Statement by Mr. Nobutaka Machimura, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on the new President and Prime Minister of the Iraqi Transitional Government

April 8, 2005
Japanese

1. Mr. Jalal Talabani, the Patrioc Union of Kurdistan's leader was elected as the President of the Iraqi Transitional Government on the April 6, and Dr. Ibrahim Al Ja'fari Al Eshaiker, who had been as the vice President of the Iraqi Interim Government, was named as the Prime Minister on the April 7. The Government of Japan welcomes these appointments as an important step toward the democratization of Iraq, which brings the country into a new stage.
2. Japan hopes that the new Transitional Government of Iraq led by Mr. Talabani and Dr. Ja'fari will take initiative to promote the political process including the legislation of a new constitution and to take measures to stabilize the security situation and promote the reconstruction of the country.
3. Japan will continue its active assistance to the nation building effort of the Iraqi people in both the political process and economic reconstruction.

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