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Armitage arrives in Asia to drum up support over Iraq
Tokyo, Dec 08: US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage arrived in Japan today on the first leg of a four-nation tour of Asia in a bid to drum up support for a possible American-led attack on Iraq.
Tokyo, Dec 08: US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage arrived in Japan today on the first leg of a four-nation tour of Asia in a bid to drum up support for a possible American-led attack on Iraq.
Armitage, Washington's second highest-ranking diplomat, arrived at Tokyo's Narita airport around 3:55 pm (1225 IST) today, an embassy spokeswoman said, just hours after Iraq handed to the UN a 12,000-page declaration of its banned weapons programme. The US envoy is expected to present a possible war scenario to Washington's three key regional allies Japan, South Korea and Australia as well as China.
Armitage's spokesman Philip Reeker said that the Asia trip was "part of our continuing consultations with friends and allies on Iraq and efforts to ensure that Iraq complies with the UN Security Council Resolution 1441 and other relevant UN resolutions."
Tomorrow, Armitage is to meet with Japanese foreign minister Yoriko Kawaguchi, vice foreign minister Yukio Takeuchi and defence agency Director General Shigero Ishiba, a foreign ministry official said.
Japan's support is limited to a non-combat role as its pacifist constitution bans the use of force in settling international disputes.
Armitage will on Tuesday head to South Korea which is in the midst of anti-us protests following the acquittal of two American soldiers accused of crushing two girls to death in June with a heavy military vehicle.
He is then due to arrive in Beijing on December 11 for two days of talks aimed at laying out US plans on Iraq, US embassy officials in Beijing said.
Bureau Report
Armitage, Washington's second highest-ranking diplomat, arrived at Tokyo's Narita airport around 3:55 pm (1225 IST) today, an embassy spokeswoman said, just hours after Iraq handed to the UN a 12,000-page declaration of its banned weapons programme. The US envoy is expected to present a possible war scenario to Washington's three key regional allies Japan, South Korea and Australia as well as China.
Armitage's spokesman Philip Reeker said that the Asia trip was "part of our continuing consultations with friends and allies on Iraq and efforts to ensure that Iraq complies with the UN Security Council Resolution 1441 and other relevant UN resolutions."
Tomorrow, Armitage is to meet with Japanese foreign minister Yoriko Kawaguchi, vice foreign minister Yukio Takeuchi and defence agency Director General Shigero Ishiba, a foreign ministry official said.
Japan's support is limited to a non-combat role as its pacifist constitution bans the use of force in settling international disputes.
Armitage will on Tuesday head to South Korea which is in the midst of anti-us protests following the acquittal of two American soldiers accused of crushing two girls to death in June with a heavy military vehicle.
He is then due to arrive in Beijing on December 11 for two days of talks aimed at laying out US plans on Iraq, US embassy officials in Beijing said.
Bureau Report