Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the Adoption of the Accountability and Justice Law by the Iraqi Council of Representatives

January 13, 2008

On January 12, the Iraqi Council of Representatives adopted the Accountability and Justice Law. The Government of Japan welcomes this as an important progress towards the national reconciliation of Iraq.
The Law enables former Ba’ath party members who were purged from public offices since 2003 to reassume a public position. The Government of Japan expects that this will contribute to gathering momentum for the progress of the national reconciliation and to further improving the security situation in Iraq.
The Government of Japan has been rendering assistance to Iraqi national reconciliation endeavors by, in particular, hosting the Iraqi National Reconciliation Seminar, and it is determined to continue to assist the efforts of Iraq. The Government of Japan will also actively support Iraqi economic reconstruction by implementing various economic assistance projects.

(END)