Top �� What's up around the Prime Minister �� June, 2002

Prime Minister Meets with the Special Envoy of the President of Pakistan Monday, June 17, 2002 Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi met with the Special Envoy of the President of Pakistan Najmuddin Sheikh at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. At the meeting, in the context of the military tension between Pakistan and India, Special Envoy Sheikh expressed his request that G8 leaders discuss and recognize the fact that India should take measures to alleviate the tension in the region at the next Summit Meeting to begin in Canada on June 26. In response, Prime Minister Koizumi pointed out that given the nuclear testing conducted by both countries, Pakistan and India must consider the fact that they both bear a major responsibility toward the international community. Prime Minister Koizumi also stated, "Self-restraint must be displayed in order to avoid an irreversible situation," calling for the situation to be resolved through dialogue.