Japan Reaffirms Non-Recognition of Separatist Entities, Morocco Expresses Gratitude

"Japan does not recognize any separatist entity, as was recalled at the Japan-Africa Summit (TICAD-VII), which took place in Yokohama, Japan, in August last year," said Mohcine Jazouli, at the end of the 5th session of the Morocco-Japan Joint Commission, which he co-chaired with the Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Keisuke Suzuki. The latter took the opportunity to thank Japan for its position.

Taro Kono, the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, had reaffirmed, at the opening of the 7th Summit of Heads of State and Government of TICAD in August last year, the official position of his country which does not recognize the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). He had nuanced that "the presence at TICAD-VII of any entity that Japan does not recognize as a State does not affect the country’s position on the status of that entity".