an opposition party and its recent foreign relations activities. He cited JCP Central Committee Chair Fuwa Tetsuzo's talks with Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Jiang Zemin in August in Beijing in which both agreed to oppose a U.S. attack against Iraq.

On hearing Ogata's explanation, Rawabdeh lauded the talks between Fuwa and Jiang, and pointed out the importance of world powers including Japan to act in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter.

Ogata on the same day had talks with Zahi Smadi, acting director of the Arab & Middle East Department of the Foreign Ministry of Jordan. Both agreed on a view that for Iraq to abide by U.N. Security Council resolutions and unconditionally accept U.N. inspections on weapons of mass destruction is one way to possibly prevent U.S. strikes and contribute to peace and stability in the region.

Both sides exchanged opinions on the need for the peoples of Japan and Jordan to cooperate and exchange views. (end)