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Reuters AlertNet
http://www.alertnet.org/
May 21, 2003

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TOKYO, May 21 (Reuters) - Japan said on Wednesday it would donate about $50 million in aid to help war-ravaged Iraq rebuild schools, hospitals and an electric power distribution system.

Foreign minister Yoriko Kawaguchi said Japan would extend more aid after security was secured, a provisional government was established and Iraq's debt issue was resolved.

The aid announced on Wednesday was part of humanitarian aid of up to $100 million Japan had already pledged. It has already disbursed about $32 million.

Japan made the announcement one day before Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi embarks on a five-day trip to the United States, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Japan has said it would take part "actively" in the reconstruction of Iraq, but Kawaguchi steered clear of saying whether the United Nations should play a key role in rebuilding the war-torn Iraq.

Kawaguchi said it was not clear whether Japan would host an international donors' conference for Iraqi reconstruction. Japanese news reports have said Tokyo was hoping to host such a conference as soon as mid-June.

The government has been making efforts to carve out an international role for itself in post-war reconstruction and hosted a donors' conference for Afghanistan in January 2002.

Japan, which supported the U.S.-led war in Iraq, was prevented by its pacifist constitution from taking part in military action.

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Direct Link:
--http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/T188118.htm

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