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| By: Associated Press |
| Published: July 10, 2006 |
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Former international Middle East peace envoy James Wolfensohn began a four-day visit to Japan on Monday to discuss peace in the region and development issues, the Foreign Ministry said.
Wolfensohn is to meet with Senior Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Katsutoshi Kaneda and other officials before leaving Japan on Friday, the ministry said.
During his stay, the former president of the World Bank is also scheduled to deliver a speech at the Japan Institute of International Affairs on Japan's role in the world, it said in a statement.
Wolfensohn resigned from his position as the envoy of the "quartet" of Mideast peacemakers -- the U.S., European Union, United Nations and Russia -- and closed its office on April 30 following restrictions imposed after Hamas took over the Palestinian government.
That led to a decision by Western nations to stop funding the Palestinian Authority, while maintaining humanitarian aid programs. The U.S., EU and Israel classify Hamas as a terror organization.
Japan said in April it would not make any new aid commitments to the Palestinian Authority until the Hamas government demonstrates its support for peace with Israel.
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is to depart for Israel, the Palestinian territory and Jordan on Tuesday, en route to a G-8 summit meeting scheduled for July 15-17 in St. Petersburg, Russia. |
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