JCP representatives and Saudi Arabian officials agree on the need to avoid war on Iraq

Japanese Communist Party International Bureau director Ogata Yasuo on October 20 in Riyadh met with Abdulmuhsin A. Al-akkas, a senior foreign relations official of the advisory council for Saudi Arabia's King and government.

Ogata explained that the tour by him and deputy director Morihara Kimitoshi of the Middle East countries is aimed at exchanging opinions to seek ways to avoid war on Iraq. Laying down the JCP position, Ogata asked about that of the Saudi Arabian government.

Al-Akkas welcomed the JCP visit and stressed that Saudi Arabia and the JCP have a common view that no war in Iraq should take place.

Al-Akkas stated that Saudi Arabia is an Islamic Arab nation taking pride in being at the center of such nations. He asserted that the country is a founding member of the United Nations, and has consistently endeavored to establish international relations based on the U.N. Charter and international law since the end of WW II, along with efforts to develop multilateral relations with U.N. bodies and regional organizations.

He said that the basic position of Saudi Arabia is that it will never force its opinion on others and will never allow any opinion to be forced on itself. He said that Saudi Arabia is of the opinion that the question of Iraq should be settled within the framework of the United Nations based on the U.N. Charter.

Ogata said that during his visits of Jordan, Iraq and Egypt, all those he talked with agreed in general on the need for Iraq to fully implement the U.N. Security Council resolutions and unconditionally accept U.N. inspections.

Referring to his talks with the speaker of the Iraqi National Assembly, Ogata pointed out that the speaker sincerely promised cooperation by Iraq with the United Nations, different from its past questionable attitudes on U.N. inspections.

Al-Akkas said that in the light of the levels of Iraqi threats to its neighboring countries, it is possible for the United Nations to discuss ways to seek a settlement without war. He said that in the event of war, the toll will not be limited to the Iraqi people but can involve the possibility of a civil war, as Iraq's territorial integrity can be endangered, which can extend further to, ethnic issues concerning the Kurds in Iran and Turkey.

Ogata thanked the Saudi Arabian government for receiving the JCP representatives, the first JCP members to visit the country.

Al-Akkas said that they are welcome and will be welcome any time. (end)