Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi expressed support Tuesday for a resolution submitted to the U.N. Security Council by the United States and Britain that seeks the green light for military strikes against Iraq, stressing the need for the international community to apply diplomatic pressure on Baghdad.
"It is part of the last diplomatic effort to pressure (Iraq) amid a serious situation," Kawaguchi told reporters. "(The government) supports the resolution from the standpoint of putting diplomatic pressure through the coordination of the international community."
The U.S., Britain and Spain submitted a draft resolution to the Security Council on Monday that said Iraq failed to comply with a "final opportunity" to disarm peacefully.
Kawaguchi said Japan will urge other countries to work together with the international community as it is the "final opportunity for diplomatic efforts."
She noted that Japan will closely watch whether Iraq is willing to cooperate and pro-actively provide evidence to U.N. inspectors.
"Iraq should comply with the U.N. resolution so that the issue can be resolved peacefully," she said.