Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I will give a report on the current status regarding the incident in Algeria, in which Japanese nationals have been taken hostage. The Government has received severe information from the Algerian government concerning the safety of the multiple Japanese nationals involved in this incident and the Government is currently engaged in diligent efforts to confirm the facts. Under such circumstance, Prime Minister Abe spoke on the telephone with Prime Minister Sellal of Algeria a short while ago, in which he was informed by Prime Minister Sellal that the military operation had been concluded. Prime Minister Abe requested cooperation from the Algerian government concerning operations to confirm the safety of Japanese nationals and Prime Minister Sellal stated that the Algerian government would provide full cooperation. Based on the instructions of Prime Minister Abe, at 10:00 am tomorrow (January 20), the fifth meeting of the Response Headquarters for the Japanese Nationals Abducted in Algeria will be held.