Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in Action (What's up around the Prime Minister)




Top БД What's up around the Prime Minister БД February, 2004

Prime Minister Meets with Secretary-General of the United Nations

Monday, February 23, 2004

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Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi held talks with Mr. Kofi Annan, the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), at the Prime Minister's Official Residence and exchanged opinions on the issue of Iraq, reform of the United Nations, issue of North Korea and others.
After the meeting, Prime Minister Koizumi and Secretary-General Annan made a joint announcement, and Prime Minister Koizumi said, "It was very meaningful for me to be able to have a frank exchange of opinions with Secretary-General Annan at a time when the Iraq situation is reaching a critical stage. With regard to the issue of Iraq, it is important for the international community to support nation building by the people of Iraq, for the people of Iraq, and we share the view that it was important that the United Nations will be more actively engaged in the reconstruction of Iraq."
On the other hand, Secretary-General Annan highly evaluated the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces to Iraq and said, "It is important to cooperate with the Iraqi side and promote creating a mechanism for the establishment of an interim government."
After the joint announcement, a welcome dinner for Secretary-General Annan was hosted at the Prime Minister's Official Residence and their exchange of opinions was continued over a dinner table about the reform of the United Nations, issue of North Korea and others. Regarding the reform of the United Nations, Prime Minister Koizumi expressed his view that the High-Level Panel established by the Secretary-General Annan was important for the reform of the United Nations and Japan would support its activities.
Prime Minister Koizumi also expressed his stance to comprehensively resolve the issue of North Korea by peaceful and diplomatic means through the six-party talks and gained Secretary-General Annan's understanding and support. Secretary-General Annan said that he understood the abduction issue was an essential subject for Japan.