Newsletter No. 162
January 17, 2006

 

TOKYO REACTS TO THE DEATH OF THE KUWAITI AMIR

The death of Shaikh Jabr al-Ahmad al-Jabr al-Sabah, the Amir of Kuwait, has produced some comment from the Japanese political establishment.

Prime Minister Koizumi led the way with the following message: “The Amir had played an important role for a long time for the prosperity of the world economy through peace in the international and regional community, and stabilization of the international market for energy… He had helped transform Kuwait into a modern state, and had made a great contribution to achieve full recovery of Kuwait after the Iraqi invasion… I sincerely hope the government and people of Kuwait overcome their sorrow and work toward achieving further development and prosperity.”

Foreign Minister Taro Aso flew to Kuwait yesterday to attend the funeral of the Amir, and is expected to return to Japan tomorrow.

Japan and Kuwait have maintained diplomatic relations since December 1961. A banner year for the relationship was 1995, when Crown Prince Naruhito visited the country and the Amir made a state visit to Japan. The then-Prime Minister of Kuwait, Shaikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jabr al-Sabah, came to Japan in July 2004.

Kuwait is said to supply about 8.6% of all of Japan’s oil imports.