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Japanese sanctions will not hit ongoing projects

Current Japanese projects in India and future human and welfare-related projects will not be affected by the economic sanctions imposed by Tokyo in the wake of India's nuclear tests.

Making the declaration, Japanese Ambassador to India Hiroshi Hirabayashi also urged both India and Pakistan to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and resolve the long-pending Kashmir issue bilaterally.

Speaking to the media in Bombay, he said the economic measures imposed by Japan were not intended to penalise India or Pakistan.

"Japan, which is the only country to have suffered two nuclear attacks, has been advocating a complete elimination of nuclear weapons, and the recent tests by these two countries have compelled Tokyo to impose economic measures," he said.

Denying that the economic sanctions were imposed under international pressure, the ambassador made it clear that the sanctions imposed are not like the measures followed by some other countries.

He insisted that the sanctions were not aimed at jeopardising the reforms process in India, and that Japan will continue the ongoing projects besides funding humane projects in the future. The Japanese government has also not pressurised the Japanese industrial community to discontinue bilateral trade. However, the Japanese government will not fund developmental projects, he said, adding that after everything settles down, the sanctions would be lifted.

Hirabayaashi was the first ambassador to return to India after being recalled back to Japan in retaliation against India conducting nuclear tests. Talking about Indo-Pak and Indo-Pak-China relations, he said that New Delhi and Islamabad should speed up bilateral talks to find a conclusion to the long-pending Kashmir issue.

Refusing to comment on the United Nations Security Council's permanent members' opinion to solve the problem by third party intervention, he pointed out that Japan has not made its position clear on the issue.

"We want to be careful," he said, adding that India and Pakistan should, however, continue their talks.

The Japanese ambassador agreed that the situation has changed in the Indian subcontinent after the nuclear tests and pointed out that Japan was opposed to any kind of nuclear tests -- whether on land, sea, or in the laboratories.

To improve regional security and global perceptions, he said both India and Pakistan should sign and ratify the CTBT and NPT.

Talking about the nuclear test of 1974, he stated that it was for peaceful purposes, whereas this time, the Indian government had clearly stated its intention to induct nuclear arms. "We are sorry and disappointed," he added.

Pointing out that indo-Japan bilateral relations are over a century old, he said the recent economic measures will not affect future ties. "We sincerely hope that India will adhere to some conditions, including signing the CTBT and NPT. After fulfilment of the conditions, the sanctions will be lifted," he added.

UNI