Foreign Minister Yohei Kono has told United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan that Tokyo will extend $28 million in humanitarian assistance for refugees in East Timor in response to U.N. appeals for aid, according to Foreign Ministry officials.
Japan has already committed $100 million to a multinational force deployed in East Timor to restore order. With the latest commitment, and more financial contributions to UNTAET expected, Japanese aid to East Timor is likely to reach $200 million.
In his talks with Annan Thursday afternoon, Kono also told Annan that when Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid visits Japan next week, the government will ask him "quietly" to take the proper measures to deal with the East Timor issue.
Annan replied that he is increasingly confident of Japan's commitment to rebuilding East Timor, adding that he agrees with Kono's concern that maintaining stability in Indonesia is as important as efforts to rebuild East Timor, the official said.
Annan arrived in Japan on Wednesday on a five-day visit at the invitation of the government.