On April 11, at the Oslo Donors’ Conference on Sudan 2005, Vice Foreign Minister Ichiro Aisawa made a statement, in which he articulated Japan’s efforts in Sudan for rehabilitation and development in the aftermath of the civil war.
Vice Minister Aisawa announced that Japan, for the near term, will provide a package of assistance totaling $100 million, aiming at "consolidation of peace" in Sudan, and he highlighted three points regarding Japan’s future policy for Sudan.
1. Japan will assist new projects for consolidation of peace in Sudan, mainly based on the "UN 2005 Work Plan for Sudan," such as mine clearance and return and reintegration of the refugees and the displaced. Moreover, Japan will finance the UN project for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants (DDR), following its successful experiences of DDR in Afghanistan. In addition, Japan will support the recovery and rehabilitation process in Sudan by offering assistance, including technical cooperation for human resources development. Japan has already provided emergency assistance for demining activities in the South Sudan through the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), in order to solve the serious landmine problem that poses a threat to the return of refugees and internally displaced persons as well as to donors' humanitarian and reconstruction assistance. On top of these new projects, Japan intends to continuously intensify its support for human security by meeting essential needs in areas such as water and sanitation, basic health and medical services, and food supply. Japan is also exploring the possibility of extending assistance to Sudan through the Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF).
2. Japan intends to provide assistance in a seamless and coherent manner, beginning with emergency humanitarian assistance in the immediate aftermath of the conflict, followed by recovery, and rehabilitation assistance. For that purpose, Japan will dispatch a governmental survey mission to the region shortly to formulate specific bilateral assistance projects, in addition to providing "follow-up support" for grant-aid projects including the "Project of Ibn Sina Hospital." As a first step, Japan will host a seminar on international cooperation in late May in Japan, by inviting officials from both the North and South, focusing on support for capacity-building is the field of development assistance. In addition, we will seek the possibility of debt relief for Sudan.
3. A UN peacekeeping operation is expected to play an important role in consolidating the peace in the region. With the adoption of the Security Council Resolution 1590 regarding the establishment of a peacekeeping mission, Japan is now working to determine what would be the most suitable form of cooperation to offer to the peacekeeping mission in Sudan, taking into account the results of the survey conducted by the Japanese fact-finding mission.
Vice Minister Aisawa emphasized that “Japan has strenuously been tackling the issues of peace and development in Africa with great sincerity, based on the conviction that there will be no stability and prosperity in the world unless the issues of Africa are resolved.”
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Japan’s Support for Africa : 3 pillars
1. Consolidation of peace:
Introducing a comprehensive approach ranging from promotion of peace in the conflict areas, to seamless reconstruction efforts for the purpose of building the basis of development.
2. Poverty Reduction through economic growth:
Promoting trade and investment in Africa , based on the development experiences in Asia
Improving agricultural productivity and rural development.
3. Human-centered development:
Human resources development for the sustainable development of Africa
[Related Links]
* Japan’s Support for the Consolidation of Peace in Africa
* Japan’s Assistance to support the African Union’s Initiative in Darfur
* Japan-Sudan Relations
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