Japan wants to take part in the rebuilding of Iraq at every level, using its experience in building hospitals and power stations, but without waiving debts, Japan's ambassador in charge of Iraqi reconstruction assistance said.
"Compared with the Gulf War for which we contributed a great deal of money because of strong pressure from the US, we've changed our strategy," said Fumiaki Takahashi during an interview Wednesday.
"We want to participate from the start of the rehabilitation phase and be involved at all levels in the process of development," he said.
As a first step, two bureaucrats from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have gone to Baghdad to "coordinate humanitarian operations," he said.
Japanese leaders were heavily criticised for bankrolling 1991's Operation Desert Storm to the tune of US$13 billion without reaping the benefit as Japan was not engaged in the reconstruction work.
Takahashi said this time round, Japan would take a more proactive role.
"The attitude of the Americans has changed, they haven't asked us for any money this time," he said.
"They appreciated our support for their military action but they are leaving us to assume our own responsibilities," he said.
By early next month, Japan is expected to have five officials in Iraq attached to the US Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance (ORHA).
The number of officials is expected to grow later with secondments bringing in expertise from other ministries and the private sector.
But they will remain "under the command and control" of the foreign ministry, Takahashi said.
"We have to be realistic: given that the Iraqi regime is decapitated, there's a need for an authority to be in charge of rebuilding the political and administrative institutions, and so on. It's for reasons of pragmatism that we are cooperating with [ORHA]," he said.
The diplomat stressed the need to "increase the number of countries participating" in the process, while applauding the commitment of Britain, Australia and South Korea.
On the delicate question of the role of the UN, Takahashi would only comment that "at a certain stage, the transitional authority should be validated by the international community. Whether or not that should be done by the UN needs to be discussed."
Takahashi denied that Japan was seeking to mediate between the primary opponents of the war, including France, and Washington.
As for an interest in Iraq's massive oil reserves, Takahashi said, "Iraq accounts for a very limited part of our oil imports but if there is some potential to exploit, why not?"
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