Top �� What's up around the Prime Minister �� October, 2003

Representatives of the Japanese Team of International Peace Cooperation in East Timor Pay Respects to the Prime Minister Before Departure Thursday, October 9, 2003 Representatives of the Japanese Team of International Peace Cooperation in East Timor paid respects before their departure to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. The Japanese Government dispatches the Japanese team of International Peace Cooperation in East Timor for the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET), based on its policy to cooperate as much as possible toward nation-building in the Democratic Republic of East Timor which declared its independence in May 2002. The team of International Peace Cooperation, which will be dispatched this time, is the fourth facility team, composed of 405 personnel, and will take over duties from the third team, conducting maintenance and repair work for roads and bridges necessary for PKO activities. UNMISET is gradually reducing the number of personnel with complete withdrawal from East Timor by the summer of 2004 in mind. In response to the request from the United Nations, Japan too has reduced the number of its dispatch personnel from 522 in the third team to 405. After receiving an address from the representatives of the departing personnel, Prime Minister Koizumi said, "I have been informed that the local government, the international community and the UN have highly evaluated the activities by all of you from the Self Defense Forces (SDF) over the course of three teams. It is easy to speak of international contribution. When I visited East Timor last May, I was moved when I saw the team working in a harsh environment, literally with sweat on their foreheads, but working with pride. I want you all to exercise fully what you have learned from your training and provide respectable activity in East Timor. He then shook hands with each and every person of the team and offered encouragement to them.