Dispatch of Prime Minister's Special Envoys

December 12, 2003

As part of the diplomatic efforts to strengthen international cooperation for the reconstruction of Iraq, the Government of Japan has decided to dispatch Mr. Ryutaro Hashimoto, former Prime Minister, to the U.K., Germany and France from December 14 (Sun) to 18 (Thu), Mr. Taro Nakayama, former Minister for Foreign Affairs, to the U.N. from December 16 (Tue) to 20 (Sat), Mr. Masahiko Koumura, former Minister for Foreign Affairs, to Egypt and Saudi Arabia from December 15 (Mon) to 19 (Fri), and Mr. Ichiro Aisawa, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, to Jordan, Syria and Kuwait from December 13 (Sat) to 19 (Wed), as special envoys of the Prime Minister.
The envoys will encourage the leaders of the countries they are visiting and the U.N. to strengthen international cooperation for the reconstruction of Iraq, and will also give an account of Japan's support for the reconstruction of Iraq including the dispatch of Japanese Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) units.

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