ID :
14268
Tue, 07/29/2008 - 23:51
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/14268
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Schieffer expresses hope for Japan's ongoing support for Afghanistan
TOKYO, July 29 Kyodo - U.S. Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer expressed hope Tuesday that Japan will continue its mission to support antiterrorism operations in and around Afghanistan ahead of an extraordinary Diet session which is expected to focus on extending a special antiterrorism law authorizing the mission.
''We are very appreciative of the support that Japan has given to the United States and to the international community,'' Schieffer told reporters after meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda.
''We are hopeful that they will be able to continue making contributions to the realization of both a peaceful Iraq and a peaceful Afghanistan,'' he said.
The upcoming extraordinary Diet session is expected to focus on legal clauses related to the extension of the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean in support of U.S.-led antiterrorism operations in and around Afghanistan.
The revised special antiterrorism law will expire in January.
Regarding the timing of the extraordinary Diet session, Schieffer said, ''That's a decision that the Diet has to make.''Schieffer also said that he and Fukuda discussed verification of North Korea's nuclear programs.
Top nuclear negotiators from the six countries involved in talks on North Korea's denuclearization agreed in Beijing earlier this month on the principles of a verification regime but not on its details.
The prime minister ''stressed that the six-party process needs a verification regime that will confirm what North Korea has said. I think we all agreed that's in the interest of everybody including North Korea,'' Schieffer said.
The ambassador said they discussed the need for a verification regime that everybody would find credible and recognized that there are some difficult negotiations ahead.
The two agreed that ''it won't be easy to arrive at something that everybody can agree on but it is something that is important in the process that needs to be done in order to be successful,'' he said.
''We are very appreciative of the support that Japan has given to the United States and to the international community,'' Schieffer told reporters after meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda.
''We are hopeful that they will be able to continue making contributions to the realization of both a peaceful Iraq and a peaceful Afghanistan,'' he said.
The upcoming extraordinary Diet session is expected to focus on legal clauses related to the extension of the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean in support of U.S.-led antiterrorism operations in and around Afghanistan.
The revised special antiterrorism law will expire in January.
Regarding the timing of the extraordinary Diet session, Schieffer said, ''That's a decision that the Diet has to make.''Schieffer also said that he and Fukuda discussed verification of North Korea's nuclear programs.
Top nuclear negotiators from the six countries involved in talks on North Korea's denuclearization agreed in Beijing earlier this month on the principles of a verification regime but not on its details.
The prime minister ''stressed that the six-party process needs a verification regime that will confirm what North Korea has said. I think we all agreed that's in the interest of everybody including North Korea,'' Schieffer said.
The ambassador said they discussed the need for a verification regime that everybody would find credible and recognized that there are some difficult negotiations ahead.
The two agreed that ''it won't be easy to arrive at something that everybody can agree on but it is something that is important in the process that needs to be done in order to be successful,'' he said.
