Coming in April. Junichiro Koizumi
צילום: רויטרס
Japanese PM coming to Israel
Koizumi scheduled to visit Israel, PA in April; previous trip was cancelled due to Sharon’s illness
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is scheduled to visit Israel and the Palestinian Authority at the end of April.
The visit was arranged during a meeting between the PM and Israel’s Ambassador to Japan Eli Cohen, at the PM's office.
Koizumi was set to visit Israel some five weeks ago, but canceled in light of Prime Minster Ariel Sharon’s condition.
In recent years Japan has been showing increased interest in the Middle East; it transferred a total of USD 800 million to the PA, and a visit to the region may also boos the country’s efforts to gain a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council.
In Sharon’s last interview before his hospitalization, the prime minister told Japanese reporters that he welcomes a Koizumi visit to Israel, saying ’Israel views great importance and significance in expanding relations between the two countries, and it's important that these ties develop.
“We also see great importance in Japan's role in the Middle East. Japan can certainly help by assisting the Palestinian Authority (PA) in their attempts to undertake reform,” Sharon said.
“I do intend to fulfill my commitment and visit Japan after the elections, when I will visit Japan as Israel's Prime Minister.”
