Prime Minister Naoto Kan held a Ministerial Meeting on the Situation in the Middle East at the Diet building.

Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said, "The situation in the Middle East is very tense right now. Regarding the protection of Japanese nationals, the Government of Japan will provide support to those wishing to leave the region.
Moreover, the turmoil in the Middle East will have a large impact on its energy situation and economy, particularly in relation to oil. I believe this will affect the Japanese economy as well in a variety of ways.
As information is collected and work is done to gauge the impact of the situation, if necessary, ministries and agencies should coordinate with each other and hold further meetings to consider what response should be taken."