[Title] Contribution in Kind to the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS) (Statement by the Chief Cabinet Secretary)

1. Since the enactment of the Act on Cooperation for United Nations Peacekeeping Operations and Other Operations (Act No. 79, 1992), Japan has continued to actively participate in and contribute to United Nations Peace-keeping Operations (PKO).

2. Under the provisions of an agreement of relevant ministries agencies concluded on September 19, 1991 (partially revised December 7, 2001), prior to the enactment of the abovementioned act, while weapons ("weapons" includes ammunition; the same applies hereunder) authorized for use by Self-Defense Force (SDF) personnel engaged in international peace cooperation operations are not covered under the Three Principles on Arms Exports, weapons other than those carried by SDF personnel have to date been handled strictly under the provisions of the Three Principles, including contributions in kind that are stipulated in the abovementioned act.

3. The Government of Japan has dispatched a Self-Defense Force (SDF) engineering unit, comprised of approximately 400 personnel, to participate in the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (hereunder UNMISS), which has to date been engaged in cooperative efforts for nation-building in South Sudan, a nation that achieved independence only recently in 2011., UNMISS has currently taken in approximately 15,000 people who have become refugees as a result of violent demonstrations by anti-government forces, and who are taking shelter at the encampment of the Republic of Korea (ROK) forces located in Bor, Jonglei State, in the central region of the country. Given this situation, the United Nations has made a request to the Government of Japan, requesting that in order to respond to this emergency situation and to protect the lives of the personnel of ROK forces, the refugees, and others, the SDF engineering unit provide approximately 10,000 bullets from the inventory that was brought by the engineering unit of Japan for the purpose of engaging in UNMISS operations.

4. This request is being addressed as a part of UNMISS activities, in which Japan is also cooperating, under an emergency situation that requires prompt action in order to protect the lives of both the personnel in the ROK units and the refugees, and also in view of the fact that among the UNMISS units, the only unit to possess bullets that are interoperable with those used by ROK forces dispatched to UNMISS operations is the Japanese SDF unit. Given the urgent necessity and the highly humanitarian nature of the situation, the Government has determined that the Three Principles on Arms Exports do not apply to this provision of 10,000 standard 5.56mm bullets to UNMISS as a contribution in kind, based on the strict condition that the ammunition provided will only be used for the purpose of protecting the lives of ROK units, refugees, and others; and that the ammunition will be managed by UNMISS, with strict measures in place to ensure that it is not diverted to organizations and individuals outside UNMISS.

5. The Government of Japan continues to maintain its basic principles as a peaceful nation that upholds the United Nations Charter, and intends to continue to make further contributions to peace and stability of the international community from the perspective of making a "Proactive Contribution to Peace" based on the principle of international cooperation.