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Talks between Mr. Kenjiro Monji, Japanese Ambassador to Iraq, and H.E. Jalal Talabani, President of Iraq

November 1, 2007

On October 25 (Thu), Mr. Kenjiro Monji, Japanese Ambassador to Iraq visited H.E. Jalal Talabani, President of Iraq, in the presidential office in Baghdad and had a meeting to exchange views on the situation in Iraq, the issue of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), and the relationship between Japan and Iraq.  The summary of the meeting is as follows.

Mr. Monji stated as follows:

  1. The Government of Japan welcomes the fact that the establishment of the long-term and strategic partnership was agreed on between Japan and Iraq when H.E. Tariq Al-Hashimi, Vice President of Iraq, visited Japan in March 2007, and H.E. Nouri al-Maliki, Prime Minister of Iraq, visited in April 2007.  Japan’s policy to assist Iraq remains unwavering and the Government of Japan has pledged Grant Aid amounting to 1.5 billion US dollars and Yen Loan amounting to 3.5 billion dollars.  The total amount of the Grant Aid has been already appropriated and the Exchange of Notes for 10 Yen Loan projects amounting to 2.1 billion US dollars have been signed.
     
  2. The Government of Japan highly values Iraq’s efforts under the strong leadership of the President to advance the political process including national reconciliation. National reconciliation is important for improving public security and reconstructing Iraq’s economy as well.  To achieve national reconciliation, specific achievements such as revisions of the constitution and De-Baathification, and enactment of the oil and gas laws will be needed.  The role of President Talabani is important in this regard and Japan highly values his strong initiative taken to this date.

President Talabani stated as follows:

  1. The Government of Iraq sincerely appreciates the Government and the people of Japan for their assistance provided for Iraq, which is going through a difficult time.  Japan is one of the best friends for a new-born Iraq, and Iraq wishes to further strengthen bilateral relations in the future.
     
  2. On October 24, I discussed the issues of national reconciliation with Vice President Dr. Adel Abdelmahdi and Vice President Mr. Tariq al-Hashimi.  Accordingly, the Iraq Islamic Party (IIP) will reintegrate into the government in the near future, which is expected to make substantial progress in the political situation.
     
  3. The progress of the political situation will be a base for improving public security.  Now the security situation is improving, and one of the major reasons for such improvement is that the Iraqi people, be it the Shiites or the Sunnis, has become weary of terrorism and turned active to fight against it.  As for Sunni-populated areas, public security dramatically improved in the al-Anbar Province.  It is also improving in the Provinces of Diyala, Salah al-Din, and Ninewa.  As for the Shiites, the primary threat is the Mahdi Army, which has not only caused sectarian armed conflicts, but also brought about internal conflicts among the Shiites.
     
  4. On the issue of the PKK, Iraq and Turkey agreed that no kind of terrorist activities could be tolerated upon the Foreign Minister of Turkey’s visit to Iraq on October 24.  Iraq condemns the terrorist activities of the PKK and has made maximum efforts to stop them.
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