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Japan to urge Iraq`s neighbours to ensure Iraq cooperation
Tokyo, Nov 19: Japan said today it would send three envoys to Iraq`s neighbours in late November to ask them to urge Baghdad to cooperate with UN weapons inspections.
Tokyo, Nov 19: Japan said today it would send three envoys to Iraq's neighbours in late November to ask them to urge Baghdad to cooperate with UN weapons inspections.
The Japanese government is to send vice foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi to Jordan, Syria and Turkey, while former foreign minister Taro Nakayama will got to Iran, a foreign ministry official said.
Tokyo will also send Masahiko Komura, another former foreign minister, to Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
"The dispatch is part of Japan's diplomatic efforts to have Iraq accept the UN inspectors immediately and unconditionally," the official said.
"We have not set specific timetables for their visits, but the three are scheduled to leave Tokyo in late November," he said.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said he had no plan to send any envoy to Iraq itself.
Chief Cabinet secretary Yasuo Fukuda also said Japan should be "cautious" about contacting Baghdad.
“The inspectors have only just got there and we should not be any hindrance to inspections," Fukuda told a news conference. "We should not be used by Iraq either."
Foreign minister Yoriko Kawaguchi told reporters it was "very important to urge Iraq to act in compliance with the UN security council resolution."
"It is necessary to ask neighbouring countries to do so," she said.
UN weapons inspectors armed with a tough new security council mandate to disarm Iraq returned to Baghdad yesterday after a four-year absence.
Bureau Report
The Japanese government is to send vice foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi to Jordan, Syria and Turkey, while former foreign minister Taro Nakayama will got to Iran, a foreign ministry official said.
Tokyo will also send Masahiko Komura, another former foreign minister, to Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
"The dispatch is part of Japan's diplomatic efforts to have Iraq accept the UN inspectors immediately and unconditionally," the official said.
"We have not set specific timetables for their visits, but the three are scheduled to leave Tokyo in late November," he said.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said he had no plan to send any envoy to Iraq itself.
Chief Cabinet secretary Yasuo Fukuda also said Japan should be "cautious" about contacting Baghdad.
“The inspectors have only just got there and we should not be any hindrance to inspections," Fukuda told a news conference. "We should not be used by Iraq either."
Foreign minister Yoriko Kawaguchi told reporters it was "very important to urge Iraq to act in compliance with the UN security council resolution."
"It is necessary to ask neighbouring countries to do so," she said.
UN weapons inspectors armed with a tough new security council mandate to disarm Iraq returned to Baghdad yesterday after a four-year absence.
Bureau Report