Message from Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi
Commemorating the Friendly Football Match

I would like to offer my heartfelt congratulations on the international friendly football match to be held between the Japanese and Iraqi national football teams prior to the games in the Asian qualifiers for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany^TM.

I hope that both the Japanese and Iraqi teams will compete as good rivals and friends, in so doing making a game that will leave a lasting impression. The Government of Japan is providing cooperation for broadcasting the game at TV stations in the Middle East so that as many people, young football players in Iraq as possible, may watch the game.

Japan is currently engaged in reconstruction assistance to Iraq. A part of this assistance is provided with the intention of assisting the people of Iraq who have started on their path towards a bright future and expanding exchanges in culture and sports. The Government of Japan and Japan Football Association (JFA) cooperated last November to donate footballs and football spiked shoes to Iraq collected from their football-playing friends in Japan. At the same time, it will be most gratifying if the peoples of Japan and Iraq, both with such magnificent cultures, will deepen their friendly relations.

I would like to express my respect to all of you who have worked hard in hosting this friendly match and hope that there will be further development in football exchanges between our two countries.