Ozawa visits Iwojima while LDP presidential election takes place
September 20, 2006Ichiro Ozawa, the leader of Japan's main opposition Democratic Party of Japan, on Wednesday visited Iwojima Island, the scene of fierce fighting at the end of World War II. The visit took place while the ruling Liberal Democratic Party was electing Shinzo Abe as its new leader.
Japan renews determination to support Iraq's reconstruction
September 20, 2006Vice Foreign Minister Shintaro Ito has renewed Japan's determination to help Iraq rebuild itself, extending support for a multilateral initiative designed to help in the war-torn country's economic rehabilitation. ''Japan will work together with Iraq and the international community to ensure the prompt completion of the compact and its swift implementation,'' Ito said in a speech delivered Monday during a meeting of foreign ministers at U.N. headquarters in New York to discuss Iraqi reconstruction.