Declaration on Establishing a Comprehensive Partnership between the Government of Japan and the Government of the Republic of Iraq

The relationship between Japan and Iraq are old and of great significance. In the 1970s and 1980s Japan was the most important trading partner with Iraq.

Japan became one of the most important countries that supported Iraq in its endeavors to establish a new political system following the collapse of the former regime. For instance, Japan provided economic assistance to Iraq in the amount of $1.7 billion of grant aid and has provided $ 2.5 billion soft loans out of $3.5 billion pledged in 2003. In addition, Japan has played a leading role in reducing the Iraqi public debt at Paris club, reducing its $7.6 billion credit by 80%. Japan has also provided capacity-building assistance for the Government of the Republic of Iraq offering training programs for about 3,500 Iraqi officials and experts.

Moreover, Japan dispatched the Ground Self Defense Force (GSDF) to the province of Al Muthanna to extend assistance in the region, participating in the reconstruction assistance activities with the support of the Air Self Defense Force (ASDF). While the SDF mission was completed in December 2008 after 5 years of activities, their good work was greatly appreciated and will be remembered by the local people and the entire nation of Iraq.

To achieve the closer bilateral relations between Japan and Iraq, both Governments are moving the relationship into a new phase in order to build a comprehensive partnership between the two friendly peoples, a partnership based on the mutual interests of both countries.

The two Governments recognized the necessity that Iraq is in need of investment and technology for reconstructing and rebuilding its infrastructure, and in order to enhance the partnership between them, they have declared to promote the cooperation in the wide-ranging areas including the following:

1. Building a partnership between Japan and Iraq in the energy sector in which specialized Japanese companies will play a big role in building the infrastructure of the Oil Sector, in the upstream as well as downstream, while Iraq provides Japan with a stable source for its need of Oil and Gas.
2. Both sides, Japanese and Iraqi, will cooperate to implement a necessary study for the electricity sector. In addition, the two Governments will encourage Japanese companies to build power stations in Iraq, especially those depending on converting the associated gases.
3. The Iraqi Government welcomed the initiative by the Japanese side on the establishment of a financial facility to fund these activities as mentioned above.
4. The Japanese side will provide assistance in promoting the capacity building and capabilities of the Iraqi people by providing training courses.
5. Both sides will re-activate and re-establish a joint economic committee at the ministerial level of all relevant ministries. The committee will meet annually at either capital to monitor progress of this partnership.

January 28, 2009