Friday August 31, 9:33 PMFrench Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner told his Japanese counterpart Nobutaka Machimura on Friday that France is grateful for Japan's refueling operations in the Indian Ocean and called the mission "indispensable," the Japanese Foreign Ministry said.
In a telephone conversation with Machimura, Kouchner praised Japan's operation as a "very important aid" not only for French vessels but the international community, the ministry said.
Machimura told Kouchner that he will do his utmost to secure the understanding of the opposition Democratic Party of Japan so that the antiterrorism law, which authorizes the dispatch of Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels to the Indian Ocean to provide refueling support for U.S.-led antiterrorism operations in and near Afghanistan, can be extended beyond its expiration on Nov. 1.
Earlier Friday, DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa reiterated his party's opposition to extending the law. The DPJ gained control of the House of Councillors along with other opposition parties in the July 29 upper house election.
(Kyodo) _
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