World Jewish News

American Jewish Committee head thanks Japan's anti-terror mission

American Jewish Committee President E. Robert Goodkind expressed his gratitude Tuesday on Japan's anti-terror mission and its role in the Middle East peace process, Japan's Foreign Ministry said.
Meeting with Japan's newly appointed Foreign Minister Taro Aso, Goodkind also thanked Japan in joining other 190 members of the U.N. General Assembly to adopt a landmark resolution last week that will create the first international day of commemoration for the 6 million Jews and other victims of the Nazi Holocaust, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The International Day of Commemoration will be held every year on Jan. 27.
Goodkind thanked Japan for its support for U.S.-led troops in Afghanistan and its contribution to the Middle East peace process, the ministry said.
Last month, Japan's parliament approved a one-year extension of the country's naval mission to aid U.S.-led troops in Afghanistan. Japan's navy has provided fuel for coalition warships in the Indian Ocean since November 2001 under a special law that was set to expire Nov. 1.
Japan also has deployed 550 troops in the southern Iraqi city of Samawah on a non-combat, humanitarian mission under a separate law passed in 2003.
Japan's constitution bans the use of force in settling international disputes, and the overseas missions are unpopular with the public.
While welcoming Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, Aso told Goodkind that Japan is ready to cooperate for stabilizing an area now under the Palestinian Authority's jurisdiction, the ministry said.
Tokyo pledged US$100 million (€85 million) in aid to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, when he visited Japan in May.
Goodkind told Aso that he hopes Japan will do more to improve "infrastructure" in the Middle East region, the statement said.
During a January visit to the Middle East, then Foreign Minister, Nobutaka Machimura, invited both Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Abbas for a summit in Japan in May. But bad timing prevented both men from meeting with Japan's prime minister.

Источник: cjp.org