Japan, Djibouti ink status deal for SDF on antipiracy mission

TOKYO, April 3 Kyodo -
Japan and Djibouti reached a status of forces agreement Friday, stipulating the
terms of operations and legal status for the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense
Force and related officials who will be based in the African nation during the
current antipiracy mission in waters off Somalia, a Japanese Foreign Ministry
official said.
Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone and visiting Djiboutian Foreign
Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf at talks on Friday afternoon completed the
exchange of notes, which specifies the privileges and exemptions for Japanese
offices and their officials on the mission in line with the Vienna Convention
on diplomatic relations.
''Piracy activities off Somalia have become an extremely serious problem for
the international community,'' Nakasone was quoted as saying at the talks as he
thanked Djibouti for its cooperation.
In response, Youssouf expressed high hopes that Japan's antipiracy operations
will be successful and promised that his nation would give the Japanese mission
every facility and convenience available, the official said.
The SOFA applies to the SDF, the Japan Coast Guard and Foreign Ministry
officials on the mission, but will not be applicable for staff members hired
locally in Djibouti, according to the documents.
The agreement, effective for 12 months, will automatically be renewed in 1-year
terms. Either side wishing to terminate the deal must give notice no less than
six months ahead of time.
Earlier on Friday, Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada met with the
Djiboutian foreign minister in Tokyo and thanked him for enabling the bilateral
arrangement.
''Djibouti has received various support from Japan over the past 30 years. So
I'm personally happy to return favors'' as a host for MSDF planes, Youssouf
said, according to a Defense Ministry official.
He then asked Japan to help his country take its own antipiracy measures,
noting that rampant piracy off the Somali shores has wreaked havoc with the
Djiboutian economy due to a rapid decline in port calls by commercial ships
passing through the gulf.
''I will see what we can do,'' Hamada was quoted as saying. ''I want to
strengthen relations between Japan and Djibouti on a wide range of areas.''
Japan deployed two MSDF destroyers last month to waters off the Horn of Africa,
marking Japan's first overseas antipiracy mission. The signing of the SOFA will
enable Japan to deploy MSDF P-3C patrol aircraft to the gulf.
The destroyers began escorting Japan-linked ships Monday and have completed two
escort trips as of Friday, according to the Defense Ministry. They are expected
to make their first port call at the Djibouti port next Monday.
Japan joins more than a dozen countries, including the United States, Russia,
China and some European nations that have deployed naval vessels to the region
on antipiracy missions.
A SOFA clarifies the terms under which foreign troops are allowed to operate in
a host country, particularly legal issues related to personnel and property.
Japan reached a similar SOFA with Kuwait in the past when its Air Self-Defense
Force was dispatched on an airlifting mission between Kuwait and Iraq to
support U.S.-led activities in Iraq.
==Kyodo