Efforts Made by U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan

March, 1998

Secretary General Kofi Annan of the United Nations visited Iraq to have a talk with Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz and President Saddam Hussein. As a result, Secretary General Annan has worked out memorandum of understanding with the Iraqi leader confirming Iraq's commitment to accept unconditional and unexceptional inspections.

While appreciating the diplomatic effort made by the Secretary General and hailing the agreement he has worked out, Japan considers it most important that Iraq implement its pledge in good faith.