First Middle East Division Director, 'Main Points of Remarks and Questions and Answers for Special Envoy Nakayama (for President Assad and Foreign Minister Shara)'

Main Points of Remarks and Questions and Answers for Special Envoy Nakayama (for President Assad and Foreign Minister Shara)

September 12, 1985

First Middle East Division Director

1. After my recent visit to your country, I reported the contents of the meetings with Your Excellencies to Prime Minister Nakasone and Minister Abe. Both the Prime Minister and Minister Abe expressed their deep gratitude for President Assad and Foreign Minister Shara meeting promptly with me, for giving me clear explanations, and for their great cooperation for the release of the American hostages.

2. Also, after our country recently urged Israel to release all the remaining Lebanese prisoners, when Foreign Minister Shamir visited Japan the other day, he said that, partly in consideration of the request from the Government of Japan and Minister Abe, Israel would release all the remaining prisoners. In fact, they were released on the 10^th. Of course, I think that there is no direct relation between this and the problem of the release of the American hostages, but I hope for a possible improvement in environment for the release of the hostages (incidentally, there is media reporting that two French hostages are to be released).

3. In particular, in light of President Assad saying at our meeting in August that he would like to try taking action immediately after the release of the Lebanese prisoners, Prime Minister Nakasone requested that I again visit your country and discuss with President Assad and Foreign Minister Shara the problem of the release of the American hostages. I then hurriedly paid a visit to your country.

As I mentioned at our meeting in August, Prime Minister Nakasone is highly concerned about this hostage problem. Together with expressing my praise to President Assad and Foreign Minister Shara for your striving for the prompt release of these hostages, and hoping that you will so strive henceforth as well, I would be happy to hear of the circumstances and outlook for the release of the hostages from this point onward.

4. Also, [TN: nearly all of section 4 blacked out] (In addition, [TN: part of sentence blacked out], for elaboration, I will make it a line on a separate sheet.).

Separate Sheet

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