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Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi Received Courtesy Call from the Representative Group of the Baghdad City Advisory Council

December 17, 2003

Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi received courtesy call from the representative group (Chair: Vice-Chairman of the Council Ali Radhi Al-Haydary) of the Baghdad City Advisory Council on December 17. The following is an outline of the meeting.

  1. Foreign Minister Kawaguchi, after her welcome address, stated that currently there is no day without news on Iraq in Japan and that all Japanese nationals have an interest and wishes for the early reconstruction of Iraq, since Iraq carries potential ability in playing an important role in the Middle East.

    She also noted that it was for such a purpose that Ambassador Katsuhiko Oku and First Secretary Masamori Inoue both worked vigorously in Iraq and expressed her determination that, although the loss of the two diplomats is extremely regrettable, Japan will keep their will and carry on assistance to Iraq. Furthermore, she asked for their understanding that the Self Defense Forces (SDF) will be dispatched for the purpose of providing humanitarian and reconstruction assistance, not to engage in the use of force.

  2. In response, on behalf of the representative group, Vice Chairman Ali Radhi Al-Haydary stated that although the loss of both Ambassador Oku and First Secretary Inoue is extremely regrettable, the relations between Japan and Iraq are not something that could be swayed by terrorism, and that although the people of Iraq have been oppressed until now, they are peace-loving people in nature. He further stated that Japan is the first country that extended its hand of assistance for the reconstruction of Iraq, and of all the assistance from various countries, the people of Iraq consider the assistance from the people of Japan, a true friend of the people, their most moral support. He expressed his intention that Iraq would welcome every person that comes from Japan, both SDF members and assistance-related people.

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