Meeting between Mr. Katsuhito Asano, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Mohamad Daoud, Vice-minister of Interior in Charge of Counter Narcotics of Afghanistan

February 1, 2007

On February 1 (Thu), Mr. Katsuhito Asano, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, met with Mr. Mohamad Daoud, Vice-minister of Interior in Charge of Counter Narcotics of Afghanistan, who was visiting Japan, and they talked for about 30 minutes. The gist of the talks is as follows.

1. Statements by Mr. Asano

With the determination not to make Afghanistan a breeding ground of terrorism and narcotics, Japan has actively supported Afghanistan with ODA of about 1.1 billion US dollars, maritime interception by Japan's Self Defense Forces, holding various kinds of international conferences, and in other ways. Although there are still difficulties with regard to such issues as terrorism and narcotics, Japan will assist as much as possible the efforts for reconstruction being made by the Government of Afghanistan and its people.

2. Statements by Mr. Daoud

(1) Representing the Government of Afghanistan and its people, I would like to thank Japan for the assistance it has provided. Japan is providing effective assistance in various fields. In particular, wonderful assistance is being given in fields in which Japan leads, such as disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of the former military combatants (DDR), and disbandment of illegal armed groups (DIAG).

(2) Concerning terrorist trends, the fact that problems lie along the border with Pakistan is becoming commonly understood in the international community. I appreciate that Mr. Masakazu Sekiguchi, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, who visited Afghanistan last November, visited Pakistan last month to ask Pakistan to make efforts for the stabilization of Afghanistan.

(3) Concerning the narcotics issue, the rapid increase of opium production has been an international concern, and 75% of the world opium production comes from the five districts along the border with Pakistan where the security situation has been deteriorating. I would like to emphasize that the success has been seen in many areas. More than 90% of the people of Afghanistan are against the use of narcotics. The problem is that poor farmers cannot find alternative means of livelihood. On this point, I would like to refer the policies which have been implementing in Thailand.

(4) There is a close connection between the issues of terrorism and narcotics. I would like to ask Japan for further support and cooperation in these areas.

(END)

Back to Index