LOC12:04
09:04 GMT
TOKYO, May 14 (KUNA) -- Japan on Monday welcomed the peaceful holding of Iraqi parliamentary elections, expecting that it will lead to the stability and reconstruction in the Middle Eastern country.
"We welcome the fact that the elections for the Council of Representatives were held in a generally peaceful manner," Foreign Minister Taro Kono said in a statement.
"The Japanese government hopes that the process towards the confirmation of the election results will proceed in a fair, prompt and peaceful manner, and that a new administration will be inaugurated promptly," said Kono. The minister also expressed strong hope that the elections will pave the way for further advancement of national reconciliation and achievement of stability and reconstruction in Iraq.
In response to a request from the Independent High Electoral Commission of Iraq, Japan engaged in election monitoring activities at a number of voting stations in Baghdad and Irbil, according to the ministry. It was the fourth parliamentary elections to take place after the Iraqi war, following elections held in 2005, 2010, and 2014. (end)
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