Yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs made an announcement as follows:

EMERGENCY GRANT AID AFTER ISRAEL'S WITHDRAWAL FROM THE GAZA STRIP

1) On September 6 (Tuesday), the Government of Japan decided to extend emergency grant aid totaling about 49.7 million dollars to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for the Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). This aid will be carried out as part of Japan's assistance for the Palestinian people, which Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi expressed to President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Interim Self-Government Authority when the latter visited Japan this May. During President Abbas' visit, Prime Minister Koizumi announced approximately 100 million dollars for the immediate needs.

2) The aim of this assistance is to stabilize civilian life in the areas including the Gaza Strip after Israel's withdrawal that started on August 15. Japan's assistance will be extended for the following projects:

(1) Rehabilitating the Salah-Addin regional road in the Gaza Strip

(2) Constructing a waste water treatment plant and associated main pressure lines in Khan Younis City

(3) Re-housing non-refugee families in the Gaza Strip

(4) Expanding water distribution networks in the northern part of the West Bank (Jenin and Tulkarm Governorates)

(5) Constructing a court house in the Jenin Governorate

The UNDP will implement the above five projects, totaling about 44.2 million dollars.

(6) Rehabilitation of Palestine refugees' shelters in the Gaza Strip

The UNRWA will implement this project, totaling 5.5 million dollars.

It is expected that through these projects, jobs will be created for about 1,670 Palestinian workers per day and help ease the serious unemployment problem in these areas.

3) At a time when there is a positive movement for progress in the Middle East peace process, Japan hopes that the assistance will contribute to improving the living condition of the Palestinian people, who are facing economic hardship, and to furthering the efforts of the Abbas government for the peace process. Japan also intends to continue assistance to the Palestinians and support efforts of the parties concerned to solve the Palestinian issue, which is the key to achieving peace in the Middle East.

During a press conference later in the day, the following exchange also ocurred:

Q: I have a question about the peace process in the Middle East. In connection with today's announcement about Japan's aid to Palestinian people, could you tell us the latest development of the bilateral talks between the Japanese and Israeli Governments on the planned visit of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of the State of Israel?

Mr. Chiba: We expect Prime Minister Sharon to visit Japan earlier this year but apparently he is engaged in affairs concerning the disengagement. We are still waiting for response from the Israeli Government as to when it is convenient for Prime Minister Sharon to visit Japan. On the Japanese side we are ready to welcome him any time.