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(Provisional Translation) Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary (Concerning the Relationship between the Bill Concerning the Special Measures on the Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance Activities and Security Support in Iraq and the Three Principles on Arms Exports) June 13, 2003

1

The Government of Japan, in response to the use of force against Iraq by the United States and its allies under the United Nations Security Council Resolutions and the ensuing situation, has been actively deliberating assistance measures for the reconstruction of Iraq. Given the current efforts made by the international community to assist and promote the initiative of the people of Iraq seeking to reconstruct the nation by achieving stability and improvements to their livelihoods and the establishment of governing structures by democratic means in Iraq, the Cabinet today decided the Bill Concerning the Special Measures on the Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance Activities and Security Support in Iraq based on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1483 in the view that Japan should also actively contribute to such efforts on its own initiative. As response measures based on the Bill, Japan shall carry out humanitarian and reconstruction assistance activities and security support and thus contribute to the peace and security of the international community including Japan through rebuilding the nation in Iraq.

2

As this bill contains provisions on the use of "weapons" by Self-Defense Forces (SDF) personnel in implementing the response measures on overseas territory, it justifiably assumes the export of arms as stipulated in the Three Principles on Arms Export. Although the Bill states that the SDF shall not supply "weapons (including ammunition)" to member states of the United Nations or other countries in the course of implementing the response measures based on this bill, the inclusion of arms as stipulated in the Three Principles on Arms Exports as part of other goods and services to be provided is not excluded. The Government has to date dealt carefully with the export of arms in accordance with the Three Principles on Arms Exports. In light of the purpose of the Bill as mentioned in (1), however, the export of arms that could be carried out under the Bill as decided by the Cabinet shall not be subject to the Three Principles on Arms Exports. In this case: (a) The response measures that Japan implements based on this bill shall be limited to the scope of this bill for the purpose of providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Iraq or assistance for the reconstruction of Iraq, or contributing to the recovery of the domestic security and stability of Iraq; (b) With regard to arms exported for use by SDF personnel or other personnel, they shall be strictly managed by the SDF or other bodies, and shall be returned to Japan after the end of duties. The use of such arms shall be limited to the cases where the requirements stipulated in this bill are fulfilled; (c) When arms are exported in the course of implementing the response measures, the use of such arms are conditioned, through international agreements or other documents between the Government of Japan and the government of the destination country or the country being supplied in exporting the arms, to conform to the UN Charter and shall not be transferred to a third party without a prior consent of the Government of Japan. Thus the basic concept of Japan as a peaceful nation relying on the Three Principles on Arms Exports which aims to avoid the exacerbation of international conflict is secured.

3	The Government intends to maintain the basic concept of the Three Principles on Arms Exports which aims to avoid the exacerbation of international conflict.