Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Japan pledges reconstruction support to Iraq
Reconstruction, International
Japan's ambassador for Iraqi reconstruction pledged continued assistance to the Middle East country during a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in Baghdad, the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday. Gotaro Ogawa, who met al-Maliki on Monday, told the prime minister that Japan would "continue to contribute to Iraqi reconstruction" and invited him to visit Japan, the ministry said in a statement.
Al-Maliki replied that while Iraq faced grave difficulties in security, providing public services and rebuilding its economy, its situation was moving ahead "one step at a time" with the help of the international community, according to the statement. He said he would be happy to visit Japan, the statement said.
Japan backed the U.S. invasion of Iraq and from 2004 provided troops for non-combat, humanitarian mission in the southern Iraqi city of Samawah. Tokyo withdrew the troops in July, after Iraq's own government was installed. It has since expanded its Kuwait-based air operations to ferry U.N. and coalition personnel and supplies to Iraq.
Al-Maliki replied that while Iraq faced grave difficulties in security, providing public services and rebuilding its economy, its situation was moving ahead "one step at a time" with the help of the international community, according to the statement. He said he would be happy to visit Japan, the statement said.
Japan backed the U.S. invasion of Iraq and from 2004 provided troops for non-combat, humanitarian mission in the southern Iraqi city of Samawah. Tokyo withdrew the troops in July, after Iraq's own government was installed. It has since expanded its Kuwait-based air operations to ferry U.N. and coalition personnel and supplies to Iraq.
