Iraqi FM asks Japan to extend troop deployment
(AP)
Updated: 2005-11-25 15:06

Iraq's foreign minister asked Japan's premier and its defense chief on Friday to extend Tokyo's deployment of about 600 troops to southern Iraq but was told a decision was still down the road.

Hoshya Zebari, who arrived in Japan on Wednesday, petitioned Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in an afternoon meeting and made a similar request earlier in the day to Defense Chief Fukushiro Nukaga.

Nukaga replied that Japan is "proud" of the work its forces have done there, including purifying water and rebuilding schools. But Nugata did not make commitments about a possible extension, a Defense Agency official said on condition of anonymity.

A day earlier, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso told Zebari that Japan would decide soon on whether to extend the mission, giving consideration to Japan's "international responsibilities and the state of reconstruction work."

"He understands that its a decision the Japanese government will make later," Koizumi spokesman Yu Kameoka said.

Japan's has about 600 noncombat troops in the southern Iraqi city of Samawah, where they have been conducting humanitarian projects. The mission expires December 14, but Tokyo hasn't decided whether to renew it.

Koizumi, who favors a more active role for Japan in international security, has suggested that Japan's efforts in Iraq aren't finished. Last month, Japan approved a one-year extension of its naval mission to support U.S.-led troops in Afghanistan.

On Thursday, Zebari separately won a waiver from Japan for about US$6.1 billion (euro5.17 billion) in debt, or about 80 percent of the US$7.6 billion (euro6.44 billion) owed Tokyo by Baghdad.

Iraq will repay the remaining debt over 23 years, including a 6-year grace period.

The agreement comes after members of the Paris Club, which represents the world's main creditor nations, decided to reduce by 80 percent the US$38.9 billion (euro31.8 billion) Iraq owes to its member states. The United States last year forgave Iraq 100 percent of its debt of US$4.1 billion (euro3.3 billion).

Iraq owes another US$80 billion (euro65.4 billion) to various Arab governments, mainly Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.