Japan to map out alternative Afghan support plan by Obama visit+

TOKYO, Oct. 26 Kyodo -
Japan will map out an aid plan for Afghanistan by U.S. President Barack Obama's
visit to Japan next month, which will replace Tokyo's ongoing refueling mission
in support of U.S.-led antiterrorism operations in and around the war-torn
country, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Tetsuro Fukuyama said Monday.

Fukuyama told a news conference that Japan will work out concrete steps to help
rebuild Afghanistan by the Nov. 12-13 Obama visit, after Prime Minister Yukio
Hatoyama vowed in his first Diet speech to support the country ''in areas and
means where Japan is good at.''
The premier specifically said Tokyo is considering providing farming
assistance, vocational training for former Afghan soldiers and aid to bolster
functions of local police.
The state secretary said Japan will closely monitor the results of a Nov. 7
runoff in the disputed Afghan presidential elections held in August in
compiling Tokyo's alternative aid plan.
Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force has been providing fuel and water to
foreign naval vessels engaged in operations to interdict ships linked to
terrorism in the Indian Ocean.
The MSDF mission, which has been in place for most of the period since 2001, is
set to end Jan. 15 as the new Japanese government has no plan to extend it.
==Kyodo
2009-10-26 22:56:16