In a fresh show of solidarity with Europe toward arms control and prevention of regional conflicts, Japan will launch its portion of a unique "guns for butter" joint project in Cambodia next month.
Japan and the 15-nation European Union hope the $900,000 Weapons for Development program for the impoverished Southeast Asian country will become a model project for preventing regional conflicts and promoting economic development in the rest of the developing world, especially in Africa.
The EU has recently embarked on its own portion of the joint project. Full inauguration will come ahead of a key international conference on control of small arms to be held in July at the United Nations in New York.