Iraqi foreign minister calls for more corporate investment from Japan+

TOKYO, June 19 Kyodo -
Visiting Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told Prime Minister Taro Aso on
Friday that Iraq has become a much safer place and called for more investment
from Japanese firms to help reconstruct the conflict-ravaged nation, a Japanese
Foreign Ministry official said.

Zebari told Aso in their talks at the prime minister's office in Tokyo that the
security situation in Iraq has improved considerably compared with when Aso
visited the Middle Eastern country as foreign minister in August 2006,
according to the ministry official.
The Iraqi minister also said that he is grateful for the Japanese Self-Defense
Forces' contribution to stabilizing Iraq and that the people of Iraq will not
forget the assistance provided by the government and people of Japan, the
official said.
On Zebari's request for corporate investment, Aso was quoted by the official as
replying, ''Japanese firms are sensitive to the security situation (abroad),
but once they decide (to invest) after a careful examination, they will keep
their promises.''
Zebari explained to Aso that his country's general election slated for next
January will be contested across sectarian and ethnic boundaries and that will
help to bring about a greater sense of national unity, according to the
official.
At a press conference earlier in the day, Zebari also stressed that Iraq is
much safer than several years ago, with a more mature security and intelligence
system.
He thanked Japan for having played an ''important role'' in helping Iraq reach
''the current level of stabilization and development'' through government loans
as well as humanitarian assistance from the SDF.
Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force engaged in reconstruction work in Samawah
from January 2004 to July 2006, while the Air Self-Defense Force was stationed
in Kuwait for an airlift mission from March 2004 to December 2008.
At a following symposium, Zebari said, ''The worst is over,'' telling the
audience of about 150, including businessmen and researchers on the Middle
East, that ''a sense of national unity'' has spread in Iraq, which is
overcoming the sectarian and ethnic differences between Shiite and Sunni
Muslims, Christians and Kurds.
He made the remarks during a keynote speech at the symposium to commemorate the
70th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations.
''I encourage Japanese businesses and people to play a greater role in the
reconstruction of Iraq,'' he said, inviting Japanese companies to do business
in and to help develop the country.
''Iraq-Japan relations have entered a new era,'' Zebari said in the speech in
Tokyo. ''The nature of the relations has changed (in the past few years) from
military, security and logistical to more business-oriented, economic-oriented
areas.''
Zebari also expressed great concern about the post-election demonstrations in
Iran. ''No one is more worried and sad about what is going on in Iran than
Iraq,'' he said. ''Iran is an immediate neighbor and a powerful neighbor, and
what happens there will affect us.''
Concerning the scheduled pullout of the U.S. military in June, Zebari said
Iraqi forces will face ''the first test of their readiness and confidence'' in
undertaking security operations without U.S. troops but added he is confident
they can meet the challenges.
==Kyodo