Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• The current situation in Syria

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question regarding the situation in Syria. The situation there is getting aggravated, since the Syrian defense minister was killed. How does the Japanese Government view this situation, and also what does it have in mind to approach and work with the international society?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: I believe that the situation was that the Syrian defense minister Dawoud Rajiha and other regime officials were killed in a suicide attack yesterday in Damascus, the capital of Syria. We recognize that the situation in Syria has become extremely serious, where violence or supersession has repeatedly occurred since March last year. We strongly call for an immediate halt to all violence in order to smoothly move forward the transition process lead by Syrians. Also we are in the position that we will continue to work for the improvement of the Syrian situation in coordination with the international society.

(Abridged)