Statement by Foreign Press Secretary Yasuhisa Kawamura on the peace and reconciliation agreement between the government of Mali and the northern Mali's armed groups

TOKYO, Japan, May 18, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- 1. Japan welcomes the agreement on peace and reconciliation concerning the Inclusive Peace Talks in Alger, signed on May 15 in Bamako, between the government of Mali and the northern Mali's armed groups.

2. It is crucial that the signed agreement be faithfully implemented by all the parties concerned and, peace and security in Mali be swiftly established through the progress of national reconciliation. Japan, therefore, expects remaining armed groups which have not yet signed the Agreement to do so at the earliest opportunity.

3. Japan highly appreciates all the efforts made by the international mediation team led by the government of Algeria which brought about the Agreement. The government of Japan will continue to support every effort by the international community for the peace and reconciliation in Mali.