Japan to give Denmark fuel in Indian Ocean for antiterrorism mission

TOKYO, Sept. 12 Kyodo - Japan and Denmark signed a deal Friday that authorizes Japan to give fuel to Danish vessels in the Indian Ocean to help U.S.-led antiterrorism operations in and near Afghanistan.

Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura and Danish Ambassador to Japan
Franz-Michael Skjold Mellbin attended a signing ceremony at the Foreign
Ministry.
Mellbin told reporters after the ceremony that the country already has ships in
the region and expects Japan's logistical support to be a big help from the
viewpoint of burden sharing.
''No country can combat terrorism successfully alone...We are engaged in the
most difficult fighting in Afghanistan. This (the fighting) is not an option
for Japan but Japan can do other things,'' Mellbin said.
The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force currently provides fuel for vessels
from seven countries involved in the crackdown on boats allegedly linked to
terrorism activities. The seven nations are Britain, Canada, France, Germany,
New Zealand, Pakistan and the United States.