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Statement by Mr Yasuo FUKUDA, Chief Cabinet Secretary

January 18, 2002

To support the stability and reconstruction of Afghanistan, the Government of Japan will provide appropriate assistance to Afghanistan, together with the international community, while respecting the ownership of the Afghan people, so as to promote peaceful transition to the new regime. While the total picture of Japan's assistance to Afghanistan will be presented at the International Conference on Reconstruction of Afghanistan, to be held on 21-22 January in Tokyo, I would like to announce today the following:

1. As part of Japan's refugee assistance announced last October to support the activities by UN agencies and other institutions, Japan will provide approx. $59.5 million (approx. 6.37 billion yen) to relevant international institutions*, in addition to the already provided approx. $42.71 million (approx. 4.57 billion yen).
   

   This assistance will include that for demining efforts: (1) approx. $15.4 million (approx. 1.65 billion yen) for the project to provide demining facilities, and (2) approx. $2.82 million (approx. 300 million yen) for demining activities conducted by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), as facilitation of demining is urgently required not only for the repatriation of refugees and displaced people but also for the country's reconstruction.

2. To ensure stable management of the Afghan Interim Authority, Japan will provide $1 million (approx. 107 million yen) to the UN Afghan Interim Authority Fund, which was established to finance various expenditures needed for the administrative management.
   

   It has been decided in today's Cabinet meeting that the assistance under items 1. and 2. above will be provided from the Contingency Fund.

3. To achieve lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan, cooperation from neighbouring countries are indispensable. Hence, Japan has provided assistance to neighbouring countries of Afghanistan which face difficulties while tackling terrorism. As part of $300 million grant aid to Pakistan, which has already been announced, Japan will extend grant aid of 5 billion yen in addition to 4.7 billion yen which has already been disbursed. Furthermore, Japan will extend 1 billion yen grant aid to Uzbekistan, and 1 billion yen grant aid also to Tajikistan.
   

   (note)* "international institutions" consist of UN Development Programme (UNDP), Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Related Information (International Conference on the Reconstruction of Afghanistan)