LOC10:43
07:43 GMT
(With Photo)
TOKYO, July 10 (KUNA) -- The Japanese government decided Tuesday to extend
the mission of its air force in Iraq by a year through July 31, 2008.
The Cabinet approved the extension of the deployment of the Air
Self-Defense Force (ASDF) based on a special law on Iraq, which was recently
extended in Parliament for two more years through July 2009.
About 200 Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) personnel and three C-130 transport
planes are stationed at Ali Al-Salem Air Base in western Kuwait and engaged in
transporting UN personnel and supplies to Iraq's airports such as Baghdad and
Arbil.
"In order to show our stance to steadily support efforts to rebuild Iraq,
the Japanese government has extended the basic plan for the ASDF to continue
providing their airlift support steadily and without interruption," Chief
Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki told a press conference.
"We are committed to continue supporting Iraqi reconstruction, in
cooperation with the UN and other countries involved," the top government
spokesman added.
Tokyo enacted the special law on Iraq in 2003, as temporary legislation
effective for four years. The air force began transport flights in March 2004
between Kuwait and the southern Iraqi destinations of Talil and Basra, mainly
delivered supplies to Japan's non-combat ground troops involved in a
reconstruction mission in Samawah.
After the ground troops pulled out from Iraq July last year, the air force
expanded its airlift support in transporting UN personnel and supplies to
airports such as Baghdad and Arbil, further north of the Iraqi capital.
As of Friday, the ASDF has conducted 525 airlift operations in Iraq since
2004.(end)
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