Japan tells Afghanistan refueling operation will continue

Sep 22 08:25 PM US/Eastern
NEW YORK, Sept. 22 (AP) - (Kyodo) - Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Saturday and expressed Japan's resolve to continue the antiterrorism refueling operation in the Indian Ocean.

Machimura, who met with reporters at United Nations headquarters Saturday afternoon, said he expressed the view to Karzai at a bilateral meeting in New York on the sidelines of the 62nd session of the General Assembly.

"The fight against terrorism continues internationally in various fields and in various regions...Japan must make its utmost efforts to continue the operation," Machimura said.

Machimura said he told Karzai he will try to persuade the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan about the importance of continuing the mission, as the party opposes extending it.

Japan's special antiterrorism law, which allows the refueling operation, expires Nov. 1.

Karzai expressed his gratitude for Japan's support in the area of reconstruction and refueling on behalf of "all Afghans," Machimura said.

The U.N. Security Council recently adopted a resolution expressing its appreciation to countries participating in the U.S.-led antiterrorism operations in and around Afghanistan.

Also Saturday, Machimura met with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and discussed the issues of climate change and U.N. reform in addition to continuing Japan's refueling operation in the Indian Ocean.

According to Japanese officials, Machimura told Ban he appreciates Ban's strong leadership on the climate issue.

Ban has made climate change a priority on his agenda since taking the helm of the world body at the beginning of this year. He has organized the United Nations' first high-level meeting on climate change scheduled to begin Monday.

Ban said he expects Japan to demonstrate a strong commitment to the climate issue, the Japanese officials said.

Ban expressed high appreciation for Japan's refueling mission and expressed hope that Japan will continue the mission under its new leadership, they said.

Ban told Machimura he wants to strengthen the function of the U.N. Department of Political Affairs to boost its role as a conflict mediator, as he believes peacekeeping operations are overburdened, they said.