Japan, Iran agree to cooperate in assisting Pakistan, Afghanistan

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TOKYO, April 16 Kyodo -
Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone and his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr
Mottaki agreed Thursday that the two countries will cooperate in assisting
Pakistan and Afghanistan, Japanese officials said.
Mottaki told Nakasone a day before the Pakistan Donors Conference in Tokyo that
as Iran is part of Asia, he is concerned about the situation in Afghanistan and
Pakistan for the sake of the region, according to the officials.
Mottaki was also quoted as saying that Iran appreciates Japan's assistance for
Afghanistan and Pakistan and that Iran wants to cooperate with Japan in
supporting the two countries.
At a separate meeting, Nakasone and European Commissioner for External
Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner agreed on the need for Japan and the European
Union to continue extending assistance to Afghanistan and Pakistan in a
comprehensive fashion, the officials said.
About 40 countries and international organizations, including Iran and the
European Union, will hold one-day talks Friday in Tokyo to help Pakistan
overcome its economic difficulties and strengthen counterterrorism as a
''front-line state'' in the global fight against terrorism.
==Kyodo
2009-04-16 21:12:51