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Letter from Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to
Dr. Ayad Allawi, Prime Minister of the Interim Government of Iraq

June 29, 2004

The following is the outline of a letter from Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, conveyed to Dr. Ayad Allawi, Prime Minister of the Interim Government of Iraq via the Embassy of Japan in Baghdad on Tuesday, June 29, 2004.

  • The Government of Japan recognizes the Interim Government of Iraq, transfer of authority to which took place on June 28, 2004. Representing the Government of Japan and the Japanese people, I would like to congratulate you on your assumption of office as Prime Minister. It is Japan's hope that, under the Interim Government of Iraq, Iraq's political transition will make steady progress in accordance with the timetable set out in Security Council resolution 1546.

  • In order for the early reconstruction of Iraq to be realized, it is essential for the people of Iraq themselves to exert efforts to rebuild their nation. It is also necessary for the international community, including the United Nations, to unanimously support Iraq, so as to complement the reconstruction efforts made by the Iraqi people themselves. Japan has dispatched the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) in Al-Samawah, Al-Muthanna, to engage in activities focused on humanitarian and reconstruction assistance, such as providing clean water and medical services and rehabilitating public buildings.

    Last year in October, Japan announced financial cooperation up to US$5 billion, and in addition to that Japan has recently decided on a new package of direct assistance to Iraqi Government and administration facilities amounting to a total of approximately US$300 million.

  • Japan intends to continue its active support, in the form of both financing and personnel as the two wheels of one cart, for reconstruction efforts of the Iraqi Government and the people of Iraq themselves. As part of such support, the SDF of Japan will continue their activities in order to assist the re-building of the nation as part of the multinational force, focusing on humanitarian and reconstruction activities, pursuant to the Japanese Law Concerning Special Measures on Humanitarian and Reconstruction Assistance in Iraq.

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