Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Al-Maliki to visit Japan
Politics, International
(AFP) - Japan will agree to help Iraq improve crude oil output and push for reconciliation in the war-torn country when Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki visits next week, officials said Tuesday. Maliki will pay his maiden visit to the world's second-largest economy from Sunday to Wednesday and meet with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Emperor Akihito, Japan's foreign ministry said.
"Iraq boasts the world's third-largest crude oil reserves. It is important for Japan to build a long-term strategic partnership with Iraq," a ministry statement said.A Japanese foreign ministry official said Abe would also "encourage the Iraqi premier, who is a Shi'a leader, to further promote national reconciliation in Iraq," the official said.
The Iraqi premier is expected to sign a $700-million loan agreement with Japan to help the war-torn country improve crude oil output and power generation, an MP close to Maliki said earlier in Baghdad. The 40-year loan, part of financial assistance to Iraq announced by Tokyo in 2003, will go to build pipelines in the southern city of Basra and improve power transmission facilities across the nation, lawmaker Sami al-Askari said.
The Iraqi premier is expected to sign a $700-million loan agreement with Japan to help the war-torn country improve crude oil output and power generation, an MP close to Maliki said earlier in Baghdad. The 40-year loan, part of financial assistance to Iraq announced by Tokyo in 2003, will go to build pipelines in the southern city of Basra and improve power transmission facilities across the nation, lawmaker Sami al-Askari said.
Japanese officials had no immediate comment on the loan agreement. Japan has offered six billion dollars in debt waivers and $1,5-billion in aid grants to Baghdad, but much of the aid is on hold due to security concerns. Japan last year withdrew its 600 ground troops from Iraq following a reconstruction mission that marked the first time since World War II that Tokyo sent troops to a country where fighting was under way. Despite their withdrawal, Japan has maintained an air force mission, which includes some 210 personnel based in Kuwait in support of US-led forces. It decided last week to extend the mission by two years.
Labels: Basra, crude oil, Emperor Akihito, Japan, loan, Nouri Al-Maliki, oil pipelines, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
