Japan decided Friday to provide $4.3 million in emergency aid to Yugoslavia to help the country purchase fertilizer for its wheat crop, the Foreign Ministry said.
Foreign Minister Yohei Kono told Friday morning's Cabinet meeting the assistance is being provided because agricultural production in Yugoslavia has been hit by economic sanctions imposed by the international community as well as a drought last summer.
The aid is part of an emergency aid package of up to $10 million that Japan pledged in October to support Yugoslavia's democratization efforts under President Vojislav Kostunica, who took office in early October after Slobodan Milosevic was overthrown.