TOKYO, January 19, 2009 (WAFA)- The Government of Japan welcomed the declaration of a ceasefire by Palestinian militants including Hamas, following Israel's unilateral declaration of a ceasefire.

In a statement issued, Monday, the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Hirofumi Nakasone considered that this ceasefire is a necessary step for preventing further civilian casualties.

He urged both sides to exercise their utmost self-restraint in order to keep this ceasefire, and strongly hoped that a permanent ceasefire will be achieved as soon as possible through cooperation of relevant parties including, inter alia, Egypt's mediation efforts.

Nakasone stressed that Japan also expects that, in response to the announcement by Prime Minister Mr. Ehud Olmert, relevant parties will actively pursue their efforts to realize an early withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Gaza Strip and to improve the humanitarian situation through such measures as the opening of the crossing points.

And in order to help stabilize the situation, he said 'Japan will keep in close contact with the relevant parties, and will actively participate in its humanitarian and reconstruction efforts in close coordination with Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Japan will also continue to make its utmost effort to contribute to the advancement of the Middle East Peace Process.'