Top �� What's up around the Prime Minister �� March, 2003

Meeting of Economic and Finance-Related Cabinet Ministers Tuesday, March 18, 2003 Following the meeting of the Security Council, a meeting of Economic and Finance-Related Cabinet Ministers was held at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. The meeting was promptly convened in order to ensure that all necessary measures are taken to ensure that there is no economic turmoil in Japan or abroad as a result of the issue of Iraq. At the meeting, it was confirmed that in addition to taking measures focusing on the finance and securities markets, the Government would respond flexibly in order to avoid economic turmoil through steps such as releasing state petroleum reserves in order to prepare for a steep rise in crude oil prices in the event that an attack on Iraq is launched.