15 October 2003
Bush Welcomes Japan's Announcement of $1.5 Billion in Iraq Aid
Says Japanese action will help mobilize international support for Iraq
President Bush, in an October 15 statement, welcomed Japan's announcement that it will provide $1.5 billion toward immediate reconstruction needs in Iraq.
"I applaud this bold step, which will help mobilize international support for efforts to build a stable, peaceful, and democratic Iraq," Bush said.
He also commended Japan's announcement that it is working on a larger Iraq aid package to offer at the October 23-24 Madrid Iraq aid donor's conference.
Bush is to visit Tokyo October 17-18 for talks with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, the first stop on a trip to six Asian countries.
Following is the text of the president's statement:
(begin text)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
October 15, 2003
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
I welcome Japan's announcement that it will provide $1.5 billion toward immediate reconstruction needs in Iraq. I applaud this bold step, which will help mobilize international support for efforts to build a stable, peaceful, and democratic Iraq. Japan recognizes that this effort is critical to security and peace not only in Iraq and the Middle East, but also for Japan and throughout the world. Japan's own history shows the power of international cooperation to help a great people build democracy and prosperity and become a beacon of freedom that inspires all nations.
I also commend Japan's announcement that it is working on a larger aid package in preparation for the October 23-24 Madrid donor's conference. We look forward to working with Japan and other countries to make the Madrid conference a success for the people of Iraq.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
This page printed from: http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2003&m=October&x=20031015160210ssor0.341366&t=usinfo/wf-latest.html
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