| Subject: KY: East Timor premier reaffirms
support for Japan's U.N. bid
Also AP: East Timor PM meets Koizumi Thursday March 23, 10:24 PM East Timor premier reaffirms support for Japan's U.N. bid (Kyodo) _ East Timor Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri reaffirmed Thursday East Timor's support for Japan's aspiration to become a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, a Japanese Foreign Ministry official said. Alkatiri told Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi during their meeting at Koizumi's official residence that it is important for more countries to be involved in the decision-making of the Security Council, the official said. As part of efforts to reform the Security Council, Japan is trying to draw a new resolution to realize the expansion of the Security Council membership from the current 15 to 21. The move comes after Japan proposed a resolution last year along with Germany, India and Brazil but failed to put this to vote due to lack of support from the U.N. member states. Alkatiri expressed his country's intent to open its embassy in Japan as soon as possible, the official said. It is Alkatiri's first visit to Japan since assuming his post as prime minister in May 2002, according to the ministry. East Timor PM meets Koizumi Thursday, March 23, 2006 (Tokyo): East Timor Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri met Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Thursday for talks on issues including a plan to open its embassy in Japan. During the half-hour meeting, Koizumi told Alkatiri the proposed embassy will promote bilateral relations. Alkatiri thanked Japan for its support after the former Portuguese colony became independent in 1999 from Indonesia after 24 years of harsh rule. The East Timor leader is also scheduled to meet Emperor Akihito and deliver a speech at a symposium on East Timor's peace building and its relations with Japan on Friday. Japan has contributed $120 million for reconstruction and humanitarian assistance for East Timor, and provided an additional $60 million in development aid since 1999. (AP) Back to March menu |