Talks between Mr. Taro Aso, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Tom Koenigs, Special Representative of UN Secretary General for Afghanistan and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in　Afghanistan (UNAMA)

June 22, 2007
Japanese

On June 20, Mr. Taro Aso, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Tom Koenigs, Special Representative of UN Secretary General for Afghanistan and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), held talks for about 20 minutes from 5:55 p.m. The gist of the talks is as follows:

1. Mr. Koenigs firstly appreciated Japan’s contribution extended so far for the reconstruction of Afghanistan and highly valued especially its support for the UNAMA and activities in the UN Headquarters in New York. He also expressed his intention to further expand UNAMA’s activities in Afghanistan.

2. In response, Mr. Aso said that by successfully making the process of DIAG (Disbandment of Illegal Armed Groups), one of the pillars of Japan’s assistance to Afghanistan, Japan expected that the dignity of the Government of Afghanistan and the civil order to be restored through widely spreading the authority of the central government to the provinces.

3. On other matters, Mr. Aso and Mr. Koenigs exchanged opinions on the security situation and they shared the view on the necessity to reform police in promoting DIAG.

(END)

Talks between Mr. Taro Aso, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Tom Koenigs, Special Representative of UN Secretary General for Afghanistan and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA)

Talks between Mr. Taro Aso, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Tom Koenigs, Special Representative of UN Secretary General for Afghanistan and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in　Afghanistan (UNAMA)