Foreign Minister Motegi confirms Japan’s support to Yemen, condemns Houthis｜Arab News Japan
TOKYO: Foreign Minister MOTEGI Toshimitsu on August 18 strongly condemned the recent series of attacks perpetrated by Houthi rebels and reaffirmed the imperative of securing peace within Yemen.
Minister Motegi’s remarks were delivered during a courtesy call with Rashad al-Alimi, Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council of Yemen and the de facto head of the Yemeni government, during the Chairman’s temporary visit to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
According to the Foreign Ministry, Motegi emphasized that the stability of Yemen, situated along the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, is intrinsically linked to the stability and prosperity of both the Middle East and the international community at large. He further affirmed Japan’s continued commitment to supporting the Yemeni government.
Chairman al-Alimi expressed his appreciation for Japan’s enduring support and articulated a desire to further strengthen bilateral relations with Japan, characterizing the nation as a trusted partner.
During the hour-long meeting, Minister Motegi conveyed his gratitude for the message of sympathy extended by Yemen following the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake.
Minister Motegi further noted that Japan has consistently urged Iran to exercise restraint regarding the Houthi rebels. In response, Chairman al-Alimi expressed high regard for Japan’s diplomatic stance and provided an overview of the activities of the Houthi rebels, as well as the Yemeni government’s ongoing efforts toward achieving peace.
Regarding the situation in Iran, Minister Motegi expressed concern over the persistent escalation of regional tensions and the lack of progress in negotiations between the United States and Iran. He explained that Japan is exerting every possible diplomatic effort to facilitate the resumption of negotiations and the attainment of a final agreement. Both parties also deliberated on the correlation between the situations in Iran and Yemen.
Concerning bilateral relations, Minister Motegi highlighted Japan’s contributions to Yemen’s stability through past assistance, including food aid authorized in July, as well as financial and human resource support provided to the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen (OSESGY).
He noted that Japan, as a core member of the Yemen Maritime Security Partnership (YMSP), is actively supporting human resource development for the Yemeni Coast Guard. He stated that these efforts contribute to the realization of the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) vision advocated by Japan and expressed a desire to continue strengthening Yemen’s maritime law enforcement capabilities.
Furthermore, he noted the increasing number of Yemeni students receiving Japanese government scholarships, expressing his hope that they will contribute to Yemen’s nation-building and serve as a bridge between the two nations.
Chairman al-Alimi reiterated his gratitude for Japan’s multifaceted support to date. He stated that Yemen, as a maritime nation, highly values Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) vision and expressed a desire to enhance cooperation with Japan from this perspective.
Both parties reached a consensus to maintain close collaboration to further develop bilateral relations and promote regional peace and stability.