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Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi held a meeting with Mr. Kofi Annan, the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), at UN Headquarters in New York City at midday of September 21 (Japan time: dawn of September 22). During the meeting, Prime Minister Koizumi noted on the reform of the UN Security Council, saying that "The number of permanent and non-permanent members need be expanded. Japan will make efforts to reform the Security Council together with Brazil, India and Germany. I expect for an innovative reform to be taken place during your term." Prime Minister Koizumi then held a meeting with Mr. George W. Bush, the President of the United States of America. During the meeting, Prime Minister Koizumi explained to him Japan's stance in aiming to become a permanent member of the Security Council, to which President Bush expressed the commitment of the United States to support such a stance. They also confirmed that the two nations would hold consultations at the working level regarding this issue. As for the issue of restructuring the US Forces in Japan, Prime Minister Koizumi stressed that maintenance of deterrence by the US Forces and reduction of burden imposed on the local people must be considered. In response to this, President Bush said, "The US will make efforts to reduce the burden imposed on the local people by achieving efficient deterrence." The leaders also exchanged opinions on the Six-Party Talks on the issue of nuclear development by North Korea as well as reconstruction assistance to Iraq. In the afternoon (Japan time: early morning of September 22), Prime Minister Koizumi held a summit meeting with Mr. Joschka Fischer, the Deputy Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Mr. Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of India and Mr. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, all leaders of countries that are also striving to become permanent members of the Security Council, like Japan. At the meeting, they exchanged opinions on UN reform and confirmed that the four countries would further strengthen their coordination as they agreed to support one another in gaining permanent membership. In the evening (Japan time: morning of September 22), Prime Minister Koizumi delivered a speech at the UN General Assembly. In his speech, Prime Minister Koizumi emphasized that Japan has been actively contributing to the international community in such fields as the reconstruction assistance to Iraq, saying that, "The role that Japan has played provides a solid basis for its assumption of permanent membership on the Security Council." As such, Prime Minister Koizumi asked for the understanding of each country on the need to expand the number of permanent members.

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Link:

Address by H.E. MR. Junichiro Koizumi Prime Minister of Japan at the Fifty-Ninth Session ofthe General Assembly of the United Nations