In Middle East to guarantee peace and oil
Abu Dhabi (AsiaNews/Gulf News) "Japan heavily depends on the Middle East for oil and other resources and therefore the Middle East's peace and stability are of vital importance for world security and for Japan," said spokesman for Japanese foreign minister, Yoriko Kawaguchi, during his official visit currently underway in Abu Dhabi.
According to the local daily, Gulf News, the same source clarified: "From the United Arab Emirates alone, Japan gets 25 % of its total oil exports."
In order to assure itself a channel of energy resources, in recent months Japan has launched a strategy to build up relations with Iran. Minister Kawaguchi's spokesman said that Japanese companies are in advanced phases of negotiation to develop oil fields in Iran. Japan has promised 2 million dollars in emergency relief for the Bam earthquake and "and is also evaluating supplying Iran with prefabricated earthquake resistant homes, technology and training as forms of extra assistance in Iran."
Concerning Iraq, the spokesman said Japan and the United Arab Emirates, both of whom are key members in the Madrid donors' commission, will collaborate in programs and projects for rebuilding Iraq. According to the Gulf News, Japan has promised to give 5 billon dollars until 2007 to rebuild Iraq, in view of probable contracts with private Japanese industries. Tokyo has also promised to give 28 million dollars to the Palestinian Authority.
The large majority of crude oil exports from the Persian Gulf is sent to the Far East (China, Japan, South Korea, etc.).
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