Dispatch of Governmental Mission to Afghanistan to Develop Demining Technology

July 11, 2002

The Government of Japan will dispatch a governmental mission to develop demining technology to Afghanistan from July 13 (Sat) to 18 (Thu).
Headed by Mr. Yusuke Shindo, Director of the Conventional Weapons Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the mission will consist of fifteen people in total. The members of the mission are as follows:
Officials of
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology,
the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry,
the Defense Agency
Researchers and experts associated with
the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
Representative of NPOs (non-profit organizations)
In light of Japan's past supports for Afghanistan related to the problems of landmines, the mission will exchange opinions on the modality of Japan's future cooperation with those associated with the United Nations, the Afghanistan Government and NGOs (non-governmental organizations) and others working on the ground. The mission also aims at obtaining information (on the type of the soil, minefield conditions, things needed in the area, etc.) necessary for developing the technology to detect and remove landmines, which Japan is pushing ahead, through its inspection of the places to be demined. In addition, the mission will investigate whether the funds which Japan offered to international organizations to support demining measures in Afghanistan are being used appropriately and effectively.

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