ID :
11206
Tue, 07/01/2008 - 10:49
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/11206
The shortlink copeid
Japan seeks U.N. cooperation on climate change, to send SDF to Sudan
TOKYO, July 1 Kyodo - Japan on Monday sought cooperation from the United Nations in creating an effective framework to combat climate change with the participation of all major greenhouse gas emitters, while vowing to work at the Group of Eight summit, which Japan will host next week, to send a ''robust'' message on tackling soaring food prices.
Meeting with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon in Tokyo, Japanese Prime
Minister Yasuo Fukuda also said that Japan will send Self-Defense Forces
personnel to Sudan for U.N. peacekeeping operations in the country and to
bolster the functions of peacekeeping centers in Africa by such means as
sending SDF members as lecturers.
Ban expressed appreciation for Fukuda's announcement and his leadership at the
G-8 summit, during which Ban will also participate in an outreach session.
The summit will ''be a major milestone in our common efforts to mobilize
international action on such challenges as climate change, food crisis and the
(U.N.) Millennium Development Goals,'' Ban said at a joint press announcement
with Fukuda.
During the meeting, Ban, who is in Japan on the first leg of a two-week Asian
tour, welcomed North Korea's recent declaration of its nuclear activities as
progress toward its denuclearization and showed understanding regarding Japan's
concerns over North Korea's past abductions of Japanese nationals, a government
official said.
Fukuda asked for Ban's cooperation in resolving the issue, the official said.
On climate change, Fukuda said that he asked Ban ''for his cooperation in
building an effective framework in which all major economies including emerging
countries participate in a responsible manner.''
Fukuda told Ban that Japan is willing to present a domestic medium-term target
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions after studying ''scientific and
technological possibilities,'' following Ban's call in a speech in Kyoto on
Sunday for Japan to set such a target to take a leading role in the fight
against global warming.
Referring to Japan's recently announced estimate that it could slash emissions
by 14 percent from the level in 2005 by 2020, Ban said that he expects the
estimate to become a commitment through means such as implementing an emissions
trading system in the country, according to the official.
Climate change and soaring food price are expected to be major topics at the
July 7-9 summit to be held in Hokkaido, which will bring together the leaders
of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United
States.
As part of Japan's efforts to become a peace-fostering nation, Fukuda told Ban
that Japan will send SDF personnel to the headquarters of the U.N. Mission in
Sudan, which is located in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan.
The government official said the number of personnel and when to dispatch them
has not been finalized.
The world body has asked Japan to join the 10,000-member U.N. mission in Sudan,
where personnel from more than 70 countries have been monitoring compliance
with a 2005 cease-fire agreement between the Sudanese government and
antigovernment rebels.
Dispatching the SDF to conflict-prone regions is a sensitive matter in Japan
under the country's pacifist Constitution.
Meanwhile, Fukuda also said that Japan will provide $1 million in assistance to
the Malaysian peacekeeping center.
On U.N. affairs, Fukuda expressed hope that Ban will exercise his leadership to
press forward U.N. Security Council reform, while the secretary general said he
understood Japan's hope for a permanent seat on the Security Council and that
he will do his best to ensure smooth discussions among U.N. member nations on
the issue of reform.
Prior to talks with Fukuda, Ban held a meeting with Foreign Minister Masahiko
Komura in which they discussed climate change, regional issues including
Myanmar's political process, the election chaos in Zimbabwe, Afghanistan and
Sudan.
In the morning, Ban had an audience with Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.
According to the Imperial Household Agency, Ban expressed gratitude for Japan's
contribution to the United Nations and told the imperial couple that natural
disasters, climate change, the food crisis and the surge in fuel prices are the
four top priority issues faced by the United Nations.
The emperor was quoted as saying in response that it is important for the
general public to be fully aware of climate change.
The secretary general is scheduled to leave Japan on Tuesday for China and
South Korea, before returning to Japan to attend the G-8 summit at the Lake
Toya resort in Hokkaido.
==Kyodo
Meeting with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon in Tokyo, Japanese Prime
Minister Yasuo Fukuda also said that Japan will send Self-Defense Forces
personnel to Sudan for U.N. peacekeeping operations in the country and to
bolster the functions of peacekeeping centers in Africa by such means as
sending SDF members as lecturers.
Ban expressed appreciation for Fukuda's announcement and his leadership at the
G-8 summit, during which Ban will also participate in an outreach session.
The summit will ''be a major milestone in our common efforts to mobilize
international action on such challenges as climate change, food crisis and the
(U.N.) Millennium Development Goals,'' Ban said at a joint press announcement
with Fukuda.
During the meeting, Ban, who is in Japan on the first leg of a two-week Asian
tour, welcomed North Korea's recent declaration of its nuclear activities as
progress toward its denuclearization and showed understanding regarding Japan's
concerns over North Korea's past abductions of Japanese nationals, a government
official said.
Fukuda asked for Ban's cooperation in resolving the issue, the official said.
On climate change, Fukuda said that he asked Ban ''for his cooperation in
building an effective framework in which all major economies including emerging
countries participate in a responsible manner.''
Fukuda told Ban that Japan is willing to present a domestic medium-term target
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions after studying ''scientific and
technological possibilities,'' following Ban's call in a speech in Kyoto on
Sunday for Japan to set such a target to take a leading role in the fight
against global warming.
Referring to Japan's recently announced estimate that it could slash emissions
by 14 percent from the level in 2005 by 2020, Ban said that he expects the
estimate to become a commitment through means such as implementing an emissions
trading system in the country, according to the official.
Climate change and soaring food price are expected to be major topics at the
July 7-9 summit to be held in Hokkaido, which will bring together the leaders
of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United
States.
As part of Japan's efforts to become a peace-fostering nation, Fukuda told Ban
that Japan will send SDF personnel to the headquarters of the U.N. Mission in
Sudan, which is located in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan.
The government official said the number of personnel and when to dispatch them
has not been finalized.
The world body has asked Japan to join the 10,000-member U.N. mission in Sudan,
where personnel from more than 70 countries have been monitoring compliance
with a 2005 cease-fire agreement between the Sudanese government and
antigovernment rebels.
Dispatching the SDF to conflict-prone regions is a sensitive matter in Japan
under the country's pacifist Constitution.
Meanwhile, Fukuda also said that Japan will provide $1 million in assistance to
the Malaysian peacekeeping center.
On U.N. affairs, Fukuda expressed hope that Ban will exercise his leadership to
press forward U.N. Security Council reform, while the secretary general said he
understood Japan's hope for a permanent seat on the Security Council and that
he will do his best to ensure smooth discussions among U.N. member nations on
the issue of reform.
Prior to talks with Fukuda, Ban held a meeting with Foreign Minister Masahiko
Komura in which they discussed climate change, regional issues including
Myanmar's political process, the election chaos in Zimbabwe, Afghanistan and
Sudan.
In the morning, Ban had an audience with Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.
According to the Imperial Household Agency, Ban expressed gratitude for Japan's
contribution to the United Nations and told the imperial couple that natural
disasters, climate change, the food crisis and the surge in fuel prices are the
four top priority issues faced by the United Nations.
The emperor was quoted as saying in response that it is important for the
general public to be fully aware of climate change.
The secretary general is scheduled to leave Japan on Tuesday for China and
South Korea, before returning to Japan to attend the G-8 summit at the Lake
Toya resort in Hokkaido.
==Kyodo
