Sadako Ogata, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's special envoy on Afghan affairs, is likely to be the Japanese chair of a multinational conference to discuss the reconstruction of Afghanistan, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda hinted Friday.
"I think things will end up that way," Fukuda said when asked about the possibility of giving the job to Ogata.
The choice of who will represent Tokyo has been closely watched after some media reports maintained that Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka was interested in playing a role. The conference will take place in Tokyo in January.